Building Blocks: Creating your Impact Thesis

*Open to members and non-members*

This course will take place part-time on the 15th, 22nd and 29th June.

Interested in aligning your investment portfolio with your values? This three-part series will give you the tools to empower you towards that goal. Together we will embark on a journey of identifying your impact priorities and how those priorities can be reflected in your investments.

During the sessions, you will create a personal impact thesis, learn about how that thesis can be mapped onto a portfolio strategy across different asset classes, and hear from the experience of a HNW peer that is currently finalizing her own impact-aligned portfolio.

Convened by: Aunnie Patton Power (The Beam’s Academic Director and Founder, Intelligent Impact) 

Taught by: 

Session 1: Jennifer Kenning (CEO and Co-Founder, Align Impact)

Session 2: Amy Clarke (Co-Founder & Chief Impact Officer at Tribe Impact Capital) 

Session 3: Anne Dean (Impact Investor and Philanthropist)

Cost: Members: 250 GBP; Non-Members: 375 GBP

Course Overview

In session 1, we will focus on identifying your own values and impact priorities and turning these into an actionable impact thesis. This session will be led by Jennifer Kenning who is the CEO and Co-Founder of Align Impact. Align Impact is an SEC-registered independent advisor with $1.6 billion in assets under advisement and Jennifer is a globally recognized expert in helping families integrate impact strategies and investments into portfolios.

Jenn's bio:

Jenn Kenning is a trailblazer, collaborator and change-maker who has quickly risen to become one of the most recognized voices in impact investing. In 2014 Jenn co-founded Align, an independent fiduciary and impact specialist that works alongside financial advisors, institutions, foundations and directly with individual clients and family offices, helping integrate impact strategies and investments into the broader wealth management strategy. A frequent speaker, moderator and guest lecturer, Jenn is committed to building the impact investing ecosystem while leading Align. Jenn was named on the “40 under 40” list by Investment News in 2014, selected for Private Asset Management’s “50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth” in 2016, and chosen as Investment News Icon and Innovator in 2017. Jenn began her career in 2002 as a wealth manager at Aspiriant where she also served on the Board of Directions and was a partner of the firm, before she left to launch Align.

In session 2, we will dive deeper into how your personal impact thesis can be translated into your portfolio. This session will be led by Amy Clarke, Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Tribe Impact Capital. Tribe is the first FCA regulated Impact Wealth Management firm in the UK and Amy is a noted sustainability expert that has deep experience translating client's impact preferences into sustainable impact portfolios.

Amy's bio:

Amy is Co-Founder & Chief Impact Officer at Tribe Impact Capital, a dedicated impact investment wealth manager and Best for the World B Corps. Amy is an environmental scientist by training with over 25 years’ experience in corporate sustainability and impact investing. Before founding Tribe, Amy headed up sustainability teams at both Bank of America and Microsoft, as well as the Private Client team at Charities Aid Foundation. She started her career in environmental consultancy, before broadening into sustainability consulting with EY and PwC. Amy sits on the Boards of Big Issue Invest and B Lab UK. She also sits on the Development Council of the Future Fit Benchmark and is an advisor to the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network.

In Session 3, we'll hear from Anne Dean who is a philanthropist and impact investor. Anne will walk through her own journey from creating an impact thesis to mapping it onto her portfolio and convincing her own advisors about the strategy. Participants will be encouraged to brainstorm their own next steps of their journey with Anne and the course convenors.

Anne's bio:

Anne grew up In Boston MA and graduated from Duke University in 2011 with a major in Creative Writing and a concentration in Political Science. After graduating university, she moved to NYC and started a sustainable womenswear fashion brand called ÖHLIN/D. After a great run that resulted in success but also burnout, Anne closed her brand and moved to London where she decided to get move involved in her family office with her brother as well as their joint philanthropic entity, The Freyja Foundation. Anne’s current focus is building a relationship with her wealth and transforming 100% of her and Freyja’s portfolio into 100% Impact. She lives in London with her dog and fiancé.