In this episode of Sustainability Ambassador podcast, we speak with Durreen Shahnaz, founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), IIX Foundation, and author of forthcoming book The Defiant Optimist Daring to Fight Global Inequality, Reinvent Finance, and Invest in Women.
Durreen is a true visionary in the space of impact investment, and in this episode, we delve into her mission and vision to change the finance industry and we explore the power of defiant optimists (entrepreneurs) to drive meaningful global change.
Her book, The Defiant Optimist Daring to Fight Global Inequality, Reinvent Finance, and Invest in Women, will be in stores on June 27, but you can also pre-order by clicking here: https://defiantoptimist.com/pre-order/:
Timestamps:
00:17 – Welcome to Sustainable Ambassador Podcast
00:54 – Durreen Shahnaz Introduction
02:10 – Defiante optimism & changing finance
04:25 – Building IIX: Changing finance from mainstreet to Wall Street
07:40 – Why inclusive finance has higher ROI & lower losses
08:50 – How definant Optimism, and optimists, change systems
11:40 – Maintainig passion and the need for a North Star
12:45 – Overcoming resistence through deliberate research, planning, and execution
14:05 – How definant optimists approach challenges with holistic solutions/ mindsets
16:10 – Delivering impact is a marathon, and we need to run together
16:58 – Durreen’s five year vision for change
17:25 – Advice to future defiant optimists
About Durreen
Durreen Shahnaz is a global leader of social impact and pioneer in impact investing. She is also the founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and IIX Foundation.
IIX is the home of the world’s first social stock exchange and one of the world’s largest crowdfunding platforms for impact investing. IIX is also a leader in impact assessment methodology and innovative financial structures such as the world’s first gender focused social bond, Women’s Livelihood Bond Series.
The company connects the Back Streets of underserved communities to the Wall Streets of the world by changing financial systems and innovating solutions for women empowerment, climate action, and community resilience, thus driving forward the Sustainable Development Goals. IIX and IIX Foundation’s work has unlocked over US$250 million of private sector investment capital and impacted over 100 million direct household lives.
Shahnaz is the recipient of UN Women’s 2020 Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP) award, the 2019 Sustainability Superwoman award from CSR Works, 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award, often referred to as the ‘Nobel Prize for Business’, the 2017 Global Steering Group for Impact Investment Impact Market Builder of the Year award, the 2016 Asia Society Asia Game Changer Award, in addition to the prestigious 2014 Joseph Wharton Social Impact Award given by the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania. Recently, Shahnaz was named in the Forbes 50 over 50 list as a notable leader in the financial industry.
Shahnaz holds a BA from Smith College and a joint degree – an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a MA from the School for Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University.
Follow Durreen
Website: www.defiantoptimist.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/durreenshahnaz
LiunkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/durreenshahnaz/
Twitter: twitter.com/durreen
About Collective Responsibility
Based in Shanghai, Collective Responsibility is a strategic advisory firm founded by Richard Brubaker, one of Asia’s most recognized authorities on sustainability, innovation and responsible leadership.
Founded with the fundamental belief that a sustainable world can only be achieved through awareness of issues, finding tangibility in business cases, and development of cross-sector collaboration, Collective Responsibility acts as a knowledge base, catalyst, and facilitator between stakeholders.
Our mission is to:
– Create a knowledge base and catalyze discussion of issues related to the development of civil society, business sustainability and social development in Asia.
– Develop tangible interests, engagement, and action on issues of sustainability (economic, environmental and societal).
– Develop organizational capacity with the aim to help create stable and profitable enterprises.
Follow Us:
Website: http://www.coresponsibility.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollectiveRe…
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coll…
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/beyondbau
WeChat: http://www.coresponsibility.com/wechat/
Contact Us:
[email protected]
Comments are closed.