The Space Between: Approaches to Private Sector Development in Africa

Benjamin Stone is the Senior VP & General Counsel for Indego Africa, an innovative nonprofit social enterprise -- currently the subject of an HBS case study -- empowering women in Rwanda through fair trade handicrafts and long-term skills.  Ben graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2000 with a B.A. in English Literature and Photography. After a year editing manuscripts at The Astrophysical Journal at the University of Chicago Press, Ben went on to complete his law degree at New York University in 2004.  Ben then practiced law in New York City for four years, focusing on complex commercial litigation at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.  After a year as Indego Africa's pro bono legal counsel, in September 2008 Ben moved to Indego Africa full time.  Ben has spoken about leadership, corporate responsibility, Rwanda, and the intersection of law and social enterprise at various academic institutions and conferences.

Kristi Ragan has expertise in public-private partnerships for improving social and economic conditions in developing countries.  She leads this work for DAI, a global consulting firm based in Bethesda, Maryland. She has been the Strategic Advisor to USAID on Global Development Alliances and the Global Development Commons for the past 3 years where she develops innovative alliance models and trains on how to build partnerships that deliver the highest development impact. During her 25 years in international development, much of that with the United Nations Development Programme, she has worked in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific. She served as Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University from 2003-2007 teaching a graduate course in public-private partnerships. Ms. Ragan co-chairs the Work Group on Corporate Responsibility for the Society for International Development in Washington D.C. where she profiles companies engaging in emerging markets.  She served as Peace Corps Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire and also as a Peace Corps Volunteer in both Tanzania and Fiji.

Kathleen Danoher has 16 years financial services experience, of which 11 years are in alternative asset management and investment. Kathleen began her career in 1993 with PricewaterhouseCoopers New York in the financial services practice, offshore funds audit and private banking. She subsequently joined AMVESCAP PLC, Atlanta, GA, in 1998 as a Corporate Associate, working directly for the Chief Executive Officer and senior management group in various assignments across M&A, strategic services, e-commerce and private capital. In 1999, Kathleen joined INVESCO’s Private Capital business unit as Senior Investment Manager in London. She has served as a member of the general partner since 2001 in the global fund of funds practice.

While in London, Kathleen co-managed principal investment activities for INVESCO’s international partnership fund programme. She invested in a spectrum of alternative investment partnerships and had particular responsibility for emerging markets and Asia. Kathleen relocated to South Africa and became an independent consultant in 2006 and an advisory partner with Capitalworks Investment Partners in 2007. She performed due diligence and advised on private equity structures and allocations to Sub-Saharan Africa for development finance institutions focused on Africa, South African private banks, and Middle East asset management groups.

Kathleen continues to serve on the investment advisory boards of Nectar Capital (UK), Old Mutual International Fund of Funds, Capitalworks Equity Partners South Africa and Endeavour South Africa. 

Kathleen received a Bachelor of Science from New York University Stern School of Business and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.