Jacob Korenblum is a distinguished leader in enterprise digital strategy. He has over 15 years of experience designing and implementing solutions to tackle real-world challenges in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. His pioneering work has garnered attention from prominent publications like The Financial Times, Forbes, Devex, and Scientific American. He resides in Toronto, Ontario, where he enjoys sailing.

After earning his bachelor’s degree, Korenblum embarked on his career with a focus on social justice, starting at the Education Development Center in Washington, D.C. This nonprofit operates globally, enhancing educational opportunities, work prospects, and health services in 80 countries. He quickly rose to a leadership position, overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and communications for projects in the Middle East, where he also spent several years living.

Following his time at the Education Development Center, he joined OXFAM, a globally recognized nonprofit organization. There, he engaged deeply with programs aimed at fostering gender equality, economic development, and climate action. Between 2008 and 2010, he led teams in Malawi, India, Haiti, and Kenya on microenterprise assessment projects and mobile technology initiatives that aimed to elevate local economies.

During his early years in the Middle East, Korenblum identified a significant opportunity for economic empowerment stemming from a lack of internet access in many communities. Despite the widespread availability of mobile devices—about 80 percent of the local population in places like Palestine had one—reliable internet service was often unaffordable due to high costs and limited network availability. In response, he co-founded Souktel in 2005. This innovative social enterprise connected job seekers with employers using SMS technology, effectively bypassing the need for internet access. Souktel expanded to assist over 500,000 users in approximately 30 countries, initiating various social programs to empower communities.

In 2018, Korenblum shifted his focus to digital policy development within the governmental and private sectors. He helped the Ontario Digital Service develop and implement policies that enhanced the delivery of digital services to Ontarians, including vital COVID-19-related services.

Educated at the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and at Harvard University with a Master of Education focusing on social enterprise and international education policy, he has also been active in advisory roles, contributing to global initiatives on digital literacy and youth economic opportunities. Jacob Korenblum continues to apply his vast experience and entrepreneurial spirit to benefit global communities and small businesses.

Portfolio: https://jacobkorenblum-tor.com/