W6: Systems Thinking

🛎 Weekly Summary

Can you believe it has already been a month? How has it been? What have you been learning? What do you want to explore now?

I hope you are looking forward to today's community call. And please do check out the updated playbook for some great resources and additional learnings if you want to access them.

Today, we're joined by change maker and systems thinker, Sophie Charrois. We'll deepen some of the concepts our speakers have been throwing into the mix and look into what it takes to use finance for systemic change. How do we get there? And what tools do we have at our disposal to conceptualize what a better world could be worked towards? We're excited to have you with us as we look at impact investing, systems change, and the role money plays in all of this. ‘What is money?’ or ‘What is impact?’. Let's join together to develop our understanding a little more about the nature of systemic change in this exciting workshop.

Join Our Community Call Here: https://calendar.app.google/hUroodohAGKzKajr8

If you have the time and availability, you are invited to attend the following Skill Session. These Skill Sessions will allow you to explore some different aspects of sustainable finance with an emphasis on developing your skill sets. Please join us there, and if you will be busy with work, feel free to just listen in and skip the case study.

Join Kelly Kirsch who will run a workshop on ESG data and the reporting needs of the changing political landscape for sustainable finance regulation (CSRD and SFDR). Kelly will use his company's AI integrated ESG platform to give a case study.

Here is the link to join the Skill Session -Thursday from 2 pm CET to 4 pm CET https://calendar.app.google/7bcZGS2qz8xDQN7x9

Finally, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out, especially if you haven't done so yet.

See you online, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you and your career questions a little bit better in the coming weeks as we start to explore the Peer Projects. If you would like to learn more and start to get ready for the projects, check out the playbook ;)

🗓️ Week 6: Systems Thinking and Change - Money, finance & the economy - why we need to change?

What You Need to Do:

Get Excited for Peer Action April

We're just a few weeks away from the part of the Fellowship program where you get to take over the program and really hone in the learning journey question you have been personally exploring. And you don't have to go alone!

We'll do the month of April in Peer Action, and there are lots of ways you can be involved or take a seat back and learn from what your peers co-create. But remember to be active in your learning. So this is a chance to go deeper into a topic if you are interested!

Look Ahead to Peer Action April

After 2 months of guided learning in Feb & Mar, we invite you to dive deeper into the field in what we call ‘Peer Action April’. In short, you will have 4 weeks to organize in groups of 3-5 people, either realizing an impact-related project of your choice or embarking on a peer learning deep-dive, zooming in on a particular learning tool or topic within the field. We’d like to hear about your own impact projects and what topics you want to go deeper with. You'll receive further information as we move ahead in the program.

Dates: April, self-paced, by yourself or in a group

More Info: Take this time to focus on going deeper into the topic of your choice. You could spend the month studying a specific topic from one of our education partners, or self-direct by reading about, meeting practitioners, and participating with particular focus areas, or maybe present your ideas to our advisors and impact investors. These are just some ideas, and the realm of possibilities is open. We will share examples from past programs in upcoming announcements.

Look Ahead to May Practice Space

In May, we will offer you the opportunity to step into practice by pitching your projects & learnings from April & further get in touch with people & organizations working in the field through our career resources. These, plus our Send Off, will be spaces for you to network together with your co-Fellows, our advisors, our board members, and our partners. We’ll invite a group from our community of people who are willing and able to help you in your career path.

Dates: TBD - 1st and 2nd week of May

More Info: We want to have plenty of time at the end of our learning journey to integrate, digest, and move forward with our learnings from the Fellowship. Join us as we make spaces available for you to share, speak up, and get feedback from those in our community.

Learn more here:

Peer Action April!

Reminder to Join MIRO Platform

Be sure you've joined MIRO as we'll be using it again in the Community Call - Use this link to join

Check out the BLAISE Learning Materials Shared

And there are multiple internship opportunities available for BIPOC undergraduates and there are some MBA internships also being developed so reach out to Sharelene to stay up to date with the latest opportunities.

BLAISE Learning Week Recap

Thank you for joining the annual BLAISE Learning week earlier this month. We were honored to host insightful conversations with +80 students and early career professionals around the world representing over 40 educational institutions, and 24 leaders in the impact investing field. View a 30-second recap of the week and share it with your peers—we hope to see you again in 2026!

