Teaching Note: KumaonKhand: a hiring dilemma in pursuit of creating impact

In August 2025, Pavitra Joshi (CEO) and Stuti Chakraborty (COO) of KumaonKhand Agro-Innovations and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. (hereafter KumaonKhand) were preparing to hire a Campaign manager to lead their digital marketing and outreach initiatives. However, hiring for this position posed a major challenge. The local talent pool in the Himalayan region, while mission-aligned, often lacked the technical skills and digital marketing expertise required for high-impact campaign execution. On the other hand, skilled professionals from outside the region were hesitant to relocate due to the remoteness of the location, limited infrastructure and poor digital connectivity. This led Joshi and Chakraborty to...