Before joining Impact Investing for the Next Generation, how were you already thinking about the role your family's wealth could play — and what were you hoping the program would help you clarify?
Creating positive impact has always been a big part of how I make decisions, whether it's the projects I work on or the opportunities I invest in. Climate and social inequality are causes I care deeply about because of experiences I’ve had growing up that have stayed with me.
"What does 'truly impactful' mean in practice is the question I kept coming back to and for which I didn't have a good answer yet."
I joined the program around the time I was getting more involved in my family's wealth management and was really looking for two things: examples of people who were actually creating real impact through investing, and a clearer way to evaluate what genuine impact looks like in practice. What does “truly impactful” mean in practice is the question I kept coming back to and for which I didn’t have a good answer yet.
Your family was part of this decision in some way. How did they respond when you told them you were joining the program?
My family has always placed a lot of emphasis on education for my sister and me, so when I told them about the program, they were supportive. They saw it as an opportunity to learn about something I was clearly passionate about, and felt it could help me engage more actively with wealth management going forward.
What surprised me is how quickly the conversations changed once I got back from Module 1. We started having real discussions about investing with ethics and impact, and some of the terminology and frameworks I picked up in the program helped make those conversations a lot more structured and productive.
Was there a concept or a moment in the program that shifted how you think about impact investing — something you didn't expect to take away?
The concept of additionality, which came up on the first day, was probably the most valuable thing I took away. It directly answered my question of what is “truly impactful” and was explained in a really clear and straightforward way. It made me realize that some of the things I had assumed were impactful, like ESG-focused public equity funds, aren't making the difference I thought they were.
Some of the most interesting moments happened in conversations with faculty outside the formal sessions. One that stuck with me was a discussion about impact in developing countries, where we talked about how a regular manufacturing business can actually be highly impactful simply because of the number of jobs it creates in areas with limited professional opportunities. It genuinely broadened how I think about what impact can look like.
Impact Investing for the Next Generation brings together wealth holders from very different backgrounds and stages of their impact journey. How did that diversity shape your experience?
The peer discussions have been the heart of the program for me, and not just on the topic of impact investing. Some participants have been in wealth management for years, and hearing how their families structure things has provided insights I’ve been able to bring back home and apply to improve our own processes.
On the impact side, the network has already started to influence my deal flow, which I honestly didn't expect this early in the program. There's a real action orientation in this cohort, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with people in this group on deals going forward.
Looking back, what has this program given you that you couldn't have found through a book, a course, or a conversation with an advisor?
The program has enabled me to step into the growing global community of impact investing. This includes learning more about the field and how it’s evolving, but also hearing about opportunities as they come up, and being invited to events and excursions where I can continue to learn once the program is completed.
But honestly, what I'll carry forward most is the people. Having a group of engaged, like-minded peers around you as you start this journey is something I don't think you can replicate on your own or find in a book or online course. That part has been really valuable.
Curious about what Impact Investing for the Next Generation could give you? Explore the program and download the brochure.
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