{"id":2541,"date":"2025-07-01T20:02:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T20:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/columbiasocialenterprise.org\/conferencearchive\/?page_id=2541"},"modified":"2025-07-01T22:15:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T22:15:39","slug":"2024-conference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/columbiasocialenterprise.org\/conferencearchive\/2024-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Capital for Good Conference<\/p>\n

Saturday, October 26, 2024 | 9 AM\u20136 PM

The Forum at Columbia University
601 W 125th Street, New York, NY 10027<\/p>\n

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This headline event, located in the finance capital of the world, provides a unique opportunity to tap into the vibrant ecosystem of capital for impact through the lens of philanthropy, impact investing, ESG, social and environmental ventures, and companies. Social and environmental impact leaders in business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropy explore how they are changing the way capital is sourced and used to generate sustainable solutions to global, systemic challenges. Students learn about opportunities to pursue impact careers on both the financing and implementation of capital for good.<\/p>\n

Join us as we bring together industry leaders, investors, philanthropists, professionals, faculty, students, and alumni to share best practices and engender new ideas surrounding the intersection of capital, business, and society. Speakers catalyze conversations of change and embolden a generation to create a world in which everyone has the equal opportunity to succeed in creating a better life, society, and environment, now and for generations to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Agenda<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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9:00-9:45<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Registration opens and networking breakfast\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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9:25-9:30<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Welcome remarks from Sandra Navalli ’03BUS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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9:30-10:20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Innovation Aid: Leveraging Technology for Greater Humanitarian Impact<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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10:20-10:30<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Break<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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10:30-11:20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Impact Investing as a Tool for Resilience (Forum Auditorium)\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Climate & Social Impact Pitch & Mix & Match and Networking Session (Geffen 590)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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11:20-11:25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Break<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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11:25-12:15<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Energy Transition (Forum Auditorium)\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Continued: <\/em>Climate & Social Impact Pitch & Mix & Match and Networking Session<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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12:15-1:15<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Networking lunch<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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1:15-2:05<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Rebuilding Faith in our Economy and Democracy: Embracing Patriotic Capitalism for Greater Economic Opportunity\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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2:05-2:10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Break<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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2:10-3:00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Bridging Finance, Policy, and Technology: Catalyzing Climate Action to Overcome the Green Premium\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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3:00-3:05<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Break<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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3:05-3:55<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Empowering Refugees Through Financial Inclusion: Unlocking Economic Potential\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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3:55-4:00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Break<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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4:00-4:55<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Closing Keynote Panel on Investing in the Future: Women Empowerment\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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4:55-5:00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Closing remarks from Maria Salamin Navarro \u201825BUS, Conference Chair for the Capital for Good Conference and MBA candidate, CBS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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5:00-6:00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Reception with LEO Impact Fund (Dear Mama cafe)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Innovating Aid: Leveraging Technology for Greater Humanitarian Impact<\/h3>\n

With over 25 years of experience in both operational and program roles, Jennifer has led transformative initiatives in some of the world\u2019s most challenging environments. In this engaging discussion, she will share invaluable insights on navigating change and driving innovation within humanitarian efforts. Attendees will explore how leveraging new technologies can enhance aid effectiveness and create lasting impact in communities worldwide. Jennifer\u2019s unique perspective, shaped by her extensive fieldwork in places like Bosnia, Kenya, and Kyrgyzstan, will provide practical lessons on building resilience amid crises. Don\u2019t miss the opportunity to learn from a leader who has dedicated her career to improving lives and fostering social progress. Join us and be part of the conversation that inspires action and shapes the future of humanitarian leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speaker: Jennifer Sime<\/b><\/a>, Chief Operating Officer, Mercy Corps<\/p>\n

