I learned about social entrepreneurship in university, which led me to do pro-bono consulting for entrepreneurs in emerging markets. I found out quite quickly that there is nothing I'd rather do than help businesses like these flourish. So I embarked on my impact investing journey, starting with an internship at Goodwell Investments, then working at Dasra in India, and never looked back!
I'm most passionate about enabling systems change. As an impact investing community, we are often very focused on solutions, but we forget to look at the larger, complex, system in which those issues are arising. When we start looking at the larger system, we realize that many interventions are needed, with multiple types of capital, i.e. philanthropy, investments and policy, to create a meaningful change in the system. This is something that really intrigues me, hence also my interest in delving deeper into our economic system during these Impact Days!
Yes! Impact investing has changed my life and decisions drastically. I have become much more aware of the issues that we face, and more importantly, the myriad of solutions. I believe that all of our daily actions can make a positive impact - not just our capital - so I have incorporated these ‘solutions’ into my daily life, from eating regenerative, plant-based foods to buying second-hand clothes.
To just get started! And the easiest way to do that is probably to join a network or community of like-minded people, who can help guide you. I would recommend looking at as many different investment opportunities as you can, to get a feel for what the market looks like and how it all compares, and then co-invest in a fund or deal with others. Mentors and peers were essential at every stage of my journey.
From a systems change perspective, we really need both impact investment and philanthropic capital to be used in an integrated way. If we only consider the ‘tool’ of impact investment, it is like walking around with a hammer and running the risk of only seeing nails! Philanthropy can be a powerful tool, just like impact investments can be, and I believe it's important to consider which ones are best suited, in which sequence, for the issue that you are trying to solve.
I would create a curriculum based on the wisdom of nature, one that helps young people appreciate how beautiful nature is, how interconnected and dynamic natural systems are, and how to incorporate those wisdoms in everyday life. Also, I’d like to see a curriculum that incorporates mindfulness practices, as these have been so valuable to me personally.
I definitely wish we wouldn’t have to call it 'impact investing' anymore, and that it would be a given that we would invest for positive social and environmental impact. But I think we can go even further and hope for all investing to bring about holistic impact - creating all-around positive impacts of entire systems, rather than singular impacts of enterprises.
I dream of a new economy that is regenerative. This means applying the wisdom of nature to create an economy that allows for self-organisation and self-renewal. It is an economy created from a more conscience place, with a more holistic view of wealth, i.e. wealth is not just money in the bank, but the well-being of the whole. In the end, the economy is a human-made system, made up of each and every one of us, which means we shape it with our everyday behaviour. We can see that change is already happening, and each and every one of us can play a role in accelerating this change.
The PYM Impact Days have always been one of my favourite impact events of the year, which is why I got involved. This year, you can expect to be inspired by some great thought leaders on economic change, such as Kate Raworth and Otto Scharmer. And there will be opportunities to learn real-life applications of their ideas in the breakout sessions. Our goal is to always combine inspiration with action. So I am probably most excited about the magic that will inevitably happen when these incredible thought leaders and the broader PYM community get together in one room, fully inspired to create and prompted to act.
Would you like to receive stories like this and more news about the impact investment community directly in your inbox? Sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter below.
Receive the bi-monthly PYM newsletter with personal stories of impact investors, upcoming events, and articles about moving capital for good.
Legal information
Your safety is our concern: Privacy policy
Stichting PYM
Amstel 256, 1017 AL Amsterdam
The Netherlands