Big Bet: Create a robust evidence base for local economic development and turn lessons from individual experiments into system‑wide learning, so communities across the United States can use what works to create good jobs and lasting prosperity.
Project: Through the Reimagining the Economy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School, Rohan is developing a shared “operating system” for local economic development. Today, many promising efforts remain isolated because there is no clear way to track results, learn from others, or apply research in practical ways. The initiative brings together researchers, community leaders, and practitioners to document what works, develop shared tools and data, and translate research into real-world strategies. By connecting these efforts, the project helps communities learn from each other, strengthen local economies, and expand opportunity in places that have been left out of growth.
Rohan Sandhu has built his career at the intersection of research and practice, working on industrial strategies, place‑based economic development, education, and state capacity in the United States and beyond. He has spent the last fifteen years in roles in national government, local government, think-tanks, foundations, and social impact consulting. Previously, he set up and co‑led the International Innovation Corps’ India operations, where he worked with governments on large‑scale education and climate initiatives. His writing has appeared in outlets such as Time, Project Syndicate, and Stanford Social Innovation Review, and he daydreams about writing a screenplay some day.