Solomon Darwin 
Executive Director, Garwood Center Corporate Innovation | Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA, UNITED STATES
Hailed as the “father of the Smart Village Movement”
Areas of Expertise (7)
Open Innovation
Smart Villages / Smart Cities
Business Models Innovation
Strategies for Emerging Economies
Business Ecosystems
Sustainability of the Planet
Forensic Accounting
About
Solomon Darwin has broad leadership experience in corporate management and academia. He is an international speaker recognized by peers, executives, and students with numerous awards for his innovative leadership and passion for teaching. He inspires students from both business and engineering disciplines in his courses for open innovation, business models, smart cities, scalable smart villages, IBM Watson and business models for emerging economies.
As an expert in “open innovation” and “open business models,” he is an adviser to senior executives of multinationals and government leaders in the emerging world. The list includes Google, Genentech, HP, Health Net, J&J, Toyota, NHS of UK, UCSF, Royal Caribbean, Autodesk, Nestle and government entities in Mexico, China, Russia, India, Colombia and Europe. He directs and moderates international innovation conferences and forums, and chairs quarterly Chief Innovation Officer round tables in Silicon Valley.
Prior to joining Berkeley Haas in 2005, he was an Associate Professor for nine years at University of Southern California. His progressive corporate leadership experience covers a span of 14 years as a Senior Executive Officer at Bank of America, First Interstate Bank, and Glendale Federal Bank and Motorola.
During summers, Darwin regularly teaches in executive programs at prominent international universities and institutions. He has conducted workshops and programs in over 18 countries. He also serves as honorary professor at several universities in Europe, China, and India. His current project, “Building Scalable Smart Villages,” was commissioned by the government of India.
Multimedia
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Education (5)
Golden Gate University: Doctoral Studies (Doctor of Business Administration)
Harvard University, Graduate School of Business: MCCP
Golden Gate University: MBA
San Francisco State University: BA
Skyline College: AA
Links (3)
Honors & Awards (8)
PhD (Honorary)
Shanghai Jiao-Tong University, Overseas College
2011
PhD (Honorary)
CapStone University, Pasadena, CA
2005
Leadership Award for Exemplary Service
Haas School of Business
2009
Golden Apple Teaching Awards
Marshall Business School, USC
1999, 2000, 2003
Most Innovative Teacher Award
Marshall Faculty Award, USC
2005
Motor Board Outstanding Professor Award
2005
Professor of the Year Award
National Greek Society – Gamma Sigma Alpha
2003
National Teaching Award "Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers"
2002, 2004, 2005
Selected External Service & Affiliations (25)
- 2014 – present, Directs and Organizes The World Open Innovation Forum (annual)
- 2009 – present, Directs and Organizes The Berkeley Innovation Semiannual Forums
- 2009 – present, Chair, Chief Innovation Officer Round tables (quarterly meetings)
- 2015 – present, Directs Garwood Innovation Fellows Program (Executive-in-residence program)
- 2012 – present, Conducts Leadership Seminars for Indian & Chinese C-suite Executives
- 2011 – present, Keynote Speaker: Corporate Start-up Summit, Zurich (2018); Indian Institute of Plantation Management, India (2019); Inno-Frugal Conference, Finland (2018); TEDx Mumbai (2018); World Cities Congress, Istanbul (2017); International Triple Helix Conference, UK (2013); Big Innovation Center, London (2013/2012); International Open Innovations Conference, Moscow, (2012); Columbia Department of Commerce, Colombia (2016); Innovation Conference, Germany (2011); World Trade Center, Mexico City (2011/2010); The Atlantic’s “American Competitiveness,” San Francisco (2006)
- 2010 – 2018, Custom Courses Taught for Senior Executives at Google, HP, Genentech, Health Net, Conceptus, UCSF Medical Center, CIO Institute, American Association of Corporate Counsel
- 2005 – 2018, New Courses Development: Business Models & Open Innovation for Emerging Economies; Building Smart Cities; Creating Smart Villages; IBM Watson & Business Models; Forensic Accounting and International Accounting and Custom Executive Accounting Programs
- 2007 – 2010, New Degree Development: Developed a New Master’s Degree in Accounting for UC system wide adoptions: Spearheaded from inception to approval
- 2017, Developed a Framework for the first smart village in the world – the “Mori Village” in India”
- 2017, Conducting the First Inaugural Open Innovation Forum in India
