Our Team

Violet grew up in extreme poverty in Uganda after her parents fled the Rwandan genocide. So she founded Grow Movement in 2009 with Chris Coghlan to serve her community which had suffered so much. Thanks to her efforts with the rest of the team, Grow Movement has pioneered a new method of international poverty relief; coaching entrepreneurs over mobile phone. Violet holds a degree in business from Nkumba University.

Evelyne leads the implementation of Grow Movement’s projects in Africa, Asia and the United States. She is particularly passionate about empowering women and young people by helping them to develop income generating projects. Evelyne holds an advanced diploma in business management and entrepreneurship from the Akilah Institute.

Kate is an established board contributor and strategic leader with excellent judgement and impact focus. This has been honed by 25+ years of experience in international development, philanthropy, impact investment, city management and education. She worked for the World Bank Group, Bain & Company and Government of South Africa under Nelson Mandela before building a leading education foundation.

Chris developed a passion for a more just world after meeting atrocity survivors living in extreme poverty in Mozambique. After working in London as an accountant and investment manager, Chris founded Grow Movement with Violet when he saw the potential of mobile technology to support entrepreneurs to reduce conflict and poverty. He also joined the UK Foreign Office and the British army reserve and served against ISIS in Iraq. Chris holds Masters degrees from London Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Dorking and Horley. 

Professor Naufel Vilcassim is the former Professor of Marketing and Head of Department of the Department    of Management, London School of Economics. Naufel’s expertise is business performance among  growth- orientated micro-entrepreneurs in Africa. Naufel s an expert on the use of economic theory and econometric techniques to analyse substantive marketing problems. He has focused his research on problems in the areas of the marketing mix, competitive interactions and market structure, pricing and price promotion, marketing channels, measurement of market response to investments in advertising and other marketing mix elements, and household choice behavior. He has published extensively in leading research  journals. He was previously Deputy Dean (Faculty) at London Business School.

Professor Rajesh Chandy is Professor of Marketing and the Tony and Maureen Wheeler Chair in Entrepreneurship at London Business School, where he is also the Academic Director of the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development. Rajesh’s current research lies at the intersection of business and development. His recent projects have covered the impact of business skills among micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa, novel financing approaches in Ghana, property rights in slums in Egypt, innovation among farmers in India, highways and private education expenditures in India, and using big data for development outcomes.

Professor Pradeep Chintagunta is Joseph T. and Bernice S. Lewis Distinguished Service Professor of Marketing at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. Pradeep is interested in empirically studying consumer, agent and firm behavior. He has studied packaged goods, pharmaceutical, technology and online markets to answer questions related to pricing, advertising and channels of distribution. More recently, he has started working in “development marketing” – studying the role of marketing in economic development. “I am interested in studying how marketing practices can impact small businesses and entrepreneurial enterprises in emerging economies and how we can leverage marketing knowledge to improve health outcomes.”

Diane is a dedicated project manager with a strong focus on supporting both coaches and entrepreneurs at Grow Movement. With expertise in several languages and a deep appreciation for cultural diversity, she ensures seamless collaboration across different regions. Diane joins coaching calls to provide vital resources and context, helping coaches understand the local landscape and entrepreneurs overcome challenges. Her strategic approach to problem-solving and passion for driving impact make her an invaluable asset to the Grow Movement team. Diane is committed to creating meaningful connections and ensuring that every interaction delivers real value, helping build a thriving community of change-makers.

He brings a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship and project management, guiding both coaches and entrepreneurs through the Grow Movement journey. Fluent in multiple languages and with a deep understanding of diverse cultures, Pascal ensures smooth communication and collaboration between all stakeholders. He actively participates in coaching calls, providing resources, insights, and local context to ensure every session is impactful and aligned with the unique needs of the entrepreneur. Known for his exceptional problem-solving abilities, Pascal is committed to delivering measurable value and driving positive change. At the forefront of building a global, impact-driven community, Pascal plays a crucial role in ensuring lasting success clients and coaches and the communities

He is a skilled IT Officer responsible for maintaining, securing, and optimizing the organization’s technology infrastructure. With expertise in systems administration, network management, programming, and cybersecurity, he ensures the reliability and safety of critical IT systems. Proficient in languages like Python, PHP, and SQL, as well as in Linux environments. His comprehensive technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities make him an essential asset in safeguarding and advancing the organization’s IT infrastructure.