When I decided to leave the technology industry to pursue my MPAID, I did not intend to focus on the application of technology to international development.  On the contrary, I was highly suspicious of that trend.  When I stepped off the plane in Liberia during my summer internship, I had the task of assessing the establishment a wireless broadband network.  But, the country didn’t have electricity.  The exercise seemed borderline absurd.

Then I sat at my desk inside the president’s offic...