Let’s reflect on the structural power dynamics embedded within our current investment and business system. The Problem: Capital Supremacy (“Finance-First” Investing) In our current economic paradigm, Capital’s interests are often structured (through ownership & governance) as above all other interests. In other words, while customers, producers, workers, communities, the environment, future generations matter to an […]
Morgan Simon has been pushing the definition of impact in the oft used phrase “impact investing” for many years. Her definition and principles have helped Elizabeth Garlow and I immensely and many of the Catholic asset stewards we work with. I was grateful to record a conversation with her this afternoon, where she surprised me […]
Tomorrow morning, I present at the Univesidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. It’s part of their Masters program in the “Creation and Development of Social and Solidarity Economy Businesses” – as part of the International Center for Research on the Social and Solidarity Economy -or CIIESS. I’m humbled to have gotten to know Alberto Irezabal the […]
From theology and political economy to an analysis of our moment — making intelligible the mega-trends of capitalism — and how we as Christians “can’t accept it’s terms and conditions as good”. Drawing on Jeremiah 29:7 — Luke says we’re “called to bear faithful witness within it and transform and convert it”.
How does employee ownership and workplace democracy really work. Here are 6 questions a set of company leaders are asking as they transition their company from one Founder, CEO and owner to something that a large group of the employees own. They’re nervous. Are there clear answers? What concepts will help them?
Investing with purpose is hard work. Achieving impact is very different than how conventional finance is set up. This means if we’re serious about social and environmental change, we need to roll up our sleeves and start doing much harder work on managing our impact risks. That’s one aim of our upcoming workshop.
Impact entrepreneurs could achieve a lot more — in terms of systems change — if investors did more thinking about power and the world they most want themselves and their grand children. My thesis: capital reciprocity can help investors achieve their impact goals. Without a shift from capital supremacy to capital reciprocity, the conventional power […]
I’ve been thinking recently about how hard it is to confront reality. My friend Geoff Gusoff made a comment last month about how hard it is to be honest with reality. He mentioned there is a line of thinking in theology from Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Ellacuria – two Jesuits from El Salvador — so […]
We need you. The cry of the earth, the cry of the poor, the problems of the global economy — we need your most important work. That’s the invitation of the Economy of Francesco. We need your boldest leadership unleashed and connected to the people, institutions and centers of power that can make lasting change. […]
I just interviewed Michael Robinson, co-founder of Rust Belt Riders — who I met through a good friend Jonathan in Cleveland. Michael is in the process of raising capital to formally re-structure their business into a worker-owned cooperative. The good news is — they’ve already been operating with financial transparency, democratic decision-making — so the […]