W8: Mapping Alternatives

🛎 Weekly Summary

Mapping Emerging Alternative Economic & Monetary Systems. This week is all about growing our awareness about the alternative ways to create impact, tend our economies, & channel money.

Upcoming Community Call Join us this week on Wednesday for our regularly scheduled community calls. It is important you join this one as we'll be looking at the upcoming Peer Action April. Please come up with a topic you would like to research, and we'll help group your interests. Also, think about the speakers you might want to interview or topics you wish to present, and we'll set them up as a Skill Session. Upcoming Skill Sessions: The History of ESG and Sustainability as a Tool for Business Change Join us as Ravi explores Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable Finance, highlighting how sustainability has become a strategic priority for corporate boards, investors, and regulators. In this engaging session, he will share insights from his experience working with CXOs on sustainability strategy, program management and reporting, offering practical approaches to mitigate greenwashing risks and drive meaningful impact. RSVP here to join. Impact Measurement and Management Check out this session with Fernando Morales who will introduce us to the secrets of Impact Measurement & Management. Fernando is a Vice President Builders Vision and has years of experience working in the space. RSVP here to join. In-Person Meet-up for New England I’ve just sent a calendar invite for an in-person meet-up in Boston on April 2nd. Thanks to current fellow Sally Jackson for helping to organize. Please RSVP to the calendar invite and reach out if you didn’t get the invite. Cheers Certificate in Sustainable and Impact Investing Our friends at US SIF are offering their online course: Fundamentals of Sustainable and Impact Investing. It is an excellent deep dive into the topic, and I learned a lot from it when I took it. This course will have a certificate and continuing education credits and is made available for $100 (a 60% discount) or $50 if you are a current student. This is a 4-hour course and is on March 26th from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET. Check out the resource on our Playbook here:https://neiii-fellowship.gitbook.io/neiii-fellowship-spring-cohort-2025/partners-and-further-opportunities/tailored-resources-and-opportunities/us-sif-course

🗓️ Week 8: Mapping Emerging Alternatives

What You Need to Do:

Mapping Emerging Alternatives in Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing

Mapping Emerging Alternatives in Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing

Over last 30-40 y, so many people have been pointing out shortcomings to current econ paradigm, so many have been proposing answers to multi-layered challenges we’re facing now. Many different approaches have been sprouting all across the place & it can be hard to keep an overview. We can’t talk about all of them, but we can start drawing maps together & create a shared mental model of whats out there, both when it comes to of ideas & theories, and orgs practising in the field. Many different way of portraying that & help us find orientation & better navigate the field

Keep in mind: these are just maps of territory, some more helpful than others, some more detailed, others give an overview. Maps are not the Territory though... Some targeted at one particular thing, others the whole network or just the landscape. Maps are always appropriate but in certain situations, we need to decide what’s the most helpful way to look at things so not all maps are useful all the time.

Word Cloud Exercise

This word cloud is a very simple map: see whats there already, what we have in our network when it comes to experience with. What are alternative economic/finance/ investing practices/ theories/concepts/streams you have heard of? What are you creating?

Look at diversity, try to grasp the field. Importance of diversity -We need diversity of approaches. Also, many different names. Narrative now: 1 truth, 1 way. What if the reality is that many things can co-exist, as needed. If name showed up here, it means there is at least 1 person in the space who knows & might be willing to share/explore further - invitation to find out who that is if you want to learn more

Weekly Reading Resources

Week 8 Resources

Check out the readings for lots more info to come:

Start to Find Your Impact Investing Question

  • Start today to gather ideas for a project you’d like to realize or a topic you would like to learn more about. We will gather those ideas & concrete proposals on our miro board & observe if clusters emerge.

  • In a second step, we call forward concrete proposals & idea givers, meaning there should be a concrete frame of a project (which might still shift over time) or approach to the peer study group (eg. one of the proposed programs you will go through together). People can then sign up for the emerging options & form a group.

  • From here, once April started, you are invited to self-facilitate, find moments to meet & decide how you would like to go about the process. We are of course available if you have any questions throughout the process.

  • You will be invited to share your results and/or learnings in a practice space early May.

  • We expect a total time budget of 8-10 h per person for the months of April and May, if interested in doing so.

🗣️ Community Call - Mapping Emerging Alternatives

Money, finance & the economy - why we need to change?

With Sophie Charrois and Leon Seefeld

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 Geting in touch with your relationship to money is a journey. We highly recommend you to do this together with your peers & in conversation - and there are some great resources that can help you navigate the dense forest of financal literacy. https://www.moneybling.net/resources

More About Leon Seefeld

📹 Watch here

📓 Leon's slides

🙆‍♂️Leon's Bio:

Leon Seefeld is leading Strategy to Operations as well as the project portfolio of Dark Matter Capital Systems – the unit within Dark Matter Labs focussed on building the capital markets for urban and bioregional transitions to regenerative and resilient economies. In addition, he leads the financial innovation work of the Bioregional Weaving Labs consortium in Europe and is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of reframe.ventures, a consultancy firm focussed on regenerative business model innovation.

