The increasing demand for energy in emerging markets is a leading driver for international development. This demand results in increased need for environmental sustainability. In this short audio lecture, Katie Hill discusses the tension between economic development and environmental sustainability. Learn how companies can push through this tradeoff while lowering energy costs and reducing business risks. Hill explains how supply chains bases in Asia and Africa attract investments in affordable clean energy and factory efficiency. In this Social Innovation Conversations, Stanford University podcast, Hill describes the economic challenges manufacturers face with energy in emerging markets, such as Kenya, compared to in the U.S.. This contrast poses a compelling argument for the use of renewable energy in factories around the world to lower energy costs and further responsible economic development.

Katie Hill received a joint MBA/MS in Environmental Science at Stanford University in 2012. Katie’s career is focused on energy infrastructure and natural resources in emerging markets. Having spent six years living in Asia and Africa (India, China, Nepal, Uganda, Botswana), Katie has acquired a deep understanding of these markets. Prior to Stanford, she was the Energy Portfolio Manager for Acumen Fund, an impact investment fund, where she evaluated more than 300 clean technology businesses and managed $4 million in investments. Katie has also worked for McKinsey & Company, Generation Investments, Dalberg Advisors and the China Greentech Initiative.