Benjamin is Co-Founder to the well-known real estate and housing development company, Modern Lao Homes, in Vientiane, Laos, a place he now calls home since 2015. He is passionate about Urban Development and Smart Cities and have since ventured out to complete numerous housing developments emphasizing on quality and design that stands out from its competitors. His passion for Smart City development and sustainability also brings him to his current project of introducing Electric Tuk Tuks to replace diesel run Tuk Tuks in the city.

Benjamin is also a proud member of the Global Shapers Community (an initiative by the World Economic Forum) and leads the local Vientiane Hub to carry out numerous projects that tackles the issue of youth and women empowerment, gender equality, road safety, human trafficking and sustainability to name a few. He believes that service to the community is not an image thing but rather an act of sowing so that future generations can have a future where they can pursue their dreams.

Benjamin was educated at Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Born in Malaysia but his exposure to the economic development in Laos has given him exposure towards the gripping curse of poverty and that has since developed a deep passion towards policies to combat and alleviate poverty.

Korakot Tanseri is a third culture kid that grew up between the Lao and the French culture. He graduated from a Master degree in Civil Engineering and Urban planning at l’INSA de Lyon, in France. He is passionate about architecture and urban sociology and lives in Vientiane, capital of Laos, a charming and calm city rich in culture and traditions. Korakot pursuits a career in the construction field as a Project Manager in a leading construction design and consultancy company in Laos, Archineer Associates. As a citizen of Vientiane, He feels responsible to contribute on shaping his city and community to be more livable, more resilient and more sustainable through his skills, knowledge and passions. He believes that “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” (Jane Jacobs])

Luckanong is a founder and CEO of Cre8 Marketing and Advertising Sole Co., Ltd and a former brand manager of Unilever Laos. With 9 years of marketing experience in 5 different countries and in diverse industries, she has a proven track record in developing strategic marketing plans and in ensuring the effectiveness of marketing activities online and offline. She has won 4 startup competitions both in Laos and overseas and was a recipient of AusAid Scholarship, where she did her Bachelor’s in Marketing, as well as Chevening Scholarship, where she did her Master’s in International Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Hello beautiful people! I have studied “Creative Design” in Tokyo, Japan. I have 3 years full time working experience in “Digital Marketing”. Travelled 26 countries so far and still counting. At the moment, working and living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Anything is possible, if you just believe!”

Uyanga Enkhbold is CEO of the Women Entrepreneur Mentors Club, NGO mandated to advance women entrepreneurs through providing economic opportunities such as networking, capacity building and mentoring to women. She was also founder and former CEO of the Developing Bank of Mongolia.

With her experience in project management, managing Women Entrepreneur Mentors Club, and organizing training and events, Uyanga has become Underdogs Global Facilitator to promote social entrepreneurship in Mongolia as she sees it as a solution to many social and environmental issues in Mongolia.

3 years expereincing, working support the MSME women-owned business and support directly 24 women-owned business to access the equipment grants up to US$10,000 and also a mentor of the program manager and a few of the women enterprenuers.

Loem Lida is a co-Founder and Head of Programs & Head Facilitator of ‘SHE Investments’.

Loem Lida is in the business of elevating businesswomen. As co-founder of SHE (Support Her Enterprise) Investments, a business incubator, and accelerator program, Lida’s goal is to promote economic growth in the Kingdom by equipping female business leaders with the tools they need to be successful.

While a majority of businesses in Cambodia are owned by women, female-led businesses account for only 2% of the Kingdom’s formal economy – and SHE Investments is set on changing this statistic. Since launching in 2015, the program has supported more than 250 women, with an average of 155% revenue growth for participants. With expansion plans in the works, Lida said that SHE will be operating in Siem Reap before the year’s end and will be working in an additional three provinces by the end of 2020.

Tang Sivgech is a program coordinator of SHE Investments.

I had been in education business since 2007 from the life of an English teacher. Still the spirit of teaching was in me and again trained as a trainer in 2014 by CEFE International and SIYB (ILO) and a Master Trainer of SIYB (ILO) in 2016. Conducting most of my trainings Shan State, hilly region and a land where avriculture grow well.I would like to develop entrepreneurial mindset to the local ethnic. On the other side, I would also like to develop Myanmar youth to have entrepreneurial spirit. Training got from Underdog would guide me fulfill my intention.

Mya Myo Chel is Head of PS Business School Mandalay as well as Project Director of PS Business School. She is also a Social Enterprise Consultant at British Council, Myanmar and SIYB Trainer certified by ILO. She participated in the International Visiting Leadership Program in the U.S. with the Social Enterprise Program in 2015 and actively participated in Social Enterprise development programs in South Korea, Bangkok, and Thailand. She is Education Management practitioner and active developer of SMEs and Social Enterprises in development programs through educational pathway.

I have over 20 years working expereince in retail business. Especially for fashion business including design and operation. I founded my own brand since 2013 and running well. My hobby is to learn and share on relative business and stastic analysis.

Norby Roque Salonga is a development practitioner, management consultant, and program developer/manager of over 15 internationally recognized programs. A trainer and public speaker with portfolio of over 130 trainings, 78 local/international speaking engagements and organizer of 120 events. A social innovations mentor and a social entrepreneur of over 50 start ups/social enterprises. Asia-Pacific Engagement Leader (Finalist) of the Year by ACEEU, Gat Apolinario Mabini (National) Awardee, and Professional Fellow of YSEALI for Economic Empowerment by the US States Department and American Council for International Education.

Luu Thu Giang is a Head of incubation of National Economic University Center of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She managed all works involving student start-ups incubating includng setting up schedules, organizing Incubation programs and coordinating studetns, investors and companies. She is also a co-founder and COO of KTB E-commerce.

She was a trainer and mentor for student startup projects in NEUrON 2020 Incubation Program. As a coach, she attended National Economic University(NEU) student attending HULT PRIZE regional round.

Huy Nguyen is a faculty member of the Foreign Trade University. He has had one year as Endowment Fund Project Manager & Startup Incubation Program Manager of the Foreign Trade University, and five years as Director of External Relations and Recruitment of the Executive MBA Vietnam, University of Hawaii.

He has mentored many Vietnamese student teams to win international business/ startup competitions, such as Global Social Venture Competiton, ICAEW Southeast Asia Regional Business Challenge, Mekong Business Plan Challenge. He is an inspiring initiator and advisor for Vietnam Social Innovation Competition

Tran Dieu Anh is founder of Papa’s – a social enterprise to be a model of lean start-up that ‘small and beautiful’ and has developed a sustainable space named Dream Up that creates connecting hub for youth’s experiences in permaculture, traditional hand-craft and natural building.

Nurturing core values from environment & sustainable projects for 11 years with Anthropological approach, she is keen on the circular economy that focuses on ecological balance and people-centered development.

Chau working as a lecturer and independent researcher at the Sociology and Social Work department, Hue University of Science, Viet Nam. Her work focused on development studies, development policy, and inclusive innovation. She believes in the power of academic knowledge and problem-based approaches can well adapt to the innovation process since it allows innovator to have thoughtful insight and well predict the risk as well as opportunities rationally. You can only cure the problem with the right diagnosis, social and scientific innovation all have to come from thorough understanding.