Shawn A. Cole is the John G. McLean Professor in the Finance Unit at Harvard Business School, where he teaches and conducts research on financial services, impact investing, and Social Enterprise. He serves as faculty chair of the Social Enterprise Initiative and is an affiliate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, on the board of the Jameel Poverty Action Lab, and the faculty lead on Corporate Engagement. He is also an affiliate of Harvard's Center for International Development. Professor Cole received a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005, where he was an NSF and Javits Fellow, and an A.B. in Economics and German Literature from Cornell University. Before joining Harvard Business School, he worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the economic research department. His research focuses on how finance can create value for individuals, firms, and societies. He has extensively studied the design and distribution of financial services in emerging markets, financial decision-making, and financial education. More recently, he has examined the role of digital delivery of advice in agricultural decision making and sustainable and impact investing, with work examining financial and social returns globally. His work spans Asia, including China, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Vietnam. Professor Cole's publications reveal a strong focus on experimental and empirical approaches to understanding financial markets, particularly in developing contexts. His work often combines field experiments with rigorous economic analysis to examine how financial products and services impact individual behavior and economic outcomes. A recurring theme is how technology, particularly mobile technology, can transform financial service delivery and improve decision-making in resource-constrained environments. Professor Cole has received several prestigious awards for his work: 2015 Shin Research Excellence Award from The Geneva Association and the IIS for his work on insurance 2021 Teaching Recognition Award for Excellence in Sustainable Finance Education from the Financial Times and the Impact and Sustainable Finance Faculty Consortium 2015 Faculty Pioneer Award from The Aspen Institute for work on Business and Society Outside of Harvard, Professor Cole co-founded Precision Development, a non-profit organization that has delivered agricultural advice to over 10 million farmers, and serves on the board of Our Kids Read, a US-based literacy non-profit. He has served on the Boston Federal Reserve's Community Development Research Advisory Council, served as an external advisor to the Gates Foundation, and was the chair of the endowment management committee of the Telluride Association. Professor Cole leads research initiatives through Harvard's Center for International Development and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), focusing on how financial innovations can address development challenges. His work often involves collaborations with policymakers and practitioners to translate research findings into practical applications that improve financial inclusion and economic outcomes.