Please read this entire message for next steps regarding BLAISE internship applications and two initial job descriptions for working with Croatan Institute and Veris Wealth Partners. More BLAISE job descriptions will be coming in the following weeks.

Learning Week Slides

Start to Find Your Impact Investing Question

Take some time to consider what your own impact investing question is. It can be on the very personal level (How can I pivot into working in impact investing? OR Can my scale of impact grow with my own dollars?), or it might range to the global scale (How can sustainable finance catalyze a smooth transition to renewable energy and regenerative agriculture? How can the EU taxonomy drive sustainable financing?) Think about what that question is for you?

You will explore this question together over the coming months. You'll go deeper into the areas that interest you. We'll base this exploration on the resources we curate from topics like the fundamentals of Impact Investing & SusFin or to skills like impact measurement & reporting, or we'll explore more sector-specific requests like the role of impact investing in making healthcare more accessible or how to best weave the topic into academia. This is where you get to decide to go.

We really want to make sure we address a big part of these questions & also see how they evolve as we start learning together. And we invite you to stay curious & open to be surprised by some different perspectives & angles, in particular, presented in community calls from your peers.

How much you take from the fellowship will depend on your commitment & finding your way to zoom in & navigate. Please take the time you want to give for some reflection. This is all going to feel overwhelming. But we've designed this as a learning journey so you don't get lost and you have friends to go swimming with. So, where do you begin? Right now.

🗣️ Community Call - Systems Thinking and Change

Systems Thinking and Change - Money, finance & the economy - why we need to change?

We're joined by change maker and systems thinker, Sophie Charrois. We'll deepen some of the concepts our speakers have been throwing into the mix and look into what it takes to use finance for systemic change. How do we get there? And what tools do we have at our disposal to conceptualize what a better world could be worked towards? We're excited to have you with us as we look at impact investing, systems change, and the role money plays in all of this. ‘What is money?’ or ‘What is impact?’. Let's join together to develop our understanding a little more about the nature of systemic change in this exciting workshop.

With Sophie Charrois

More About Sophie Charrois

How can we prepare people and organizations for the complexity of our days? Over the past 10 years, Sophie has been supporting groups, individuals, and organizations to address such questions through participatory processes and a focus on how we relate to our selves, our environments, and each other. Next to systemic change & complexity, Sophie is deeply passionate about how we can tend a new, regenerative economy and the role of money in our lives & relationships. Sophie has been stewarding a youth network with the mission of rethinking economics education and joined organizations like Economy for the Common Good and UN PRME in board and advisory roles.

Sophie is an associate to oasis, and contributes to the field hub & the family in business activities.

Sophie's Website

Resources for your Money Explorations Getting in touch with your relationship to money is a journey. We highly recommend doing this together with your peers and in conversation. There are some great resources that can help you navigate the dense forest of financial literacy. https://www.moneybling.net/resources

🪛 Skill Session - Understanding ESG Data with Kelly Kirsch

Understanding ESG Data and the CSRD with Case Study in Stock Picking with ESG.AI with Kelly Kirsch from esg.ai Join Kelly Kirsch as he explores his expertise around ESG data and the reporting needs of the changing political landscape for sustainable finance regulation. Kelly will provide us with an example using his company's AI integrated ESG platform to explain the process of analysis and how this data plays a central component of incoming CSRD and SFDR regulation and what you can be aware of from this regulatory standpoint.

More About the Session

Join Kelly Kirsch as he explores his expertise around ESG data and the reporting needs of the changing political landscape for sustainable finance regulation. Kelly will show us how ESG transformed the Paris Olympics and became a blueprint for all sustainable events going forward. Kelly will demonstrate the analysis process, how this data plays a central component in incoming CSRD and SFDR regulation, and what you can be aware of from this regulatory standpoint using his company's AI-integrated ESG platform.

Kelly is the Head of ESG.AI Europe, our European subsidiary at our European HQ in Paris. Kelly will share his understanding of the European regulatory landscape when it comes to sustainability reporting and ESG data. Kelly will provide us with a case study using his company's interactive platform to highlight the issues of ESG data, reporting rules, and how ESG can be a tool for creating impact. See you online!

If you are available, please join us. Otherwise, we'll record and share the session with the cohort afterward. Throughout the fellowship (Feb-May), we will offer additional weekly live sessions from partners and supporters in the impact investing field - the so-called skill sessions. The number of these skill sessions will depend on your interests & agency.

