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World We Dare to Imagine Part 3: MicroStart

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Sometimes, it only takes $25. A loan that small can mean a new sewing machine for a tailor, a cart for a street vendor, or a water pump for a small farmer. Microcredit started with this simple but powerful idea: that small amounts of capital, when placed in the right hands, can unlock massive potential. But somewhere along the way, the spirit of microfinance was lost. As commercial lenders entered the space, the mission shifted from empowerment to profit. Borrowers were pressured into taking loans they couldn’t afford, interest rates soared, and in places like India, the human cost was devastating—including a tragic rise in borrower suicides. The problem wasn’t with microfinance itself. The problem was how it was twisted by market forces. Our Mission The MicroStart Initiative dares to reclaim what microfinance was meant to be: a tool for building futures, not deepening poverty. Our mission is to empower underserved communities by offering responsible microcredit, coupled with fin...
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World We Imagine: Giovanni Riad

My first step in making the world a better place would be using the skills I’ve built to work on problems that actually matter to people—like access to clean water, stable jobs, and fair government. I’ve always been drawn to international work, especially in the Middle East, where I have personal ties and language skills. After graduation, I’m heading to Jordan to continue deepening that connection—working on the ground, improving my Arabic, and learning directly from local communities. I want to be involved in projects that aren’t just designed from a distance but are shaped by the people they’re meant to serve. That could mean working in policy, research, or consulting, but the goal would stay the same: helping communities build systems that last. I’m especially interested in how foreign aid, public infrastructure, and resource governance can be improved to better serve people in the long term. I believe effective change doesn’t happen through one-off programs—it happens when people...
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Random Post 2

     On June 6th, 2010, a young man named Khaled Saeed was sitting in an internet café in Alexandria when two plainclothes police officers arrested him. Multiple witnesses later testified that the officers publicly beat him to death. In contrast, the police claimed Saeed had choked while trying to swallow a small bag of hashish. Shortly after, Saeed’s brother released photos of his severely disfigured body from the morgue, directly challenging the official story. The officers involved were not prosecuted, and organizations like Human Rights Watch widely criticized the internal investigation. Although this was far from the first instance of police brutality in Egypt, the case struck a nerve. It sparked widespread outrage, particularly against the “emergency laws” that had long enabled the Mubarak regime to suppress dissent, rule with impunity, and manipulate elections. Khaled Saeed became known as the “emergency law martyr,” symbolizing the deep mistrust Egyptians felt tow...
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Book 2 Giovanni Riad

I read Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant, and I picked it up because I was curious about what it means to actually change your mind — especially in a world where people treat being wrong like a moral failure. Grant, who’s an organizational psychologist, argues that intelligence isn’t about always being right, but about having the humility and flexibility to rethink your beliefs. I didn’t finish the entire book — just the first three-quarters — but even that portion left a strong impression. The stories he shares are memorable, like the firefighter who escaped a wildfire by setting his own fire, or the debate champion who wins arguments by listening more than speaking. It’s filled with fascinating psychology studies and real-world examples that made me reconsider how I approach disagreement, doubt, and even confidence. I thought the book was refreshing, though at times it started to feel a bit repetitive — the message is powerful, but once you get it,...
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Rough Draft AMDP Proposal Giovanni Riad

Have you ever wondered why your favorite celebrities never seem to age? Jennifer Aniston, Kendall Jenner, and Joe Rogan swear by NAD+ boosting supplements. After researching Chromadex, a leading NAD+ supplement producer, I have concluded that it is a lucrative investment and a critical step into the future of combatting the adverse effects of aging. By the end of this memo, you will understand: Our standards for investment An overview of AMDP as a company and its financials Two critical appraisals of Chromadex My recommendation and reasonings for this investment opportunity The Standards of AMDP: Triple Bottom Line:  https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-the-triple-bottom-line   Measures a company’s success beyond profit by considering social and environmental impact. Profit: Financial performance and long-term business success. People: Social responsibility, fair labor, and community impact. Planet: Environmental sustainability and reduced carbon footprint. Companies that...
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Giovanni Riad: Random Post 1

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to meet Mayor London Breed of San Francisco. I had read about her political career and knew of her reputation as a formidable leader, but nothing prepared me for the insights she would share that day. As we spoke, she recounted a pivotal time as a district supervisor. In just months, she had successfully persuaded multiple city offices to spearhead initiatives redeveloping three streets in her district. She had a vision, but more importantly, she knew how to unite people to execute it. Her ability to navigate the intricate web of city government, leaning on a diverse political network that spanned various offices, set her apart. Within two years, her influence had grown so strong that she was elected President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I was eager to ask her about the most important lesson she had learned in her political career. She could have spoken about policy-making, legislative battles, or the technicalities of governance. ...
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BOOK 1, Post 2 - Giovanni Riad: Love Loss and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi

I chose to read Love Loss and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi because I was interested in how someone could weave together food culture and personal identity into a compelling memoir. Lakshmi is known as a model television personality and cookbook author but her journey into these fields was far from conventional. I wanted to see how she built a career that constantly evolved and how she used her life experiences to tell a meaningful story. After reading the first eight chapters I can say that this book is engaging emotional and at times frustrating but overall a fascinating look at reinvention and resilience. One of the things I liked most about the book is how effortlessly Lakshmi blends food into her storytelling. She does not just describe meals she uses them as markers of time, connection, and emotion. Whether she is recalling a childhood dish from her South Indian roots or navigating life after divorce through cooking she makes food feel deeply personal. I also found it interestin...
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