Biography
Sometimes going beyond means seeing the bigger picture, looking at problems through a holistic lens, and attacking them in ways that provide immediate solutions alongside others that withstand the test of time. Sometimes going beyond means doing just that: going beyond. Packing your bags, uprooting your life, and taking your talents to a far-away land—because something bigger calls you, someone meaningful inspires you, and some overlooked nation needs you. To boost their healthcare, lift their spirits, and enrich the lives of their people, forever.
For Abbey Kocan 09MBA, that somewhere is Tanzania, where she, as the executive director of Kupona Foundation, is working to advance the healthcare available to the 12 million Tanzanians living in extreme poverty, earning less than $0.60 per day. The gravity of challenges the Tanzanians face is astounding, but the opportunity to unlock their potential is undeniable. “Healthcare is a fundamental building block,” says Abbey. “Without it, you can’t make progress.” In Abbey’s case, progress starts with understanding. And the skills and knowledge that she developed during her time at Goizueta have been vital to both the foundation’s process, and the impact she’s making in Africa.
The core business tenets that Abbey took with her remain invaluable, but she needed to tap into something bigger. Something less tangible. Something beyond what they teach you in the world of basic business academia. “Yes, you need analysis, business plans, and profitability models. You need innovation and technology,” Abbey says. “But you also have to listen, and appreciate cultural norms and differences. It’s a matter of stepping back, seeing macro-level global trends, and then drilling down into what those mean, and how they drive both immediate actions and longer-term strategy.”
This comprehensive approach to healthcare is what’s pushing Abbey and the Kupona Foundation forward. Together, they are leveraging local expertise to empower people and communities to move beyond their immediate challenges while tapping into their potential. Under Abbey’s leadership, the Kupona team has nearly tripled annual revenue between 2013 and 2017, raising from just under $500,000 per year to over $1.4 million (over $1.5 million, including in-kind donations). That growth is impressive, but Abbey is focused on making even more of an impact, aiming for $7 million by 2020. Although the question of creating legacy isn’t foremost in Abbey’s mind, she’s clear about it: “I want my legacy to be one of unlocking human potential and not backing away from the hard problems. My husband and I want to set an example for our 2-year-old son. We want him to see a hard problem, and rather than backing down, to think about what he— along with his network and community— can do to solve that problem.” If that’s not going beyond … then what in the world is?