- 2018, Continued Smart Village research in 466 villages that was funded by the government of India
- 2006 – 2009, Chaired, Chief Financial Officer Round tables (quarterly meetings)
- 2010, Chief Content Officer and Moderator: CFO Summit for Global 1000 companies, San Francisco
- 2005 – 2009, Directed and moderated annual Financial Reporting Conferences
- 1999 and 2003, Founded and spearheaded an International School and Charity Hospital in India
- 2005 – Present, President of Hope For People International, Los Angeles
- 1986 – Present, Chairman, Project India
- 1998 – 2000, Board of Directors, Genius Labs, Pasadena
- 1998 – 2004, Board of Directors, Mustard Seed International, Pasadena
- 1980 – 1990, Board of Directors, Mission Compassion Inc., a relief organization, San Francisco
- 1998 – 2000, Consulting for several companies started by former students
- 1992 –1993, Chief Financial Officer, Mustard Seed Inc., Pasadena
- Chaired CFRM Executive Board and Advisory Boards for Financial Reporting Conferences
- Faculty Advisor to several student organizations student case competitions
Positions Held (3)
At Haas since 2005
2009 – Present, Executive Director, Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation
2008 – 2009, Executive Director, Center for Innovative Financial Technology
2005 – 2008, Executive Director, Center for Financial Reporting & Management
1996 – 2005, Associate Professor, University of Southern California
1984 – 1995, Senior Corporate Officer: Bank of America, 1st Interstate Bank
1980 – 1983, Senior Financial Analyst, Motorola
Adjunct Professorships
2015 – Present, Adjunct Professor on Faculty, Lancaster (U.K.) University, School of Management
2011 – Present, Adjunct Professor on Faculty, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University
Visiting Positions Since 1996
Cambridge University
Norwegian Business School
University of Turku, Finland
Oxford University
University of Toronto
Kings University, Bangkok
Aachen University, Germany
WHU, Germany
Maastricht University, Netherlands
Lancaster University, UK
Stockholm School of Economies
University of Zurich
University of Science & Technology, China
World Trade Center, Mexico
Jiao Tong University, China
Korean University
Qingdao University, China
Moscow State University, Russia
International University of Business & Economics, Beijing, China
China Normal University
Fraunhofer Institute, Germany
Wuhan University, China
Euro-med School of Management, France
EM Lyon School of Management, France
Peter Drucker School of Management, Claremont, CA
Stanford University, Graduate School of Management
Media Appearances (12)
Solomon Darwin takes corporate innovation to rural villages in India
Oakland Magazine online
2018-11-19
Solomon Darwin, Executive Director of the Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation, has become an increasingly influential promoter of U.S.-India ties. He's also the leader of a Smart Village Movement that aims to bring technological and economic development to India’s rural villages.
Solomon Darwin’s new books explore the Smart Village movement
Berkeley Haas News
2018-09-12
Solomon Darwin, the executive director of the Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation, has just published two new books, The Road to Mori: Smart Villages of Tomorrow and The Untouchables: Three Generations of Triumph Over Torment.
Arunachal Pradesh Inks Deal To Facilitate Development Of Villages
NDTV
2018-06-14
The Arunchal Pradesh government has inked an agreement with Andhra Pradesh-based Smart Village Movement (SVM) to facilitate technology innovations, research and development in selected villages of the north-eastern state, an official release said.
Smart village initiative for Arunachal Pradesh
Business Standard
2018-06-14
The Arunchal Pradesh government has inked an agreement with Andhra Pradesh-based Smart Village Movement (SVM) to facilitate technology innovations, research and development in selected villages of the north-eastern state, an official release said.
Consul General visits IBM, talks of technology for greater good
India Post online
2018-06-13
Solomon Darwin, executive director of the Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation, will serve as an advisor to a new Smart Village project facilitating technology innovation, research, and development in selected villages of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
What the FDA Can Teach Us About Regulatory Excellence
The Regulatory Review online
2018-01-16
Regulators must often make difficult decisions based on uncertain or limited information. When it comes to issues of public health or safety, these decisions can become even more difficult due to media scrutiny and public criticism.
