Sandbox

The first of many dinners …..

September 25th, 2009 by Paolo Rigutto

As a Sandbox Ambassador I not only have the opportunity to help grow the community of this amazing network, but in the process I am able to bring together people with exciting and innovative ideas, and experience engaging disucssions. Last night was such a case.

A week ago I was in a selection process for the Ericsson Global Perspectives programme where young achievers have the opportunity to meet 30 Ericsson managers on the fast track to the management board; they will be spending a week in Mumbai, and one week in London and during that week are meeting various organisations and individuals to gain insight to the world outside of Ericsson. Thus next week I shall have dinner with two of these fast trackers to discuss sustainable development and while giving them my views on this important issue they will use me as sounding board for theirs.

This opportunity arose through Sandbox and furthermore I was also lucky to meet Agathe, at the selection process. Agathe just finished an MSc at LSE and is looking to work in sustainable development, and has looked at opportunities in sustainable investing for charities. The dinner I had last night thus formed as a dinner to bring together people with an interest in sustainable development. The goal was definitely achieved with a co-founder of a Micro-credit organisation joining, Saina Otorbaeva, as well as Luis Rosenthal who has volunteered and worked in many facets of sustainable development, and recently joined the Ludic Group which aims to use design-led thinking to help enterprises create value and innovate.

The food was good and the conversation even better and I realised why it is that I enjoy bringing together people who may all be working in different industries but all strive for the best and have a common underlying goal or belief.

I feel that this is a great start to a set of smaller dinners for London Sandboxers, and potential Sandboxers, held every few weeks. If anyone has an idea for a location or would like attend an upcoming dinner please let me know, and I hope to see you soon.