Women in Social Finance

💡 Does our aim of advancing the control of capital for and by a diverse group of women resonate with you? Do you identify as, or do you know, a woman working in a senior role with an active interest in directing finance for social or environmental purposes? There’s never been a better time to join us, to foster new connections, peer learning, and mutual advancement. We convene online and in person. We meet at major conferences around the world, in our members’ workplaces and we host events in uplifting venues. We support one another daily through our WhatsApp group. Wherever you are, there are opportunities to engage. Share this with the women who need to read it, or send us your expression of interest and we’ll be in touch to discuss how we can collaborate 👉 https://lnkd.in/diYBXkc #WomenInSocialFinance #SocialFinance #ImpactInvesting #GenderLensInvesting #SocialEnterprise #SocialImpact

🎙️New #HouseOfTrust episode: Listen as our steering group member, Patricia Hamzahee FRSA shares her journey and passion for social justice, racial and gender equity with host and fellow WISF member, Servane Mouazan ICF PCC ACTC. Patricia highlights the importance of moving from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance in social finance, emphasising the need for honest dialogue, evidence gathering and trust-building to drive positive change. This discussion is part of Servane’s House of Trust project, a learning space that explores the role of trust in generating a bigger social impact. Guests include social and impact investors you might have met, including several fabulous Women In Social Finance members! Listen to this episode now and discover many more rich conversations: 💜 Apple: https://lnkd.in/g_g77zrk 💚 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eXGXsZUa and all your other favourite platforms. #SocialJustice #RacialEquity #GenderEquity #SocialFinance

✨ Introducing Our Co-Chair: Evita Chiang Zanuso ✨ We’re fortunate to have a dedicated Steering Group guiding our community. This autumn, we’ll explore what Women in Social Finance means to each member and their vision for our future, beginning with Evita Chiang Zanuso, who has recently stepped into the role of Co-Chair alongside Sevi Simavi. Evita says: “This opportunity is close to my heart as I am passionate about empowering women in our sector and having been a long standing member of WISF. “As Co-Chair, I’m committed to fostering a supportive community where women in social finance can connect, learn, and thrive together. “Our network is not just about professional growth—it’s about creating meaningful change through the capital we influence and direct. I want us to support each other and also continuously challenge our own views and assumptions through promoting genuinely diverse perspectives within the network. We can drive positive change in social finance and beyond through learning and growth. I look forward to collaborating with our members to expand our reach, share insights, and bring in different opinions and voices.” Evita is Chief Operating Officer at Katapult Foundation, she is also Co-Chair and Academic Advisor for the CFA UK’s Impact Investing Certificate and an External Adviser on the Social Financing Committee of The Dunhill Medical Trust. Does Evita’s vision resonate with you? Interested in joining us? If you are a woman working in a senior role with an active interest in directing finance for social or environmental purposes send us your expression of interest and we’ll be in touch ➡️ https://lnkd.in/diYBXkc #WomenInSocialFinance #SocialFinance #ImpactInvesting #GenderLensInvesting #SocialEnterprise #SocialImpact Pic: Evita and outgoing Chair, Caren Holzman.

“Our continual dedication to nurturing a diverse workforce – regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality, disability and other characteristics – is more important than ever.” - Bonnie Chiu, The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC) Our member, Bonnie reflects on the themes that have shaped her work at TSIC over the past 10 years, where she has been promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in impact investing, embracing global networks, expanding social entrepreneurship, and challenging clients to pursue ambitious systems change. We’re proud to have you as a member, Bonnie, and we look forward to your next decade of transformative work! Read Bonnie's blog here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eGW89gw8 #WomenInSocialFinance #ImpactInvesting #SocialEntrepreneurship #Diversityandinclusion #SystemsChange Pic: Bonnie celebrating her birthday in 2014.

