Why did you decide to make a major gift to INSEAD?

"First and most importantly, I feel an obligation to give back to the communities and institutions from which I have benefited. And I certainly benefited from INSEAD! Second, I saw this as an opportunity to influence those people dedicated to solving social problems – and through them, the lives of many more people throughout the world. Third, education is an important philanthropic cause for me. It’s an area in which I’m involved at home in Canada as well as internationally through INSEAD."

And why social entrepreneurship in particular?

"Society in general spends so much energy and so many resources on improving businesses that are already prosperous and efficient. This is great, but INSEAD’s new social entrepreneurship programme (running this January for the first time) is a wonderful opportunity to enhance the skills and expertise of organisations that are committed to solving social problems through entrepreneurial methods."

How did it come about that you’ve structured your gift around research and scholarships?

"I spoke to INSEAD professors, Morten Hansen and Phil Anderson, who convinced me that social entrepreneurship is a new area that’s genuinely in need of research to determine key principles and strategies. And being an entrepreneur is all about liking new initiatives! But it was also important to me personally to see my gift doing something practical. Hence the scholarships for those working in organisations involved with social entrepreneurship."

How did INSEAD shape your experience and your career?

"My story is much the same as that of other alumni. Living in a house with a group of diverse, fun, talented, motivated people… drinking champagne occasionally… working and arguing with my group… learning statistics in French… all these things helped change my life! But most of all, the entrepreneurship elective that I took on managing a growing business was a turning point. It led me to turn down my only job offer (in consulting) on graduation – which, in 1991, was either very brave or stupid!"

As INSEAD’s youngest major gift donor, you still have a long career ahead of you. How do you see it developing?

"Now that I’m managing a company, I am learning on a different level. I definitely have enough challenges to keep me busy. But it’s not just about making more money. I’m working on my philanthropic career too, with a special interest in education. And who knows? Maybe I'll even get involved in social entrepreneurship myself."