Meet intrepid entrepreneurs from Africa and South Asia, hear their stories of trial and triumph, and gain insights and guidance from Stanford University faculty and global business experts on how to transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.
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Latest Episode
Idea Stories Opensearch
April 15, 2025
Audio
Stanford Professors Reflect on Fostering Grit & Nurturing Growth
Four professors look back on what they’ve learned about entrepreneurs in emerging markets and how it has impacted their teaching.
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Host
Darius Teter
Executive Director, Stanford Seed
Featured Episodes
Grit & Growth Season Four
Idea Stories Opensearch
April 15, 2025
Audio
Stanford Professors Reflect on Fostering Grit & Nurturing Growth
Four professors look back on what they’ve learned about entrepreneurs in emerging markets and how it has impacted their teaching.
March 20, 2025
Audio
Short Takes: Growing Impact, Stitch by Stitch
Growing a fashion company can mean more than growing profits. It can be a path toward helping people and the planet thrive.
February 18, 2025
Audio
Short Takes: Disrupting African Travel, One Ticket at a Time
Follow one entrepreneur’s journey as he sets out to digitize and transform Africa’s transportation sector.
January 29, 2025
Audio
Short Takes: Breaking Barriers with Heavy Machinery
One woman’s quest to make India less dependent on machinery imports while breaking down a few gender barriers in the process.
January 07, 2025
Audio
Short Takes: Building a Health(y) Business in Rural India
The business of providing health care in a remote region in India has strategic lessons for everyone, everywhere.
December 19, 2024
Audio
Stories Sell: A Masterclass on Building Trust One Tale at a Time
An expert in sales shares her hands-on experiences and expertise on how to build trust and deliver value.
December 06, 2024
Audio
Securing Seed Capital: Can You Pass the Napkin Test?
A leading venture capitalist in Africa shares universal advice on how savvy founders can impress potential funders.
November 05, 2024
Audio
Leading Through Layoffs: A Masterclass with Esi Ansah
An HR expert shares leadership strategies for handling the complexities of workforce reductions, no matter the size of your business.
October 16, 2024
Audio
From Downsizing to Thriving: Strategic HR in a Global Context
An HR expert shares strategies for navigating your human capital with an eye toward the future.
September 24, 2024
Audio
Masterclass on Stanford’s Most Popular Leadership Course
Lecturer in interpersonal dynamics shares practical strategies to strengthen your leadership with more authentic communication and connections.
Grit & Growth Season Three
Idea Stories Opensearch
April 03, 2024
Audio
Short Takes: Trailblazing the Internet of Things in Bangladesh
Taking risks, receiving feedback, and recharging when depleted are how this Bangladeshi entrepreneur overcomes doubt and stays motivated.
March 12, 2024
Audio
Short Takes: Where Science Meets Culture
Technology and culture can empower your teams to achieve winning results.
February 20, 2024
Audio
Short Takes: Pioneering a Holistic Approach to Speech Therapy in Kenya
How an unexpected entrepreneur used her passion and persistence to gain recognition for speech therapy in Kenya.
January 09, 2024
Audio
Short Takes: How to Balance Family and Business
A woman’s place is in the home and the office, but managing both can be a tricky balancing act.
December 13, 2023
Audio
Workplace Friction: How to Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder
Stanford professor and acclaimed author Bob Sutton shares insights on how to eliminate unwanted friction in your organization — starting at the top.
November 27, 2023
Audio
Fail It ’til You Nail It: Masterclass on Embracing the Upside of Down
Stanford GSB professor shares insights on how to create an environment of psychological safety to remove the stigma of failure and increase your success.
October 31, 2023
Audio
Creating a Culture of Healthy Debate
Creating an environment of psychological safety yields benefits to organizations, teams, and leaders.
October 11, 2023
Audio
Flashback: Raising Capital in Africa, It’s Not Just About the Money
In this flashback to an episode from season one, discover how to maximize the value of your firm’s next funding round.
September 19, 2023
Audio
How to “Think Faster and Talk Smarter”: a Masterclass with Matt Abrahams
Stanford GSB lecturer Matt Abrahams shares practical advice for speaking spontaneously — in both your personal and professional life.
August 29, 2023
Audio
The Business of Ending Generational Poverty in India
How one social enterprise built a successful revenue model while having a large-scale, positive impact.
Grit & Growth Season Two
Idea Stories Opensearch
March 14, 2023
Audio
Short Takes: Sweet Success — Can You Build an Ice Cream Unicorn in India?
The keys to sweet success for an ice cream business in India? Day-to-day discipline and execution.
February 21, 2023
Audio
Short Takes: From Farms to Forks
For this entrepreneur, moving from Kenyan farms to forks can be a delicious — and profitable — journey.
January 31, 2023
Audio
Short Takes: Bringing Affordable Medical Imaging to Botswana
Her father’s cancer diagnosis led one woman to discover an unmet need for imaging services in Botswana — and then to fill that need.