🌊🌊🌊 We’ve spotted six WISF members making waves recently - Anja Koenig, Amina Ahmad, Fran Sanderson, Kate Perkins, Laurie Felker Jones and Victoria P. 🌊 Anja has announced that she will co-lead alv foundation which aims to strengthen young people in their social-emotional development by supporting projects that make regenerative futures possible. 🌊 Amina has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research finance as a human right. She will visit Australia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia to learn from their approaches to equitable financial access. If you're working on reshaping the financial system in these regions, she'd love to connect. 🌊 As CEO, Fran recently hosted the public launch of Figurative, an independent not-for-profit supporting impact, investment and innovation in the cultural and creative sector. 🌊 Kate is taking up the post of Interim Head of Gender & Diversity Finance at British International Investment. 🌊 Laurie has announced that she is joining startup investors Antler this autumn as a Visiting Partner. 🌊 As CEO of NatWest Social & Community Capital, Vicki was included in the latest Spear's Magazine 500 rankings in the Philanthropy and Impact Investment Advisor category. Sending huge congratulations to our members on these excellent achievements and we’re standing by to offer any insights or connections you need for the new roles! Not yet a member? If you are a woman working in a senior role with an active interest in directing finance for social or environmental purposes send us your expression of interest and we’ll be in touch 👉 https://lnkd.in/ex5mDCyF #SocialFinance #Leadership #CareerGoals

Congratulations to our member, Karen Davies and the team behind the Purple Shoots ethical microfinance movement on releasing their 2024 Impact Report. Purple Shoots is on a mission to empower individuals and communities, by providing microfinance and support to those excluded from traditional financial services. This report highlights the transformative effects of their programmes, showing how they've helped individuals turn their dreams into reality, fostered economic growth, and built stronger, more resilient communities around the UK. Read the full report here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e6DFnzk2 #Microfinance

✨ How wonderful to see our member Esohe Denise Odaro recognised in the 2024 Heroes list of Top 100 Women Executives who are driving innovative and impactful initiatives for women’s inclusion. Denise is the Managing Director and Head of ESG & Sustainability at PAI Partners. Her team has established a Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce, which is creating a roadmap for DEI ambitions and best practices across PAI's portfolio companies. The team also founded the PAI Portfolio Women's Network, the industry's first cross-portfolio women's network, fostering leadership and professional growth for women and male allies. Denise serves as a judge for the Angaza Awards, recognising top women in banking and finance across Africa, and contributes to the ICMA Women's Network and Nigeria Magazine's Women Leaders Initiative. Denise is a board member of the Sturgeon Foundation, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Irene Ododo Foundation and has contributed to global events and courses on DEI and women's leadership. Brava Denise and all the incredible women listed here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eNZSV5UM #Diversity #Equality #Inclusion

👀➡️ #ImpactInvesting #JOB: AlTi Tiedemann Global is seeking a Vice President for its Investment Team. Based in New York or San Francisco, the Vice President will be responsible for communicating effectively with outside investment managers, completing in-depth due diligence on investment strategies focused on climate change, and helping to shape the team’s research agenda, strategy, and theory of change. Check out the details below and APPLY! WISF exists to help the women in our community identify and prepare for their next senior, leadership roles. We also regularly collate and share outstanding opportunities through our member communication channels. If you would like to benefit from this support please check our membership criteria and get in touch ➡️ https://lnkd.in/diYBXkc https://lnkd.in/enQQfTqT

🌟 Exciting news! We’re thrilled that The Rallying Cry, led by our member Carey Bohjanen, has received a grant from the Climate Gender Equity Fund (CGEF)! This funding will help accelerate their vital work in mobilising capital for African women climate entrepreneurs. 👏👏 Let’s celebrate this action for gender equity and sustainability in the climate space! #ClimateAction #GenderEquity #ClimateFinance

💭 How can gender-smart investments drive progress in water, sanitation and hygiene? A new learning brief by Joanna Mott for Water for Women, WISF member Milena Bacalja Perianes for SAGANA, and Elise Mann for iDE (International Development Enterprises), emphasises the pivotal role of menstrual health in achieving gender equality and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) outcomes - but we need cross-sectoral investments to create meaningful change – especially through climate policies, programmes and finance! Read "Menstrual Health: A Critical Cornerstone of Community and Climate Resilience" here and below: https://lnkd.in/ev58GVFb #GenderSmart #GenderLensInvesting #MenstrualHealth #WASH #ClimatePolicies #ImpactInvesting