Good Profiles feature members of our Good Generation who are either out there in the field doing interesting work or still in the trenches of schools and institutions waiting to make their mark on the world. Have your own story to tell? Know someone who would be great to be profiled? Please sign-up or leave a note here!
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What do you do for a living nowadays?
I work as the investment manager for Southeast Asia of LGT Venture Philanthropy, a non-profit impact investor with operations in five continents around the world. Our mission is to increase the sustainable quality of life of less-advantaged people, by finding and supporting organizations with outstanding social and environmental impact. We also inspire clients to engage in active philanthropy, and provide philanthropic advisory and implementation services.
As an investment manager for LGT Venture Philanthropy, I am primarily responsible for sourcing and screening potential deals in Southeast Asia. Based in the region, I prepare the relevant investment documents about organizations, and discuss these with my team and board. I am involved in every step of due diligence and deal execution. I am also in charge of monitoring and providing ongoing strategic support to portfolio organizations over the course of our engagement. I represent LGT VP during regional conferences, and more importantly, provide local insight and guidance to LGT VP’s top management regarding the appropriate strategy and approach for Southeast Asia.
This year, for example, we are launching the Impact Ventures Accelerator Program. The iVAP provides hands-on business consulting and customized financial support of up to US$50,000 to outstanding, early-stage social ventures in Southeast Asia with a high potential for scaling-up and positive impact. I developed and pitched this program to our board in response to a perceived need in the region for earlier-stage support of organizations, and in order to build LGT VP’s pipeline and impact in the region.
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Over two weeks ago, I posted a poll asking whether impact investing should be considered an “asset class”. The fact that the results currently come in at 60/40 (after many votes) in favor of NO asset class belies the considerable debate that has surrounded this topic both on this blog and other online forums. I am still a bit surprised about how many people have weighed in on a question that would appear to be mostly a technicality… but is it really just that?