January 10, 2023
Audio
Short Takes: Bringing Safe Water to Rural India
A social enterprise success strategy: clean water in rural India, subsidized by urban consumers.
December 20, 2022
Audio
Customer Psychology: Why Don’t People Buy Your Stuff?
Know your customers and how to satisfy their needs, and you’re on the road to success.
December 08, 2022
Audio
Marketing: Who Are Your Actual Customers?
Understanding who your customers are and how to meet their needs is key to effective marketing.
November 22, 2022
Audio
Navigating Corruption: A Case Study from India
In the face of corruption in India, wise business leaders must decide what is negotiable — and what isn’t.
November 08, 2022
Audio
Bribes, Kickbacks, “Commissions,” Oh My! — Dealing with Corruption
Corruption is hard to fight while running a business — but strong leadership and ethics can help you succeed, and even change a corrupt system.
October 26, 2022
Audio
Survival and Growth: Franchising in Africa
The power and pitfalls of using a franchise model to grow your business in Africa.
October 13, 2022
Audio
Masterclass: Driving Business Growth
Studies of small African businesses show entrepreneurs benefit greatly from coaching, classroom training, and networking.
Grit & Growth Season One
Idea Stories Opensearch
March 14, 2022
Audio
Season 1 “Aha” Moments: The Entrepreneurs Who Made Us Think
A look back at the lessons learned and powerful moments from the first season of Grit & Growth.
March 02, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: A Tough Nut to Crack
Ten Senses is not only growing a successful agribusiness, it’s also doing right by farmers — and combating climate change in East Africa.
February 16, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: Clear as Water
Joissam Ghana brings clean water to rural areas of West and Central Africa.
February 15, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: The Boy from the Streets
How one entrepreneur from the streets of Lagos created a successful HR company.
January 18, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: A Fundamental Right
At Future Farms, the future of agriculture in India includes food that is clean, healthy, and affordable.
January 18, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: What About My People?
Individual success alone isn’t enough for this Botswana-based entrepreneur — he wants to pave the way to success for all of his people.
January 07, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: Making a Difference
Wandia Gichuru’s fashion brand for African women empowers both customers and employees in Kenya.
December 07, 2021
Audio
A Conversation with Juliet Anammah, Jumia Nigeria
Find out how Africa’s largest e-commerce platform connects buyers and sellers across the continent.
November 30, 2021
Audio
The Future of Debt: Can Fintech Fill the Gap?
Fintech companies that use artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing the future of lending for businesses in Nigeria and beyond.
November 16, 2021
Audio
Profile of Purpose: Flowers in the River
Ankit Agarwal’s flower recycling business helps clean the Ganges River, improve public health, and employ disadvantaged women in India.
November 02, 2021
Audio
Profile of Purpose: One Stitch at a Time
Linda Ampah provides more than factory jobs to women and girls in Ghana — she provides housing and hope.
October 19, 2021
Audio
Masterclass: Communicating with Confidence
Confidence and mindset can alleviate anxiety and improve almost any pitch or meeting.
October 05, 2021
Audio
Communicating Your Big Idea
Stanford lecturer shares tips to improve your next business pitch.
September 21, 2021
Audio
It’s All in Your Head: Masterclass on Thriving in Turbulent Times
Baba Shiv explains how to develop a risk-tolerant mindset.
September 07, 2021
Audio
Rising from the Ashes: Reflections on Resilient Leadership
Learn how one Ghanaian entrepreneur overcame fires, floods, theft, and COVID-19 to build a more resilient and successful company.
August 24, 2021
Audio
Masterclass on the Ins & Outs of Mergers & Acquisitions
Lessons from M&A deals in emerging markets.
August 10, 2021
Audio
The Moment Chooses You: The Strategic Acquisition Journey
How to prepare for the unexpected and avoid potential pitfalls — before, during, and after an acquisition.
July 27, 2021
Audio
Masterclass on India’s Venture Capital Ecosystem
In this episode, gain practical tips for raising money in India from a venture capital pioneer.
July 13, 2021
Audio
Successfully Raising Capital in India in a New Sector
Pocket Aces founders saw a huge opportunity, but first had to find investors willing to buy into their vision.
June 29, 2021
Audio
Raising Capital in Africa: It’s Not Just About the Money
In this episode, discover how to maximize the value of your firm’s next funding round.
June 15, 2021
Audio
East Meets West: An African Strategic Acquisition Story
Gain insights from a successful fintech acquisition in Africa.
June 01, 2021
Audio
Masterclass on Running a Family Business
Peter Francis shares his expertise on how to effectively run a family business.
May 18, 2021
Audio
Managing a Family Business for Success and Succession
Exploring the dynamics and decisions of running a family business in Kenya.
May 11, 2021
Audio
Special Episode: Managing a Health Care Business in India During COVID
Learn how a health care leader in India dealt with the COVID-19 crisis.