Company Updates

Taka Taka Solutions Wins 2011 Dell Social Innovation Competition

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Dell was founded with an entrepreneurial spirit that still thrives in our
company today. Our mission is to help people and organizations everywhere do
and achieve more with technology. We’re proud to encourage that spirit among
the world’s brightest entrepreneurs through the 2011 Dell Social
Innovation Competition, in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin’s RGK
Center for Philanthropy and Community Service.

Yesterday,
we announced the winners of the Dell Social Innovation Competition, and Dell
also committed to provide UT with a $5 million grantto help grow the competition to be the world’s premier network for student
social entrepreneurs.  You know, there
aren’t many times in your life when you get to be part of something so
meaningful, so game-changing-and meet the young people who have the spirit and
innovation to help solve the world’s most pressing social issues. That was
yesterday, and that is what this competition is all about.

Taka
Taka Solutions from London School of Economics won
the grand prize of $50,000 in seed money to fund their entrepreneurialbusiness venture that provides waste management solutions to developing
countries.

Taka Taka Solutions was one of 1,400 applicants from 85 countries. The
competition inspires university students to approach global social problems
through entrepreneurship, technology and sustainability and empowers them with
unique skills and opportunities to succeed in a globally competitive workforce.

Here’s a closer look at Taka Taka Solutions’ business idea:

Libraries
Across Africa demonstrated the most innovative use of technology, earning
it the special Dell Technology Award of $10,000.

UT’s RGK Center for
Philanthropy and Community Service has been a tremendous partner with us since
we started the program five years ago. We’re excited about the future of this
competition and hope you will continue to follow its progress as we continue to
give students the power to do more.

For more on the events of the evening, tune in to #DSIC11 on Twitter or
follow the story here. 

About the Author: Karen Quintos

Karen Quintos is Dell’s first Chief Customer Officer (CCO), leading a global organization devoted to customer advocacy. Under Karen’s leadership, the CCO organization defines and develops Dell’s customer experience strategy and programs, with the goals of maximizing customer satisfaction, acquisition, retention and profitability. Karen is also responsible for Dell’s strategy and programs for Corporate Social Responsibility, Diversity & Inclusion and Entrepreneurship — business imperatives she is passionate about and that matter to our customers and team members around the world. Previously at Dell, Karen served as senior vice president and Chief Marketing Officer; vice president of Public Sector Marketing and North America Commercial; and she also held executive roles in services, support and supply chain management. Karen joined Dell in 2000 from Citigroup, where she was vice president of Global Operations and Technology. She spent 12 years with Merck in marketing, operations and supply chain leadership positions. Karen earned a master’s degree in marketing and international business from New York University, and a Bachelor of Science in supply chain management from Pennsylvania State University. She is on the board of Lennox International and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is also on the board of Penn State's Smeal College of Business, and a 2014 recipient of its highest honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award. Karen was listed among the most influential CMOs in the world by Forbes, and named 'Mother of the Year' by Working Mother magazine. She resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three children.