*By Andrew Morrison My middle name is Robert, but I am sure my parents would have thought more about making it my first name if they had known what a recent study has revealed: for large U.S. companies, more board seats are held by men named Robert, John, James and William than by all women combined. In fact, women hold only 16% of board seats in the U.S. While this is an … [Read more...] about The importance of being Robert
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It’s All in the Family: A Conversation with One of the Netherland’s Leading Impact Investors
What do family values have to do with impact investing? A lot if you are talking about Oikocredit, a Netherlands-based international cooperative that has successfully contributed to a thriving impact investing ecosystem in its home country. Comprised of member churches, foundations, support associations, and other like-minded organizations, Oikocredit has a robust network of … [Read more...] about It’s All in the Family: A Conversation with One of the Netherland’s Leading Impact Investors
The one thousand and one questions on business ethics
What is an ethical business? Bernardo Toro, an advisor to the Avina Foundation, said it clearly and with humor during the opening ceremony of the Latin America Impact Investing Forum (FLII) which took place in Mérida, México at the end of February: “It is a business that doesn’t prey on people; one that creates real value; one that pays attention to what’s important, not what’s … [Read more...] about The one thousand and one questions on business ethics
3 Ways CEOs can address the Gender Wage Gap
In her Oscar acceptance speech heard around the world, Patricia Arquette challenged people of color and the LGBT community to help fight for wage equality for women in the United States, the same way these women stood with them in their fights for equality. Ironically, Ms. Arquette was addressing the Oscars’ most homogenous group of attendees, and one that was not reflective of … [Read more...] about 3 Ways CEOs can address the Gender Wage Gap
How can banks jump-start Brazil’s energy efficiency market?
Last year, I traveled with a team of IDB private sector specialists to São Paulo. There we hosted, in partnership with the UNDP, two one-day trainings for commercial banks. The purpose was to introduce the characteristics of financing energy efficiency projects to relationship managers and credit risk officers of the participating financial institutions. We demonstrated through … [Read more...] about How can banks jump-start Brazil’s energy efficiency market?