Larissa Shnayder is an expert in sustainable and inclusive business models in agricultural value chains. She supports CGAP’s work with businesses seeking to strengthen gender inclusion, financial inclusion, and climate resilience at farm level. Drawing on her academic background and more than 10 years of experience in commercial business consulting, Larissa develops frameworks and methodologies that help capture learning from the design and implementation of business model innovations that create value for rural women in a commercially viable way.
Prior to joining CGAP, Larissa led the design, development, and operationalization of learning strategies for development programs at IDH. While at IDH, she also conducted action research and published her research in both academic journals and grey literature. Previously, she worked as an independent consultant for governments and private sector clients, conducting feasibility studies and impact evaluations for business model innovations. She also developed an investment-readiness curriculum for regulators and private companies in agricultural value chains.
In her academic life, Larissa completed two research fellowships – one at the Nijmegen School of Management and another at Wageningen University. She holds a PhD from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, an MPH in Global Health from Case Western Reserve University, and two undergraduate degrees in Economics and International Studies from Case Western Reserve University.