Prosperity U kicked off the Spring 2024 semester with a captivating session featuring Dr. Tariq Banuri, a distinguished figure in the realm of sustainable development. On Thursday, January 25, 2024, students from various corners of the campus gathered to partake in the enlightening discourse led by Dr. Banuri, setting the stage for an inspiring journey into social entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

Dr. Banuri’s extensive experience and international positions through the years brought a wealth of insights to his presentation. His notable roles include serving as the coordinating lead author on the Nobel Prize-winning Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), chair of the Board of Governors of the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), and a founding member of the Great Transition Initiative (GTI). Dr. Banuri currently serves as the Chairperson of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), in Pakistan.

During his talk, Dr. Banuri seamlessly wove sustainable development practices with narratives of real social entrepreneurs like Akhter Hameed Khan, Shoaib Sultan Khan, Wangari Maathai, Enrique Penalosa, and others, illustrating their impactful successes and transformative contributions to the world.

Key takeaways from Dr. Banuri’s talk included:

  • Sustainability as Integration: the concept of sustainability as weaving everything together, creating a cohesive and interconnected whole.
  • Social Entrepreneurship: Dr. Banuri likened social entrepreneurship to the analogy of the challenge of getting water uphill. In a traditional market, water flows downhill. Social entrepreneurship requires a creative approach to overcome the uphill challenge.
  • Embrace Failure: Do not fear failure, setbacks are a natural part of the journey. The key is to persevere and not let failure impede progress.
  • Creative Challenge: Sustainable development is a creative challenge. Start where you are, utilize all available resources, and embrace continuous learning from others.

Thank you to all those who attended Dr. Banuri’s presentation. If you are interested in delving deeper into sustainability and the principles of prosperity, we invite you to join us for other Prosperity U events. Check the Prosperity U calendar for a full listing of upcoming events.

Upcoming speakers for the Prosperity U Speaker Series include:
March 19, 2024 – Wade Roberts and Ben Roberts from Become More Charity

April 18, 2024 – Efoso Ojomo, co-author of The Prosperity Paradox and Director of Global Prosperity at the Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, and Ann Christensen, President of the Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation.