Jacob Korenblum

Marketing

Jacob Korenblum is a prominent figure in enterprise digital strategy, with a career spanning over 15 years. He has expertly guided the creation and implementation of digital solutions aimed at addressing real-world challenges in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His innovative approaches have been featured in leading publications such as The Financial Times, Forbes, Devex, and Scientific American. He resides in Toronto, Ontario, where he enjoys sailing.

After completing his bachelor's degree, Korenblum embarked on a career deeply rooted in social justice, starting at the Education Development Center in Washington, D.C. This nonprofit operates globally, striving to enhance educational opportunities, employment prospects, and health services in 80 countries. He quickly climbed the ranks to oversee monitoring, evaluation, and communications for various projects in the Middle East, where he also spent a significant amount of time.

He then progressed to OXFAM, an internationally recognized nonprofit organization focused on promoting gender equality, economic development, and climate action worldwide. From 2008 to 2010, he was involved in field projects in Malawi, India, Haiti, and Kenya, leading efforts on microenterprise assessments and mobile technology projects to foster local economic growth.

A pivotal moment in his career came during his time in the Middle East in the early 2000s when Korenblum observed a significant gap in economic opportunities due to limited internet access. Noting that while a substantial number of families in areas like Palestine lacked affordable and reliable internet service, around 80 percent had mobile phones. This realization led him to co-found Souktel in 2005. This social venture utilized SMS technology to bridge the employment gap by connecting job seekers with employers without needing the Internet. Souktel grew to assist over 500,000 users in about 30 countries, launching various programs aimed at community empowerment.

In 2018, Korenblum shifted his professional focus towards digital policy development for the Government of Ontario. In this role, he contributed significantly to the Ontario Digital Service by developing policies that improved the delivery of digital services to residents, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jacob Korenblum's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Toronto and a Master of Education from Harvard University, where he specialized in social enterprise and international education policy. Today, he continues to dedicate his extensive expertise to supporting small business owners and communities around the world, leveraging digital innovation to foster sustainable development.

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