Kelly's Title/Org Directeur ESG Europe at ESG.AI Europe

Kelly is a passionate ESG and Sustainability expert with 15+ years of experience in international business and banking throughout France, Europe and the US. His expertise on EU's Green deal, sustainability frameworks, ESG data management, international finance and other European regulations has brought him to work with Crédit Agricole and Pomellato (Kering filial). He has been a visiting lecturer at Harvard, the Programme Excellence Propulsion (ESCP & La Sorbonne), and ESSCA as well as speaking at various international sustainability conferences on ESG topics (Baltics, France). Additionally, he has worked in financial services at HSBC, JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America in their wealth management practices. His recognitions include : top banker recognitions at HSBC & JPM, and an Excellence Propulsion distinction from ESCP & the Programme Excellence Propulsion.

At ESG.AI, my mission as ESG Director Europe is to embed sustainability at the core of businesses. With expertise in sustainable finance, EU sustainability regulations, and proven experience in managing business relationships, I build connections and partnerships spanning employees, executives, and students alike. My commitment to responsible innovation is reflected in my role as ESG Director, showcasing our leadership at the intersection of technology and ecology. Our team strives to foster an environmentally conscious economy by focusing on the management, analysis, and collection of ESG data.

🧠 Impact Investing Knowledge

Hope you are ready to dive in.

Recommended Resources:

🎞 The 3 Horizons Model - Kate Raworth (video, 7 min)

📜 Funding the Third Horizon - Cassie Robinson (article, 7 min)

Week 6 Resources

Recommended Readings

🧰 Additional Learning Resources

Boston Impact Investing Initiative Resources

"Fearlessly Funding Racial Equity" shares lessons learned about the needs and unique challenges of emerging impact fund managers and suggests action steps for various stakeholders. Also attached is an overview of our program curriculum and content schedule.

Fund Manager Education Program Overview.docx

State of Cohort Report Final

Introduction to Impact Measurement with Bridgespan Group

If you want.... Start to get acquainted with a topic we will be exploring more in-depth. Check out this presentation from our friends at Bridgespan. We will be exploring this topic in depth in the coming weeks.

Presentation

📅 Related sessions & offerings

Additional items will be added from our partners and their opportunities. Because there are so many we'll do are best to keep on top of sharing them actively with you in case you do not see them.

Week 6 - Related Sessions and Offerings

DATE TIME XX.XX - Session More Info Regiser Here

SESSION

Week 6 - Past Workshops

Check out these additional ways to engage with speakers and content from the space.

Cracks in the Financial System

James Vaccaro will join us for a community call on Thursday to explore the cracks in the foundations of finance. James works with high-level financial leaders to help them better understand the systemic nature of the challenges we face for over 20 years. His work challenges the status quo and provides solutions to use finance in a way that goes beyond the bandaid. The skill sessions this week, on the other hand, will equip you with some new foundations: the foundations of sustainable finance & impact investing.

📹 Watch https://youtu.be/QEf0avdolfA`

📓 James' Slides - Google Drive

🙆‍♂️James' Bio: James Vaccaro - Chief Catalyst, Climate Safe Lending Network / CEO, Repattern

James is a sustainability strategist and systems thinker with a background of twenty-five years’ senior management experience in sustainable finance and business. He has provided leadership for organisations and projects and served on a wide range of business and charity boards and governing bodies.

James is CEO of RePattern.org, supporting organisations and their stakeholders in effective ecosystem innovation and strategy for sustainability transformation. He is the Chief Catalyst of the Climate Safe Lending Network – a multistakeholder initiative to catalyse the decarbonisation of the banking sector. James is also a Senior Advisor to TOPO Finance on sustainable finance initiatives, building on the insights from the Carbon Bankroll report revealing the climate impacts of cash held by companies. He has recently joined the Expert Network for the Design Council, the UK’s national strategic advisor with a design for planet mission.

Through RePattern, James is a strategy advisor to a number of regenerative agriculture-tech companies and has led the development of the WWF Nature-based Solutions Accelerator. James was previously Group Director of Strategy for Triodos Bank – Europe’s leading international sustainable bank and investment manager). In his career at Triodos, James set up and managed the UK investment business comprising corporate finance and crowdfunding services, venture capital fund management and fund distribution.

