Janine Firpo understands that wealth is one of our most powerful tools for living out our values in a way that makes an impact. In this episode, Janine explains how values-aligned investing can apply to every part of your portfolio, far beyond ESG funds and philanthropy. She also discusses the importance of having honest conversations about money with the people around you, and she shares her perspective on the way values-aligned investing impacts the real estate sector.
Janine Firpo has a long history of values-aligned investing and working at the intersection of women and money. Janine has worked at Apple, Hewlett-Packard, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, before leaving her career in technology to focus on helping women create change through their investments. She’s the author of Activate Your Money, co-founder of Invest for Better, and a lead investor in Next Wave Impact, a fund designed to help more women become angel investors.
Key Insights:
- The limitations of ESG
- How to evaluate investments
- Investing is like a cake
- The value of talking about money
- Values-aligned investing in real estate
Guest Bio:
Janine Firpo is a seasoned values-aligned investor and social innovator, with a long history of working at the intersection of women and their money. From the early years of Apple Computer to senior positions with Hewlett-Packard, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Janine has always found herself making an impact. In 2017 she left a successful 35-year career in technology and international development to focus on how women can create a more just and equitable society through their financial investments. Her book, Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World, was a collaborative effort with almost 150 women.
Janine walks her talk. She is taking action to move all her own assets into investments she feels good about and is watching them grow with market-rate returns. In 2021, she joined forces with Ellen Remmer to co-found Invest for Better. Janine is also a lead investor in Next Wave Impact, an impact fund designed to help more women become angel investors. And, she chairs the board of Zebras Unite, an organization that is developing the capital structures, community, and culture that non-unicorn start-up businesses need to thrive.
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