JDG

  • Alumni

Submitted

Using digitalization to eliminate the unbanked in Colombia
JDG
Posted on November 17, 2016 at 12:54 am
How Davivienda, a local retail bank, helped reduce the unbanked population and created financial benefits through technological innovation
Climate change in Colombia – A water and energy dilemma
JDG
Last modified on November 4, 2016 at 1:23 am
70% of electricity in Colombia is water-generated, making the country vulnerable to the effects of climate change. How does the sale of a State owned enterprise (SOE) factor into how Colombia better protects itself from El Niño phenomenon?

Activity Feed

On November 20, 2016, JDG commented on It’s all about who you know: Lenddo makes credit decisions based on your social network :

Great article, thanks!
It is very interesting to see how digital can enable the middle class to access to capital in a way previously (almost) impossible. I wonder if digital will eventually allow for similar analysis for SME’s. Access to capital is one of the main challenges for informal businesses in Latin America (see: http://comercioyjusticia.info/blog/pymes/informalidad-y-garantias-trabas-para-el-acceso-al-credito-pyme/ ).

On November 20, 2016, JDG commented on McKinsey: Dedicated to Digital :

Great article, thanks!
A lingering question I have is the follwong – Should Mckinsey be investing in this at all? I understand the role of some of McKinsey’s recent investments, such as its RTS practice or McKisney implementations (see: http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-recovery-and-transformation-services/how-we-help-clients and http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-implementation/how-we-help-clients, respectively), but digital consulting seems like a Niche field. Given the level of expertise needed, the talent required, and the operational challenges that come with staffing digital teams, it seems like clients could be better off with smaller consultants for this type of work than having to deal with McKinsey’s fees and overhead.

On November 20, 2016, JDG commented on Tired of looking for a free parking space? FastPark tells you where to find it :

Hi Gonzalo! Thanks for the Post. Was wondering what are your thoughts regarding international expansion of FastPark. How scalable is the business? What are the requirements needed to operate? Street parking in many emerging market, such as colombia, is limited, and working with city governments tend to be long, tedious and corrupt processes.

On November 20, 2016, JDG commented on OpenEnglish: Connecting Latin America with native English teachers :

Thanks for the Post Katherine!
Given the convenience and success of OpenEnglish, I would suggest that governments try and partner with them for broader and quicker adoption of english in public schools. COlombia’s Ministry of education has set important bilingual goals for 2020, but beurocracy and difficulty building knowledge has slowed down uptake in programs (see: http://www.mineducacion.gov.co/1621/article-97498.html). Partnering with OpenEnglish through the digital platforms built by the MInistry of ITC (http://www.mintic.gov.co/portal/vivedigital/612/w3-channel.html) would leveage existing infrastructure and improve uptake in bilingual studies.

Food for thought…

On November 20, 2016, JDG commented on Rappi: Colombia’s Version of Amazon.com :

Very interesting article. Another consideration needed from Rappi’s part will be how they are able to improve experience for customers. Remember, the average Colombian still enjoys window shopping and going to malls (see: http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-15453518). Will the convenience and low prices change the consumer preferences for the up and coming socioeconomic class?

On November 6, 2016, JDG commented on State-owned copper mining: climate change vs. country development :

Awesome Post, thanks for getting the conversation started.

An interesting aspect developing in Chilean mines arose from a natural resource problem. While the Copper mineral reserves are vast, the water needed for extraction was at an all-time low regarding availability. Simply put, the economics of supplying mines with water did not add up. This, however, is when humans (and companies) best perform, and today desalination is actually a great business in and on itself. While I agree that some punitive measures are needed to desuade inneficiencies, I believe most companies possess resouerces and technology to improve their operations and allow innovation to occur. I truly believe innovation, not taxation, is our only way out of the mess we have made of this greenhouse-filled world.

On November 6, 2016, JDG commented on El niño se convierte en hombre (The boy becomes a man) :

Thank you for the article and May the Force Be With You.

I agree with you assessment, as my home country just dealt with huge consequences due to the 15-16 Niño phenomenom. As with many companies, I am still grappling with understanding how the lack of water for generation should be dealt with. On one hand, the low hanging fruit should be to diversity energy sources. That being said, those projects are capital intensive and usually not in the core business of mining companies. What role role should the government play in these development projects? What role should utility (private) companies? energy intensive projects such as mines.

Recent studies by the world bank show how public private partnerships (PPP, see https://ppp.worldbank.org/public-private-partnership/sector/energy) can lay an interesting framework for these type of projects. They allow governments to incentive private companies to develop energy alternatives in order to meet a public need, create labor opportunities and ensure the financial stability of long term assetts such as mines.

On November 6, 2016, JDG commented on EPM, climate change and hidroelectric power :

Thanks for starting this Conversation Pablo.

Seeing as many of the companies in the industry are State owned enterprises (SOE), i would be curious as to your opinion on the role of the shareholder in driving this conversation. As you know, EPM is mainly owned by the municipality of Medellin, making their goals oriented mainly towards meeting a public service, as well as a level of profitability for the city. It is difficult for me to see where the pressure will come from for increased efficiency and renewable development – it seems to me as a society, consumers and shareholders, we are not ready to really place a burden on Colombian companies yet!

On November 6, 2016, JDG commented on Coal in the Time of Climate Change :

Thanks for the insights ARC. I have been to Cerrejón many times and the scale of it is impactful everytime.
I wonder why desalination has not been a solution made more public. Many studies today find that Desalination financially feasible (see https://www.nap.edu/read/12184/chapter/8#172). For all the environmental richness in La Guajira, its poverty is rampage and depressing, gaining significant notoriety this year with statistics showing 65% of the population living in extreme poverty and reports of over 40 death of infants attributed to undernourishment (see: http://www.eltiempo.com/multimedia/especiales/la-rancheria-de-la-guajira-que-vive-la-pobreza-y-la-desnutricion/16187739/1).

I am sure the national government would be incredibly happy to subsidize a new desalination plant with mixed uses for mie and the rural community of La Guajira. Why hasn’t Cerrejon begun this?

On November 6, 2016, JDG commented on Climate Change and Colombian Floriculture :

Thanks for the post.

I wonder what your opinion is regarding the actual feasibility of implementing “clean practice” stanfdards in the industry. If I do recall, the flower export market is not very fragmented, with large players creating an oligopolistic feel over the industry. What incentives would the association (funded by the same producers) to burden the costs of such implementations?

JuanDavid