Donna Rosa

Stop wasting resources on weak cohorts. Learn the selection criteria that predict follow-through, readiness, and measurable business growth for MSME coaching programs.

Entrepreneurs in developing countries face unique challenges. Learn four practical tips to ignite your business: risk management, business planning, founder commitment, and winning with demand + differentiation.

Conflict is a leading driver of crisis-level hunger. Learn how war disrupts food systems, how hunger is weaponized, and what experts, businesses, and humanitarian actors can do to mitigate conflict-based food insecurity.

I had a great time chatting with Carl Allen on the All About Us (Africa & Diaspora) podcast. So many great questions, and he unexpectedly turned the tables and had me ask him three questions! We talked about: · My transition from the corporate world to international development · The differences between corporate structures and microenterprises in developing economies · How EFour evolved and operates · Benefits of remote coaching · Overcoming th

I had a great conversation with Jeanne Omlor digging into developing-country entrepreneur support, food security, and the now-defunct USAID. Summary Donna Rosa explores the intersection of entrepreneurship and food security in emerging economies. From tackling deadly food safety threats like aflatoxins in peanuts to addressing systemic issues like waste and infrastructure gaps, she highlights practical solutions and global mindsets that drive lasting impact through local acti

This is a piece I wrote for IFT's Brain Food blog about the implications and repercussions of the abrupt shutdown of USAID. It focuses on the food system and food and nutrition security, and what the food science community can do to help. https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/blog/2025/a-world-without-usaid Also read: https://www.donnamrosa.com/post/food-science-and-humanitarian-aid

Donna was a guest on The Digital Download podcast and had an insightful convo about what's different about small businesses in developing countries.

It was a true pleasure to sit down with Tim Hughes to talk about the challenges of entrepreneurship in the developing world. He writes "Donna empowers entrepreneurs in emerging economies. She said to me on the preparation call, I’m not selling anything, I don’t have some super system to make you rich, I just want to come and talk about the struggle people have starting a business in a developing country." Give it a watch! https://youtu.be/WIxbMMJb3I4?si=Zf7HEQGu6SNzU-rr For

I’m thrilled and honored to be profiled in Exeleon Magazine’s “Transformational Women Leaders to Watch” issue for International Women’s Day March 8, 2024. Women’s History Month ushers women across the globe into the limelight and advocates for women’s equality. Yet, we’re overlooking millions of women as if they were invisible: female entrepreneurs in developing countries. They are unseen and unheard outside the international aid community, but they are a quiet, hardworking,

Watch my interview with Neal DiPentino of "Business Breakthroughs". Learn about about the challenges and rewards of coaching micro-entrepreneurs in developing economies. Discover Donna Rosa's inspiring journey from the food industry to international development, where she aids entrepreneurs across the globe, especially in Africa. 🔍 Learn about the unique challenges faced by 'entrepreneurs of necessity' in developing regions, who often lack formal business education, and how

Read the Institute of Food Technology's Food Technology Magazine profile of me and my humanitarian work in developing countries, focusing on food science and food security. Link to article: Bridge Builder - IFT.org summary 🌍Career path Began in major food companies (Unilever, Nabisco, Nestlé, Givaudan). A corporate restructuring pushed a rethink of purpose; I could use my technical and business expertise to support entrepreneurs in developing countries. First assignment (Lan

I was quoted in a CEO Blog Nation article about business naming, specifically how entrepreneurs come up with their company names.

Donna Rosa joins The Burning Desire Show to discuss transitioning from corporate to international development, aid effectiveness, and how to support entrepreneurs in developing countries through practical, long-term systems and mentorship.

Listen to my interview that covers both entrepreneurship in developing countries and the need for food science and technology to be utilized to address global food and nutrition insecurity. Many thanks to Business Fights Poverty for giving me a platform. Link: Scaling Green Tech Solutions for Smallholder Farmers (businessfightspoverty.org) Monday May 15 2023 Donna’s high-flying career in food technology and nutritional science would have been enough for most of us. Instead, D

By Donna Rosa One thing that has always impressed me about working with entrepreneurs in developing countries is that many start businesses so they can make a social contribution to their local communities. I find it extraordinarily admirable, especially since they operate under such difficult circumstances. Social entrepreneurship goes beyond a traditional business’s sole objective of making a profit; it seeks to have a positive impact on society. In one sense the dual obje

By Donna Rosa Developing-country entrepreneurs often tap into grant money to fund their businesses, either for startup or growth stages. Grants can be a wonderful source of funding. However, they are competitive, and it takes work to make an application stand out. I see a lot of deserving businesses get passed over because of completely avoidable mistakes. Here are some tips to get an edge. 1. Make sure you qualify This seems obvious, but entrepreneurs will often apply for g

By Donna Rosa One thing developing-country entrepreneurs struggle with, usually in the process of writing a business plan, is their business’s mission statement. It can be mind-numbing because of a tendency to overthink it, but there’s a way to keep it simple and straightforward. It’s an interesting exercise to read company mission statements. They can be brief or wordy, basic or esoteric, simple or complex. See https://fitsmallbusiness.com/mission-statement-examples/ for s

By Donna Rosa A big problem for developing-country entrepreneurs that doesn’t get much attention is attracting and retaining skilled talent. It’s really, really hard for microenterprises to find and keep good people, yet good employees are critical to their growth and success. the double whammy These small businesses are dealing with the double whammy of limited funds for salaries and limited availability of good workers with the needed skills and/or work habits. But don't w

Many, if not most, entrepreneurs in developing countries start businesses without a business plan, or any type of plan. If you’re considering entrepreneurship the prospect of a business plan can be confusing, intimidating or beyond your skill set. What is a business plan anyway? Do you even need one? Why or why not? How do you go about developing one? Let’s tackle those questions together. What is a business plan? Let’s begin at the beginning. A business plan is two thi

Listen to my interview on the Humanitarian Entrepreneur podcast where I talk about how I started my company, the need to support entrepreneurs in developing countries, and the best ways to do so. We discuss: What the development industry really thought about going remote years before the COVID-19 pandemic What Aidtrepreneurship really means How I was able to able bring my business expertise to those in need And more! In This Episode: [01:25] - We’re introduced to Donna Rosa a