Recently read:
My grade (1 to 5): 3 – attempt to bring into one book the history, definition, implications, examples, controversies around and potential of impact investing to create a world where investors are more aligned to achieve “blended value” of both financial and social returns to their money; technical content insightful but evangelizing language and metaphors a bit overdrawn and slightly exaggerated
Key Ideas:
- The first part of the book is dedicated to definitions of impact investing and spends some time with color around the many different areas that it encompasses, such as international development, microfinance and social enterprises. The second part of the book talks about the implications of impact investing in terms of how our systems, leadership style, measurement systems and attitudes must change to embrace the opportunities presented by blended value approaches, and why those approaches should become mainstream in the future.
- The authors spend considerable time with case studies to illustrate the various instances of impact investing at work by various stakeholders, such as asset managers, investment bankers, private equity practitioners, development professionals and of course, social entrepreneurs. Throughout the book, the authors try to provide suggestions of how to overcome what they call a currently “bifurcated world” with investing for purely financial return on the one end, and giving money away through charity motives on the other.