The book Bioregional Financing Facilities: Reimagining Finance to Regenerate Our Planet is a product not of Leon as an individual author but of the countless conversations he was fortunate to have with brilliant people at Dark Matter Labs, Bioregional Weaving Labs, and beyond. Following from the conceptual work of the book, Leon is committed to helping bioregional stewards across the world with the arguably more difficult piece: The practical implementation and constant iteration of new financial mechanisms genuinely in service to regenerative life. Prior to working at the nexus of finance and systems change as well as finance and bioregional regeneration, Leon has gained a breadth of experience across the topics of (Social) Entrepreneurship and (Social) Innovation, Sustainability (Strategy) Consulting and Corporate Purpose Consulting, International Development, Personal Development and Sustainability Education as well as complex multi-stakeholder alliance work in various contexts (including the national and bioregional scale).

Leon holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden, covering topics from science-based sustainable development, systems thinking, and complexity theory to the systemic, participatory, innovative, and personal dimension of future-fit leadership. Before, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Management from Lancaster University, in Lancaster, UK, and ESB Business School in Reutlingen, Germany.

🪛 Skill Session - History of ESG

History of ESG, the Impact of ESG Consulting - Looking at What Works and What's Greenwashing with Ravi Sankar

More About the Speaker: Ravi Sankar

Join us as Ravi explores Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable Finance, highlighting how sustainability has become a strategic priority for corporate boards, investors, and regulators. In this engaging session, he will share insights from his experience working with CXOs on sustainability strategy, program management and reporting, offering practical approaches to mitigate greenwashing risks and drive meaningful impact.

Ravi Sankar COO – ESG Advisory, Moore Singhi Advisors

Ravi has about 23 years of experience in global capital markets, corporate strategy, and sustainability. He specializes in investment research, ESG, credit ratings, and business management. He has worked closely with CXO-level stakeholders to drive strategic change. His expertise in sustainability protocols and financial research helps clients create actionable insights. Ravi holds an MBA in Finance from JNTU, India and an ALM in Sustainability from Harvard University.

🪛 Skill Session - Impact Measurement and Management

See below for the details and relevant resources for this skill session:

📹 Watch here - RSVP here to join.

📓 Fernando's slides

🧰 Recommend Impact Frontiers Course

Notes

Check out this session with Fernando Morales who will introduce us to the secrets of Impact Measurement & Management. Fernando is a Vice President Builders Vision and has years of experience working in the space.

Fernando Morales, Vice President of Impact Management at Builders Vision, discussed the importance of impact measurement and management (IMM) in investment processes, emphasizing its role in improving investment decision-making and promoting transparency, discipline, and credibility in the IM practice in capital markets. He also shared his experience and knowledge on the topic, which he had previously presented in a fall session, and introduced key terms and frameworks used in IMM, such as Theory of Change, indicators, and logic models. The meeting also included introductions from various participants and discussions on the investment process, the role of ESG in the impact investment process, and the challenges of mediating between funders and startups.

🧠 Impact Investing Knowledge

MORE INCOMING

Recommended Resources: Bioregional Financing Facilities

Check out the following resources to go deeper into the work of Dark Matters and learn more about the systemic approach being taken by many to change the financial sector to work for all, people and planet.

Recommended Readings: Mapping Alternatives and Emerging Realities

🧰 Additional Learning Resources

GreenBridge Infrastructure

Check out the work of GreenBridge Infrastructure if you are looking for work in green infrastructure financing. They have a Slack community you can join to share resources and they provide trainings for you to learn more about the space. You can develop your technical skills through their resources and they provide lots of free content.

Follow them on LinkedIn and connect with Corbin Kehrberg

What are the consequences of Trump's actions on global climate finance?

The US pulling out has had major impacts on climate finance, but others are stepping up both domestically and abroad

What are the consequences of the US walking away from its climate finance commitments? We explore what this means for the fight against climate change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCXdJg-tgiE

Within just two months, the US has left the Paris Agreement, dismantled much of its climate policies, and repudiated its climate finance commitments. Given that funding for climate mitigation and adaptation is needed more than ever, how do US actions affect the global landscape? I break it down in the video below.

Week 8 Resources

📅 Related sessions & offerings

Week 8 - Past Workshops

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

Fernando's Past Session

📹 Watch here

📓 Fernando's slides

Fernando's organization Builders Vision is an impact platform dedicated to supporting people and organizations building a more humane and healthy planet through philanthropy, investment, and advocacy. As an impact platform, they work to help address some of the most difficult environmental and sustainability challenges across three interconnected sectors: oceans, food & agriculture, and energy.

