In his interview during the UNU-WIDER 30th Anniversary Conference 'Mapping the Future of Development Economics' Nobel laureate in economics Professor Joseph Stiglitz gave an interview on the past and future challenges to development. When asked about the SDGs Professor Stiglitz said that he welcomes the new goals as they apply to all countries and embrace a wider meaning of development than simply growth in GDP. He also welcomes the number of goals, which are a testament to the influence this framework has in setting global norms that will underpin international development efforts.

As a serial social entrepreneur Jonathan Greenblatt is the co-founder of Ethos Water and the former CEO of Good Magazine. Greenblatt participates on several corporate and nonprofit boards, including RESTORE Products, the African Leadership Foundation, KaBOOM!, and water.org. Creating a business that was sustainable and profitable, Greenblatt has been credited to revolutionize the industry of bottled water and qualified as an acknowledged thought leader on corporate social responsibility, ethical branding and social entrepreneurship.