Dr. Simone Ahuja is the founder of Blood Orange, a marketing strategy advisory boutique with a focus on innovation and emerging markets. Simone has conducted extensive ethnographic, background, and academic research on innovation occurring at the grassroots level in emerging markets, to that of US-based multinationals. Coupled with her own experience working with transnational teams, this experience has given her a holistic lens through which to view the mindset and principles of emerging markets – inspired innovation – and its relevance in a global context.
Simone is the co-author of Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth, now published in the US, Brazil France and India where it is a #1 business bestseller. Jugaad Innovation has been nominated for the 2013 Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award and has been called “the most comprehensive book yet on the subject” of frugal innovation by the Economist.
Simone has served as a consultant to the Centre for India & Global Business at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and as associate Fellow for the Asia Society in New York City. She provides advisory services, keynotes and interactive innovation labs to entrepreneurs, academic institutions, and corporations including 3M, Procter & Gamble, Medtronic, the World Economic Forum, Harvard University, HKUST and the Indian School of Business. Simone is a regular columnist for the Harvard Business Review online.
