An esteemed leader in the domain of enterprise digital strategies, Jacob Korenblum has dedicated over 15 years to creating and implementing digital solutions to solve real-world challenges in various regions, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His innovative work has been recognized and featured by notable media outlets such as The Financial Times, Forbes, Devex, and Scientific American. He resides in Toronto, Ontario, where his passion for sailing flourishes.

Career in Social Initiatives and Innovation

From the onset of his career, he has been deeply invested in social justice and aid programs across the globe. After completing his undergraduate studies, he joined the Education Development Center in Washington, D.C., an organization renowned for its global impact. Here, he contributed to developing solutions that enhanced family lives in over 80 countries, focusing on employment, education, and health services.

He quickly rose to prominence within the organization, assuming the role of director of monitoring, evaluation, and communications for a Middle Eastern project. This position entailed several years of living and working in the region. After his tenure with the Education Development Center, he transitioned to OXFAM, a prominent international non-profit. At OXFAM, which assists over 25 million people yearly, he played a critical role in advancing gender equality, economic opportunities, and climate action. His tenure from 2008 to 2010 involved field visits to impoverished areas in Malawi, India, Haiti, and Kenya, where he led microenterprise assessment and mobile technology projects.

Foundation of a New Social Enterprise

During his early years in the Middle East, he identified a significant challenge and opportunity: the limited internet access that hindered economic freedom. Notably, in Palestine, families struggled to obtain reliable internet due to insufficient network coverage and prohibitive costs, even though about 80% of the population owned mobile devices. This scenario was not unique to Palestine but prevalent in several developing countries. In 2005, addressing this gap, he co-founded Souktel, an NPO named after the Arabic words for "telephone" and "market." The organization's vision was to bridge job seekers and employers using SMS technology, eliminating the need for internet connectivity.

Through Souktel, Jacob Korenblum enabled thousands in Palestine to access employment opportunities via mobile devices. Over a decade, he guided the organization to a position of trust and influence in around 30 countries, supporting more than 500,000 users. The organization also launched various social initiatives, including free legal advice and promoting women's workforce participation in the Middle East.

A Digital Career Focus

In 2018, he shifted his focus from non-profit leadership to roles within government and private sectors. From 2018 to 2021, he was instrumental in shaping digital policy for the Government of Ontario. His efforts were pivotal in helping the Ontario Digital Service develop policies that significantly improved digital service delivery to Ontarians, including critical COVID-19-related services that were later implemented across Canada.

Academic History

He graduated from the University of Toronto, earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in 2004. In 2005, he was awarded a Fellowship in Social Enterprise by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation at Harvard University. He completed his Master of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2006, focusing on social enterprise and international education policy.

Notable Accomplishments

He has been an advisor to the UNESCO Pearson Digital Literacy Initiative and a contributor to UNICEF publications. Moreover, he was a member of the advisory board for the Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit between 2016 and 2018.

Charitable Work

For the past four years, Jacob Korenblum has been a strategic advisor to The Global Citizens' Initiative, an international organization committed to advancing human rights, sustainability, climate protection, conflict resolution, and other humanitarian causes.

He continues to be deeply engaged in addressing global social issues, using his vast experience and entrepreneurial skills to benefit small business owners and communities worldwide.