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MEDIA + EVENTS
Stay tuned for a clip of our mini-documentary film created by the Next Gen team that travelled to Ghana this summer! In the
meantime, enjoy this clip of our Founder, Maryann Fernandez, in the field, and a recap (below) of our latest women's event in NYC.
meantime, enjoy this clip of our Founder, Maryann Fernandez, in the field, and a recap (below) of our latest women's event in NYC.
"WOMEN INVESTING IN WOMEN" Cocktail Event, June 2011
When it comes to caring about the world, women are at the forefront. Combining business
with social impact is no different. It was entrepreneurial women such as these who were
present at the Women Investing in Women event, held at the Gansevoort Hotel in New York
on June 8.
Hosted by Philanthropy Indaba, a unique company that develops custom philanthropic
journeys, the event provided an opportunity for high net-worth women and private investors
to network and discuss women-owned social enterprises. The evening also included a
pitching session by two businesses, which was reviewed by a panel of experts from the
Pipeline Fund, a NYC program that trains women philanthropists to become angel investors
through education
“There is a lot of interest in moving beyond philanthropy and connect to others and expose
to these opportunities,” said Maryann Fernandez, the event’s host and founder of
Philanthropy Indaba. “A lot of women are finding different ways to get involved and not a lot of
venues and private spaces where we have opportunity to do this together.”
The pitches from Just Shea and the Seven Bar Foundation were simple, straightforward
and intimate.
Wickham Boyle of Just Shea, a social business created to increase the leverage, income
and safety of women in Ghana who participate in the global shea trade, delivered a
compelling story. Out of the 600,000 women and children who gather shea in Ghana,
30,000 are fatally bitten each year by vipers and mambas. Just Shea is attempting to reduce
the mortality rate by providing protective gear for these women. The business is tapping into
the natural cosmetics market by offering their own line of safely-harvested shea-based,
luxury skin-care products, which will be sold through high-end retailers like Barney’s.
Upon hearing about the ordeal Ghanian shea harvesters undergo, branding consultant
Fiona Spear was duly impressed. “It is unbelievable what they have to go through with the
snakes and how they harvest these nuts. There is such a disparity between my life and their
life. I have own biz, and am thinking about how I can help. I love to work with nonprofits. They
ground me,” she said.
“Just Shea is a beautiful concept because it ties where the people are and how people here
can make an impact,” said Dave Cote, advisor for the Seven Bar Foundation.
Hot on Just Shea’s pitching heels, Dave and Jacqueline Lee of the Seven Bar foundation, a
microfinance fund for women, conducted an impressive presentation about empowering
women. “It’s about teaching someone how to fish and giving them a tool to climb out of
poverty,” said Cote. The Seven Bar model, developed by director Renata M. Black, is a
unique one as the foundation is self-sustained by high-end luxury lingerie shows.
A review by the Pipeline Fund panel and questions from the audience followed the pitches,
which were very well received across the board for their inspiring models and concepts.
“It's important to have a safe environment to have a place for women to pitch,” said Natalia
Oberti Noguera, founder of Pipeline. She stated that out of all startups, only 21 percent are
women. “Women are not getting funded and they're not pitching. We need to create a bridge
for women who can be investors,” she added.
Among the venture capitalists, investors, and social entrepreneurs were two possible future
investors and current members of the Youth Social Enterprise Network (YSEN), Tera Kelly
and Yaffa Borukhova, both eager to “learn more about philanthropy.”
According to Judy Morrill, managing director Highmount Capital, an independent wealth
management firm with a focus on investment and family sustainability, most young adults
want to marry philanthropic with profit. “Soc entrepreneurship is about how can I have
impact. How can I invest and grow my portfolio and do good. It’s triple bottom lining. This is
good for wealthy inheritors. Wealth can have a purpose and keep from being squandered,”
said Judy.
(reported by Titania Veda, YSEN)
with social impact is no different. It was entrepreneurial women such as these who were
present at the Women Investing in Women event, held at the Gansevoort Hotel in New York
on June 8.