Quick Links:

📹 Week 8 Recordings & Resources

Community Call 8: Mapping Emerging Alternatives in Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing

📹 Watch Here

📓 MIRO Board

🙆‍♂️ Speaker's Bio - Leon Seefled

Notes from the Session

Leon’s Slides

Read Bioregional Financial Facilities eBook

Resources from our past session with Leon - Google Drive

Reading Materials

Check out their recent white paper on develop and Seeding New Capital Accelerators. Accelerating the field of System Financing - Invitation to Co-found: the Nex-Gen Allocators of Capital

Past Session with Leon

📹 Watch here

📓 Leon's slides

🙆‍♂️Leon's Bio:

Leon Seefeld is leading Strategy to Operations as well as the project portfolio of Dark Matter Capital Systems – the unit within Dark Matter Labs focussed on building the capital markets for urban and bioregional transitions to regenerative and resilient economies. In addition, he leads the financial innovation work of the Bioregional Weaving Labs consortium in Europe and is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of reframe.ventures, a consultancy firm focussed on regenerative business model innovation.

The book Bioregional Financing Facilities: Reimagining Finance to Regenerate Our Planet is a product not of Leon as an individual author but of the countless conversations he was fortunate to have with brilliant people at Dark Matter Labs, Bioregional Weaving Labs, and beyond. Following from the conceptual work of the book, Leon is committed to helping bioregional stewards across the world with the arguably more difficult piece: The practical implementation and constant iteration of new financial mechanisms genuinely in service to regenerative life. Prior to working at the nexus of finance and systems change as well as finance and bioregional regeneration, Leon has gained a breadth of experience across the topics of (Social) Entrepreneurship and (Social) Innovation, Sustainability (Strategy) Consulting and Corporate Purpose Consulting, International Development, Personal Development and Sustainability Education as well as complex multi-stakeholder alliance work in various contexts (including the national and bioregional scale).

Leon holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden, covering topics from science-based sustainable development, systems thinking, and complexity theory to the systemic, participatory, innovative, and personal dimension of future-fit leadership. Before, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Management from Lancaster University, in Lancaster, UK, and ESB Business School in Reutlingen, Germany.

Recommended Resources: Bioregional Financing Facilities

Check out the following resources to go deeper into the work of Dark Matters and learn more about the systemic approach being taken by many to change the financial sector to work for all, people and planet.

Skill Session: The History of ESG and Sustainability as a Tool for Business Change

Click here for more info: Resources

📹 Watch here

📓 Ravi's slides and notes

Ravi, an ESG consultant, shared his personal journey and discussed the importance of sustainability in business, highlighting the alarming effects of global warming and the need for standardization in ESG reporting. He also discussed the complexities of regulations for cross-border transactions in Europe, the scope of work in the ESG field, and the company's ESG initiatives and their impact. The team appreciated Ravi's insights and expressed their gratitude for his participation.

🙆‍♂️ Ravi's bio

Ravi has about 23 years of experience in global capital markets, corporate strategy, and sustainability. He specializes in investment research, ESG, credit ratings, and business management. He has worked closely with CXO-level stakeholders to drive strategic change. His expertise in sustainability protocols and financial research helps clients create actionable insights. Ravi holds an MBA in Finance from JNTU, India and an ALM in Sustainability from Harvard University.

Ravi Sankar, COO – ESG Advisory, Moore Singhi Advisors Join us as Ravi explores Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable Finance, highlighting how sustainability has become a strategic priority for corporate boards, investors, and regulators. In this engaging session, he will share insights from his experience working with CXOs on sustainability strategy, program management and reporting, offering practical approaches to mitigate greenwashing risks and drive meaningful impact.

Ravi has about 23 years of experience in global capital markets, corporate strategy, and sustainability. He specializes in investment research, ESG, credit ratings, and business management. He has worked closely with CXO-level stakeholders to drive strategic change. His expertise in sustainability protocols and financial research helps clients create actionable insights. Ravi holds an MBA in Finance from JNTU, India and an ALM in Sustainability from Harvard University.

Skill Session: Impact Measurement and Management

📹 Watch here - RSVP here to join.

📓 Fernando's slides

Check out this session with Fernando Morales who will introduce us to the secrets of Impact Measurement & Management. Fernando is a Vice President Builders Vision and has years of experience working in the space.

🙆‍♂️ Fernando's Bio

Fernando Morales, Vice President of Impact Measurement and Management, Builders Vision

Fernando Morales is Vice President of Impact Measurement & Management at Builders Vision, an impact platform deploying flexible capital to accelerate innovation in the Oceans, Food and Agriculture, and Energy sectors. He has extensive experience in impact management, having worked with global funds providing impact private equity and debt across sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Eastern Europe. Previously, he led IMM and ESG management at SEAF, a global nonprofit private equity impact manager, and provided impact and ESG consulting for Mercy Corps Ventures and Pomona Impact. Fernando has also collaborated with development finance institutions, multilateral banks, foundations, and private investors to guide pre- and post-investment impact strategies. Originally from Honduras, he is passionate about leveraging investments to drive social and environmental change.

Past Session

📹 Watch here

📓 Fernando's slides

Fernando's organization Builders Vision is an impact platform dedicated to supporting people and organizations building a more humane and healthy planet through philanthropy, investment, and advocacy. As an impact platform, they work to help address some of the most difficult environmental and sustainability challenges across three interconnected sectors: oceans, food & agriculture, and energy.

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