Why Us

Our insights, content and people set us apart

OUR INSIGHTS

Our Frontline Insights Span The Continent

From Iran to Japan, Mongolia to Indonesia, we’ve worked on dozens of business, policy and leadership challenges across a broad spectrum of sectors and industries.

We’ve facilitated collaboration between a European juice giant and a Chinese smallholder farming cooperative, promoted inclusive fintech to bank Myanmar’s unbanked, and developed strategies to provide appropriate healthcare technology in India and Vietnam.

A deep appreciation for local context and cultures, and an extensive network of regional relationships help us foster impactful, sustainable solutions for our clients and partners.

 
OUR CONTENT

Our Ideas Are
Our Ideas

Thought provoking and practical, GIFT’s original content covers leadership learning, business models for the future, and our vision for redesigning society.

Our proprietary curriculum and learning methodology have been presented to the United Nations as an innovation in leadership development.

We write books, reports, and articles that are published and presented globally, and our library of sustainability driven business models uncover exciting opportunities to address some of the world’s most salient challenges.

our ideas
 

Curriculum

GIFT leverages a proprietary curriculum and learning tools refined over 15 years of running leadership programmes and workshops. Our content is revised and updated regularly to ensure it remains relevant, meaningful and highly engaging.

 
OUR PEOPLE

We Practice What We Preach

Our vibrant global team, led by Founder and CEO Chandran Nair, has diverse backgrounds, experience, and interdisciplinary skill sets. We embody our ethos to ensure everything we deliver pushes the boundaries and exceeds expectations.

GIFT’s world-class project research, design and management are all conducted in-house, with a leadership team involved at every step, from ideation to facilitation.

Our team and insights are enriched by an unrivalled global network including CEOs and scientists, policy makers and entrepreneurs, NGO leaders and social activists.

Chandran at WEF
our people
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SPEAK TO US






  • KARIM RUSHDY
    MANAGING DIRECTOR – ASEAN

    Karim joined GIFT in 2010 after participating in the Global Leaders Programme and has since designed and facilitated dozens of experiential programmes for high potential executives and government officials. In his current role Karim leads the ASEAN office and is responsible for GIFT’s regional activities and programmes across Southeast Asia. Prior to GIFT Karim spent a decade in Mainland China where he was a partner in a successful nationwide food and beverage business. Karim’s articles on insights gathered through GIFT programmes have appeared in a range of publications. He has an MBA from the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing and is a proficient Mandarin speaker.






  • ERIC STRYSON
    MANAGING DIRECTOR – GLOBAL SERVICES

    In addition to leading GIFT’s dynamic team and business, since 2008, Eric has facilitated more than 50 experiential leadership programmes in fifteen countries. He is well versed in introducing new ideas on governance, business and sustainability and coaching participants to think critically about their role as leaders. Before joining GIFT, Eric spent several years managing multi-stakeholder partnerships between global brands and civil society groups in the United States and China. He writes and speaks regularly on topics related to leadership development and the changing role of business in society. Eric is an alumnus of Standford University and holds a Masters from Hong Kong University.






  • CHANDRAN NAIR
    FOUNDER & CEO

    For more than three decades, Chandran has advised governments and MNCs on strategic management, leadership issues and sustainability, and is often invited to facilitate for top corporate education providers including Duke CE, INSEAD and NUS. He was previously Chairman of ERM in Asia Pacific, helping establish it as the world’s leading environmental consultancy. Chandran is on the Executive Committee of the Club of Rome and is a member of WEF’s Global Agenda Council on Governance for Sustainability and Experts Forum, where his thought leadership is sought for its fresh insights and intellectual honesty. He is the author of the best-seller – Consumptionomics: Asia’s Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet, and The Sustainable State: The Future of Government, Economy and Society.