Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz is a social entrepreneur, author, and leader in the field of impact investing. She is recognized for her pioneering work at the Acumen Foundation. Her career is a testament to her belief in the power of patient capital and entrepreneurship to address global poverty and build a more just world. With a background in investment banking and a Ph.D. in economics, Novogratz has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between the worlds of finance and social development, bringing the two together in innovative ways.

Her career took a significant turn when she left her job on Wall Street to join the Inter-American Development Bank. In Rwanda, she established a microcredit bakery for women, an experience that taught her that money is not the only solution to poverty. This project led her to develop her philosophy of “patient capital,” a form of long-term investment that seeks to build sustainable businesses serving the world’s poorest and most underserved communities.

In 2001, he founded Acumen, a nonprofit organization that uses philanthropic capital to invest in companies that provide essential goods and services to people living in poverty. Since its inception, Acumen has invested millions of dollars in companies operating in sectors such as energy, water, and agriculture. Acumen’s model seeks not only to generate social returns but also to build inclusive markets and demonstrate that entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for systemic change.

Novogratz is the author of the acclaimed book *The Blue Sweater* (2009), in which she recounts her journey from Wall Street to the fight against poverty, using the sweater as a symbol of human connection. Her second book, *Manifesto for a Moral Revolution* (2020), is a call to action for leaders to adopt a more ethical and purpose-driven approach to leadership. Through her work, Novogratz inspires a new generation of leaders to use their talents not only to enrich themselves, but to build a more compassionate world.