Serving the 2.5 billion with uncorrected poor vision, most of whom live in base-of-pyramid (BoP) markets with limited or no access to and awareness of vision care, requires ongoing innovation and a dedicated dynamic talent pool to initiate and drive this innovation.
That is why our Base of Pyramid (BoP) Innovation Lab launched the Essilor BoP (EBoP) Fellowship – a prestigious first-of-its-kind program which aims to create a global movement of like-minded individuals and encourage the development of young talents in the field of social impact.
The fellowship will identify passionate, energized and high-performing individuals to co-create on-ground initiatives in BoP markets with Essilor as we strive towards our ambition of eliminating poor vision by 2050. The fellows will initiate and lead live projects on-ground while based out of these BoP markets over a period of six months.
When the program was first announced last October, we received over a hundred applications. By February, our inaugural batch of EBoP fellows, handpicked via a rigorous selection process, was ready to start their journey with us.
Our first five EBoP fellows – Cynthia, Kartikye, Vianney, Kiefer and Zhong Han – while hailing from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, share a unique combination of sharp business acumen and an unflinching drive to help the underserved. We’re very excited to learn from their fresh ideas and insights, and help them gain valuable first-hand exposure to inclusive business in base-of-pyramid contexts through a wide range of on-ground activities.
“Our first five EBoP fellows – Cynthia, Kartikye, Vianney, Kiefer and Zhong Han – while hailing from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, share a unique combination of sharp business acumen and an unflinching drive to help the underserved. We’re very excited to learn from their fresh ideas and insights, and help them gain valuable first-hand exposure to inclusive business in base-of-pyramid contexts through a wide range of on-ground activities,” said Anurag Hans, head of Base of Pyramid innovation and market acceleration at Essilor. “This program will also possibly help us identify future Essilor leaders!”
Let’s get to know our fellows!
Cynthia Antypa
EBoP Fellow
It was great to return home to Ethiopia, where I grew up, and explore how inclusive business models can be implemented in the country depending on local vision needs.
Hear from Cynthia here!
Kartikye Aggarwal
EBoP Fellow
I spent the first three months of my fellowship in India on the Eye Mitra program in the field, understanding the challenges and how to improve it. Following that, I shifted my focus to Kenya, transferring my learnings to the Eye Rafiki program.
Hear from Kartikye here!
Vianney de Boisredon
EBoP Fellow
The six-month fellowship offered by Essilor BoP Innovation Lab was the perfect opportunity to reconcile my desire to both pioneer an impactful project in a low-income market and challenge myself in an unfamiliar environment.
Hear from Vianney here!
Kiefer Kofman
EBoP Fellow
Being passionate in human development issues, having the chance to be immersed in the field and understand the issues I have studied in a more intimate, innovative and practical way was an opportunity I could not pass up.
Hear from Kiefer here!
Lee Zhong Han
EBoP Fellow
I was moved to contribute to Essilor’s compelling mission of ‘Improving Lives by Improving Sight’ as it resonated deeply with my personal vision of learning from seemingly disparate bodies of knowledge and building towards a better world.
Hear from Zhong Han here!