Career advice from a sustainable investment and trade adviser

Geopolitical tensions continue to shift the global trade landscape, underscoring the influential role that professionals like Bhairav Raja play in advancing inclusive economic development. As a veteran sustainable business, investment, and recent trade adviser with over a decade of experience working for DAI, Raja has focused on unlocking export opportunities and fostering resilient and inclusive supply chains that offer opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, principally across Africa, as well as South America and the Gulf countries in the Middle East. His journey began in 2003 during a formative year abroad in Brazil as part of his undergraduate studies at the University of Bristol. Immersed in an economy shaped by tropical commodities like coffee and rubber, he developed a keen interest in the dynamics of global trade that later led to a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge, with a core focus on development economics. Raja’s recent work has centered around African agribusinesses, textile firms, and other sectors to navigate trade barriers, gain certifications, and access markets like the United States. Bringing insights from his early career at a top-tier investment bank, he emphasized the importance of cross-sector skills in development work. “Keep retooling yourself, stay curious, and be proactive about acquiring new skills.” Speaking to Devex, Raja provided a closer look at the opportunities and complexities that define this role. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What led you down your current path? I was always interested in international economic development, particularly in emerging economies. I was also born in Kenya and feel a particular empathy for and belonging to the African continent and its dreams for prosperity. From an early age, I was curious about the differences in how people live and how the trade of goods and services function — like this cereal that I’m eating for breakfast is made locally, or, oh, look, the milk is manufactured in a different (pyramidic) tetra pack compared to what you have in European or North American supermarkets. Fast forward, I graduated and worked in London as an assistant journalist for the BBC World Service for a short time. I wanted to get a more professional grounding, so I joined Credit Suisse, an investment bank in London, at the heart of the financial services industry. This was back in 2006, right before the 2008 financial crisis. One day, I was in Canary Wharf and I had this realization: Instead of making wealthy clients richer, why not apply these mainstream financial principles on the other side of the coin, supporting the economic resiliency and growth of businesses and households operating in less favorable conditions? So I decided to reskill and made the bold choice to leave my job and the comforts of all that, ignoring the cacophony of objections from family members. I took up a voluntary position at a microfinance institution in Colombia, working on financial diaries for single-mother loan recipients. I went on a long journey, for which there was no track record or source of mentorship among family members and my immediate network. I deepened my experience in the financial inclusion space, with several years spent in a specialist consulting firm in South Africa, advising African financial sector regulatory authorities and private sector financial service providers. I joined DAI Global just over 10 years ago, attracted to the opportunity of implementing flagship programs across the African continent as part of the U.K. government’s private sector engagement offer in the financial sector, focusing on mobilizing financial services through the private sector to drive economic growth, working in amazing places such as Mozambique, Zambia, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. After a few years, I shifted to building business in DAI’s Sustainable Business Group, which has been the focus of most of my career there. I’ve worked across various sectors in the broad area of sustainable business transformation — energy, agribusiness, mining and metals, textiles, and apparel. And that’s what got me interested in the broader arena of trade and responsible investment. What does your work look like? I’m often building concepts. I work a lot with frameworks to address gaps in imperfect market systems — where there are impediments to trade and investment from, say, the African continent to high-growth markets like the European Union and U.S. or even within Africa. The goal is to identify some of these impediments and the concepts that could create more jobs and business growth. So, it’s often about being an architect of concepts and testing them in their early stages. Part of my recent work has also involved preparing cohorts of African firms for prominent trade shows. This includes getting businesses export-ready — helping them secure certifications for the U.S. market, refine branding and marketing, and address challenges they face as first-time entrants into high-growth markets like the U.S. Ultimately, I’m always pitching value propositions to help imperfect markets function more effectively. What skills have you focused on building to progress in your career? This is a really different role from what I was doing a year previous, where I managed a business, led key client relationships, and focused on mentoring and coaching a team. In a year spent as an advisor, the focus is more independent and technical rather than managerial. That said, I think there are valuable skills that apply to both roles. There are four things. One of the most critical skills in my career has been identifying and problem-solving against challenges presented by the private sector — sometimes ones they don’t even recognize. This involves working within supply-chain constraints, engaging stakeholders, and applying a systemic lens to find solutions. The second is adaptability. I’ve made it a priority to learn and apply new frameworks. Once you’ve got core methodologies and approaches, it becomes easier to adopt new ones, especially within the umbrella of sustainable economic development or responsible business. I’ve always been bold about trying new things and putting myself in uncomfortable learning situations, which is helpful to quickly transfer your base of knowledge and frameworks into new spaces. Also, data analysis is really important. Whether you’re working with trade data or capital flows, having a strong command of data helps quantify insights and translate them into recommendations. Then lastly, in fast-paced environments, particularly with private sector stakeholders who have limited time, it’s crucial to synthesize complex findings from the wide spectrum of stakeholders in governments and local communities into more clear, concise, and digestible insights. How you communicate and present data, findings, and stories is just as important as the analysis itself. Are there any specific resources that you would recommend for working in trade and investment? If you’re spending time and money on training, be specific about what courses you do. I learned the market systems frameworks mostly on the job, and I was lucky to have several experienced mentors. Then, when I pivoted from financial inclusion to climate finance, I took a course in climate and renewable energy finance with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. There are also a lot of courses on supply chains and ethical trade now. For example, you don’t necessarily need formal training with certification bodies like Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance, but it’s important to know about what those bodies do. What’s served me well is understanding how governments make policy and how they go about developing industrial strategies. I don’t think formal qualifications necessarily prepare you for understanding the mindset of different organizations, institutions, and decision-makers. You only really get that through staying curious and engaging people directly. For professionals aspiring to follow a similar path, what practical advice would you give? Don’t be afraid to test your boundaries, try new things, and take risks where possible. In my case, much of the subject matter expertise came from pursuing areas I felt passionate about. And then, if you are a purpose-driven professional, ask yourself, what is the impact of your work? However large or small, I get great motivation in seeing businesses demonstrate more responsible practices or enabling them to grow and offer more jobs locally.