Opinion: Internet inclusion is meaningless without digital literacy
Devex
2018-01-03
Solomon Darwin, executive director at the Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation, part of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, spoke at the Internet Inclusion: Advancing Solutions event in Washington, D.C., organized by the IEEE Internet Initiative: “In every village in India, residents can get Nike shoes delivered by Amazon or find a shop in the most Godforsaken places selling a cold can of Coca-Cola ... but the lady who is making the beautiful sari in an Indian village can’t put it on the Internet to sell to people in other countries.”
Ericsson demonstrates 'Water Grid Management' IoT solutions in AP
Deccan Chronicle online
2016-12-29
"This project has been conceptualized in order to develop a smart village by leveraging digital technology and open innovation. Ericsson's 'Connected Aquaponics' and 'Smart Water Grid' solutions integrate sustainable agriculture and aquaculture which help optimize water distribution and reduce adverse effects on ground water," said Executive Director of Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation at UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business, Professor Solomon Darwin.
Growth Opportunities for Large Multinationals in Emerging Economies
LinkedIn Pulse
2016-09-14
Solomon Darwin: Dear Honorable Chief Minister, you have been a proponent of the creation for smart villages, and I am very much with you in this movement from the Open Innovation point of view. Unlike many prevailing definitions of a smart village, UC Berkeley’s Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation has established a unique proprietary definition of smart village, which is clearly stated in my executive summary provided to you. I teach Open Innovation in developing scalable and sustainable business models at UC Berkeley.
Small is smart for this A.P. village
The Hindu
2016-10-18
Mori, a small cashew-exporting village in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district is to turn ‘smart’ in December, using digital tools, real time information and uninterrupted internet connectivity.
The prototype of a net-connected rural habitation will be launched here, under a partnership between the Andhra Pradesh government, the University of California at Berkeley, and several leading technology organisations.
Plan to set up premier digital, innovation centres in State
The Hindu online
2016-06-21
Terming the setting up of the COI by Prof. Solomon Darwin of Garwood as a great beginning, Mr. Chowdary said people-to-people, intellectual connections were important for success.
Usha Sewing Schools: Helping Curb Migration In India's First Smart Village In Andhra Pradesh
NDTV
2018-04-21
As India moves towards making its cities more citizen friendly and sustainable, under its Smart Cities Mission, its rural counterparts are bracing for challenges of a different kind. In 2015, the government put forth the Smart Villages plan of converting a cluster of 300 villages into smart villages. But the issues faced in villages are very different from the urban stress points. Quality of life, education, healthcare, environment and employment are the most prominent challenges in the rural belt. The sleepy village of Mori has emerged as Andhra Pradesh's first smart village. Even as elsewhere people struggle with digital payments, Mori has a digital panchayat.
Selected Papers & Publications (11)
Solomon Darwin, Henry Chesbrough, Sea Matilda Bez, Chiara Eleonora De Marco
Spring 2019
To request access, email sdarwin@berkeley.edu.
Solomon Darwin, Henry Chesbrough, Sea Matilda Bez, Chiara E. De Marco
December 2018
Solomon Darwin, Henry Chesbrough, Sea Matilda Bez, Chiara E. De Marco
December 2018
Solomon Darwin, Henry Chesbrough, Werner Fischer, Sea Matilda Bez
Fall 2018
To request access, email sdarwin@berkeley.edu.
Solomon Darwin, Henry Chesbrough, Sea Matilda Bez
December 2017
Solomon Darwin and Henry Chesbrough
November 2017
Solomon Darwin and Henry Chesbrough
October 2018
Jan A. Pfister, Sarah L. Jack, Solomon N. Darwin
September 2017
Solomon Darwin and Henry Chesbrough
January 2017
Solomon Darwin
July 2015
Anirudha Agnihotry, Michele G Daly, Solomon Darwin, Chris S Ivanoff
2015-03-01
March 2015
Teaching (10)
Creating Smart Villages
UGBA196-5
Building Smart Cities Leveraging Open Innovation
UGBA 193i
Open Innovation & Business Models
EWMBA 290T
AI and Business Models Leveraging Open Innovation
UGBA 198
Topics in Open Innovation
MBA 290T.2/ENG 298A.2
Open Innovation and Business Models
UGBA 190T
Business Innovation in Emerging Economies
UGBA 190I
Financial Reporting
EMBA 202
Managerial Accounting
MBA 224
International Accounting / Forensic Accounting
UGBA 127
Social