For the first time, I understood what the word 'peers' actually means

Before joining IING, how were you thinking about your family's wealth — and what were you hoping the program would help you change or clarify?

I was brought up with the idea that wealth means you have a responsibility, both towards your family and society at large. That belief has always been there and I was looking for a clearer sense of how to act on it, especially the society part. The program felt like the right place to start finding answers.

Your family and advisors were part of this decision. How did they respond when you told them you were joining, and did the program end up shifting any of those conversations?

Everyone around me was supportive. Those who were footing the bill had some reservations about the fees at first, which is fair. But once I came back and started sharing what I was learning, the skepticism faded quickly. The value became self-evident.

Was there a moment or concept in the program that genuinely changed how you think about impact investing?

The realization that it is largely impossible to have real impact through public markets was eye-opening. It sounds straightforward once someone says it out loud, but I had genuinely never heard it from any of our advisors before. 

"For years, banks and asset managers had been pointing us toward ESG-rated ETFs as the sustainable option. The program gave me the grounding to push back on that."

For years, banks and asset managers had been pointing us toward ESG-rated ETFs as “sustainable investments”. The program gave me the grounding to push back on that, and the conversations I’ve had since helped clear this misconception among the family and advisors. 

IING brings together wealth holders from very different backgrounds and stages of their impact journey. How did that diversity shape your experience?

It worked on two levels. Hearing from people who have been in the field for years helped me understand what impact looks like in practice. But seeing people who were just starting out was equally valuable. It made me appreciate how much progress has already been made and how worthwhile even the early steps are.

Seeing participants tackling very different challenges, each committed to their own goals, also gave me the confidence to stay on track with my own priorities rather than feeling like I needed to solve everything at once.

Looking back, what did this program give you that you couldn't have found elsewhere?

The room for sharing personal experiences about how you grew up, your everyday life and your impact goals. That kind of conversation doesn't happen in a webinar or in a meeting with an advisor, and it was incredibly powerful in understanding why and how to have impact. It’s the first time in my life I fully understood what the word “peers” means.

Curious about what Impact Investing for the Next Generation could give you? Explore the program and download the brochure. 

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