At PDI (Porter Development Initiative), we specialize in developing and implementing strategies that create shared prosperity, ensuring that every solution we provide not only generates economic value for our clients, but also improves the business environment and addresses the environmental and societal challenges faced in the communities they serve.
We recognize that each business, region, country, cluster, or organization we partner with has distinct challenges and objectives. We engage with our clients and all stakeholders to turn these challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. These partnerships are at the core of our mission.
The Porter Development Initiative (PDI) stands at the forefront of economic strategy and social development consulting. We harness the frameworks pioneered by Professor Michael Porter and the team at the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School, translating them into practical strategies that foster competitiveness at the national, regional, and organizational levels.
PDI builds on the legacy of Strategic Advisors LLC, founded in 2001 by Professor Michael E. Porter. For nearly two decades, Strategic Advisors LLC advised governments, companies, and international organizations around the world, applying pioneering frameworks on cluster-based growth, competitive strategy, and public–private collaboration to deliver measurable results. Backed by the research excellence of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School, Strategic Advisors LLC combined academic rigor with hands-on implementation, strengthening regional economies, promoting innovation, and aligning business performance with social progress.
Tracing its origins to the halls of Harvard Business School, PDI grew out of Professor Porter’s vision to help countries achieve higher levels of prosperity, especially those that are least developed. The work began through the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness and the creation of Strategic Advisors LLC in 2001, which became a trusted partner to governments, companies, and institutions worldwide.
In 2019, Strategic Advisors LLC was renamed the Porter Development Initiative (PDI) to reflect a renewed focus on large-scale national development efforts and new strategic priorities. While the name changed, the mission and expertise remained the same, continuing Michael Porter’s legacy with an agile, forward-looking platform dedicated to building competitive advantage and shared prosperity across the globe.
The PDI team is composed of leading researchers and practitioners with global experience in assessing, developing, and implementing strategies that foster shared prosperity. Our team includes former faculty members from Harvard Business School, associates and researchers from the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, and affiliate members. We are a community of professionals committed to understanding the drivers of competitiveness and shared prosperity, and developing customized solutions that enhance economic and social development in the regions where we work.