Hosted by Philanthropy Indaba, a unique company that develops custom philanthropic
journeys, the event provided an opportunity for high net-worth women and private investors
to network and discuss women-owned social enterprises. The evening also included a
pitching session by two businesses, which was reviewed by a panel of experts from the
Pipeline Fund, a NYC program that trains women philanthropists to become angel investors
through education
“There is a lot of interest in moving beyond philanthropy and connect to others and expose
to these opportunities,” said Maryann Fernandez, the event’s host and founder of
Philanthropy Indaba. “A lot of women are finding different ways to get involved and not a lot of
venues and private spaces where we have opportunity to do this together.”
The pitches from Just Shea and the Seven Bar Foundation were simple, straightforward
and intimate.
Wickham Boyle of Just Shea, a social business created to increase the leverage, income
and safety of women in Ghana who participate in the global shea trade, delivered a
compelling story. Out of the 600,000 women and children who gather shea in Ghana,
30,000 are fatally bitten each year by vipers and mambas. Just Shea is attempting to reduce
the mortality rate by providing protective gear for these women. The business is tapping into
the natural cosmetics market by offering their own line of safely-harvested shea-based,
luxury skin-care products, which will be sold through high-end retailers like Barney’s.
Upon hearing about the ordeal Ghanian shea harvesters undergo, branding consultant
Fiona Spear was duly impressed. “It is unbelievable what they have to go through with the
snakes and how they harvest these nuts. There is such a disparity between my life and their
life. I have own biz, and am thinking about how I can help. I love to work with nonprofits. They
ground me,” she said.
“Just Shea is a beautiful concept because it ties where the people are and how people here
can make an impact,” said Dave Cote, advisor for the Seven Bar Foundation.
Hot on Just Shea’s pitching heels, Dave and Jacqueline Lee of the Seven Bar foundation, a
microfinance fund for women, conducted an impressive presentation about empowering
women. “It’s about teaching someone how to fish and giving them a tool to climb out of
poverty,” said Cote. The Seven Bar model, developed by director Renata M. Black, is a
unique one as the foundation is self-sustained by high-end luxury lingerie shows.
A review by the Pipeline Fund panel and questions from the audience followed the pitches,
which were very well received across the board for their inspiring models and concepts.
“It's important to have a safe environment to have a place for women to pitch,” said Natalia
Oberti Noguera, founder of Pipeline. She stated that out of all startups, only 21 percent are
women. “Women are not getting funded and they're not pitching. We need to create a bridge
for women who can be investors,” she added.
Among the venture capitalists, investors, and social entrepreneurs were two possible future
investors and current members of the Youth Social Enterprise Network (YSEN), Tera Kelly
and Yaffa Borukhova, both eager to “learn more about philanthropy.”
According to Judy Morrill, managing director Highmount Capital, an independent wealth
management firm with a focus on investment and family sustainability, most young adults
want to marry philanthropic with profit. “Soc entrepreneurship is about how can I have
impact. How can I invest and grow my portfolio and do good. It’s triple bottom lining. This is
good for wealthy inheritors. Wealth can have a purpose and keep from being squandered,”
said Judy.
(reported by Titania Veda, YSEN)
| Special thanks to our sponsors and partners for supporting this event: Highmount Capital Fidelity Charitable Services The Pipeline Fund Shafer Vineyards and The Gansevoort Park Avenue. |
*Photos credits: All photographs were taken and copyrighted by Maryann Fernandez. No use of photos without prior written permission.
Photos: (top) Jacqueline Valouch, Fidelity Charitable
Services with Indaba founder, Maryann Fernandez; (middle
two pictures) Ladies enjoy presentations; (bottom) Judy
Morrill, Highmount Capital.
Services with Indaba founder, Maryann Fernandez; (middle
two pictures) Ladies enjoy presentations; (bottom) Judy
Morrill, Highmount Capital.