James served on the Global Steering Committee for the UNEP Finance Initiative and was one of the founding developers of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking launched in 2019. He is on the advisory panel for the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), the delivery group of the UK Government’s Transition Plan Taskforce and on the advisory group of the Horizon Europe landscape restoration project, NATURESCAPES. James is a Senior Associate of the Cambridge Institute and senior fellow of the Finance Innovation Lab having previously served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. James is a non-executive director of Regen and a Senior advisor for Club of Rome. He is also an advisor and investor in the Cambridge-based climate solutions venture-builder, Carbon-13. He is the author of several reports and papers on sustainable finance and impact investing (including the UN’s Global Environment Outlook on Sustainable Finance), a regular speaker at events and conferences on sustainable business and positive impact finance.

Quick Links:

📹 Week 6 Recordings & Resources

Community Call 6: Systems Change and Impact Investing

Click here for more info: Resources

📹 Watch Here

📓 Session Slides

🙆‍♂️ Speaker Bio

Sophie Charrois

Sophie’s Website Money Bling Project

How can we prepare people and organizations for the complexity of our days? Over the past 10 years, Sophie has been supporting groups, individuals, and organizations to address such questions through participatory processes and a focus on how we relate to our selves, our environments, and each other. Next to systemic change & complexity, Sophie is deeply passionate about how we can tend a new, regenerative economy and the role of money in our lives & relationships. Sophie has been stewarding a youth network with the mission of rethinking economics education and joined organizations like Economy for the Common Good and UN PRME in board and advisory roles.

Sophie is an associate to oasis, and contributes to the field hub & the family in business activities.

Skill Session: Understanding ESG Data and the CSRD with Case Study in Stock Picking with ESG.AI with Kelly Kirsch

📹 Watch Here

📓 Kelly's Slides

Kelly discussed the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and recent regulatory developments in ESG reporting, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in event organization and the challenges of managing ESG data. She also presented a platform for managing ESG data and scoring, focusing on its use for CSRD compliance in Europe, and highlighted the success of the Paris Olympics as a sustainable and profitable event. The conversation also touched on the geopolitical implications of these changes, with a trend of investment moving from the US to Europe due to perceived stability and reliability.

🙆‍♂️ Kelly's Bio

Join Kelly Kirsch as he explores his expertise around ESG data and the reporting needs of the changing political landscape for sustainable finance regulation. Kelly will show us how ESG transformed the Paris Olympics and became a blueprint for all sustainable events going forward. Kelly will demonstrate the analysis process, how this data plays a central component in incoming CSRD and SFDR regulation, and what you can be aware of from this regulatory standpoint using his company's AI-integrated ESG platform.

Kelly is the Head of ESG.AI Europe, our European subsidiary at our European HQ in Paris. Kelly will share his understanding of the European regulatory landscape when it comes to sustainability reporting and ESG data. Kelly will provide us with a case study using his company's interactive platform to highlight the issues of ESG data, reporting rules, and how ESG can be a tool for creating impact. See you online!

If you are available, please join us. Otherwise, we'll record and share the session with the cohort afterward. Throughout the fellowship (Feb-May), we will offer additional weekly live sessions from partners and supporters in the impact investing field - the so-called skill sessions. The number of these skill sessions will depend on your interests & agency.

Kelly's Title/Org Directeur ESG Europe at ESG.AI Europe

Kelly is a passionate ESG and Sustainability expert with 15+ years of experience in international business and banking throughout France, Europe and the US. His expertise on EU's Green deal, sustainability frameworks, ESG data management, international finance and other European regulations has brought him to work with Crédit Agricole and Pomellato (Kering filial). He has been a visiting lecturer at Harvard, the Programme Excellence Propulsion (ESCP & La Sorbonne), and ESSCA as well as speaking at various international sustainability conferences on ESG topics (Baltics, France). Additionally, he has worked in financial services at HSBC, JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America in their wealth management practices. His recognitions include : top banker recognitions at HSBC & JPM, and an Excellence Propulsion distinction from ESCP & the Programme Excellence Propulsion.

At ESG.AI, my mission as ESG Director Europe is to embed sustainability at the core of businesses. With expertise in sustainable finance, EU sustainability regulations, and proven experience in managing business relationships, I build connections and partnerships spanning employees, executives, and students alike. My commitment to responsible innovation is reflected in my role as ESG Director, showcasing our leadership at the intersection of technology and ecology. Our team strives to foster an environmentally conscious economy by focusing on the management, analysis, and collection of ESG data.

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