Watch the recording \u2192<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Jennifer Sime serves as Mercy Corps\u2019 chief operating officer, maximizing operational efficiency and effectiveness. She is responsible for operational leadership, including process efficiencies and change management, and improving systems and operations with the goals of increased alignment, accountability, and the efficient allocation of resources.
Previously, Jennifer worked for Physicians for Human Rights, where she served as COO and more recently as interim executive director \u2014 setting the organization\u2019s vision and driving its evidence-based, quality programming. She has balanced a distinguished career with the International Rescue Committee and a master\u2019s degree in Latin American politics from New York University, and brings more than 25 years of experience in both operational and program roles.
She spent ten years living and working in Bosnia, Kenya, Georgia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, and Panama, before moving on to hold a series of leadership positions at IRC, including the roles of senior vice president for resettlement, asylum, and integration, and senior vice president of the Awards Management Unit. Jennifer was also Mercy Corps\u2019 country director in Kyrgyzstan from 2002 to 2003.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Impact Investing as a Tool for Resilience<\/h3>\n

This session will explore how targeted impact investments are driving change in financial inclusion, social well-being, and climate resilience to help build a more secure economic future. Don\u2019t miss this opportunity to learn from these leading experts as they discuss how impact investing is shaping a more resilient future.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speakers:<\/p>\n

Jennifer Louie<\/b><\/a>, Managing Director, Closed Loop Partners<\/p>\n

Vikas Raj ’10BUS<\/b><\/a>, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Adjunct Professor, ResilienceVC and CBS<\/p>\n

Courtney Thompson ’17BUS<\/b><\/a>, Executive Director and Head of Sustainable Products and Solutions, Global Sustainability Office at Morgan Stanley<\/p>\n

Watch the recording \u2192<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Jennifer Louie<\/strong> leads Closed Loop Partners\u2019 private credit, catalytic capital group. Prior to joining Closed Loop Partners, Jennifer spent the last ten years managing emerging market debt portfolios across both the public and private markets. Her responsibilities spanned across the deal cycle and included fundraising for private debt vehicles. She began her career in New York City at Merrill Lynch focused on business development and proprietary M&A.\u00a0In more recent years, Jennifer has held executive positions at organizations focused on impact investing and sustainable finance.<\/p>\n

Jennifer graduated with her BS degree in business management from Binghamton University.<\/p>\n

Vikas Raj<\/strong> has spent his career operating and investing in startup-led innovation in financial services. He has invested in over 70 fintech startups, helping them raise over $1B and creating over $3B in value, with a singular focus on inclusive solutions for highly underserved consumers and small businesses. Prior to co-founding ResilienceVC, Vikas was a managing director at Accion Venture Lab, where he led the fund\u2019s investment work globally and was a board member of Self Inc, Konfio, SMECorner, StreetShares, and Tienda Pago (among others). Previously, Vikas was an M&A investment banker at Evercore Partners, where he advised on multiple corporate transactions with aggregate value of over $45B across the financial services, technology, real estate, and consumer products sectors. He also helped build two pioneers in the microfinance space, as an early employee at Ujjivan and ASA International, both of which are now publicly traded companies.Vikas has a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia Business School.\u00a0He is an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and Johns Hopkins (SAIS), where he teaches courses on startup investing and inclusion. He is also the chair of the investment committee of the Catalyst Fund, a climate fintech fund focused on Africa, and is a fintech contributor for Forbes. Vikas lives in Washington DC with his wife and two sons, who he regularly regales with his middling tennis and guitar skills.<\/p>\n

Courtney Thompson<\/strong> supports the development of sustainable finance products and solutions across the firm\u2019s Institutional Securities, Investment Management and Wealth Management divisions. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Courtney worked in strategic advisory at Next Street and economic consulting at Analysis Group. Courtney has a BA in economics from Williams College and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She currently serves as board co-chair of LEO Impact Fund, the student-led impact investing fund at Columbia Business School.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Climate & Social Impact Pitch Mix & Match and Networking Session<\/h3>\n

Are you passionate about tackling climate change and creating positive social impact? Want to discover the groundbreaking solutions startups are bringing to the table? Looking for potential partnerships or team members to bring your business to life? Interested in joining a team or getting involved with a startup? Seeking connections with professionals who share your interest in sustainability and social impact?\u00a0<\/p>\n

This informal pitch mix and match networking session offers the ideal platform to meet fellow changemakers, exchange ideas, and collectively drive progress towards a greener, better future. Join us for lightning round venture pitches from a variety of Columbia-affiliated social and environmental startups followed by a networking session to make meaningful connections within the social and environmental startup community at Columbia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This matchmaking event is designed for:\u00a0<\/p>\n