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This week, people across India and the world will celebrate Holi, a “festival of colors” symbolizing the end of winter’s gloom, the start of spring, and the triumph of good over evil.
While it may not feel like spring for many of us in the United States, we hope our newsletter today helps to “melt away” any gloomy news in your feed. Like every month, we’re here with a reminder of the many vibrant changemakers who are bringing brightness and warmth to our world.
Since March is Women’s History Month, we’ve rounded up several stories of inspiring women who are using their talents and expertise to create legacies that will last for generations.
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Defying Expectations to Expand Learning
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For Rouble Nagi, education doesn’t have to happen in a school. Learning can happen anywhere — even on a mat in the middle of a slum — as long as you make it interesting.
That’s what Nagi has learned over the nearly three decades that she has worked to bring education to some of India’s most marginalized communities. As an artist, she challenges assumptions about what school should look like, sparking children’s interest in learning through art.
Through her nonprofit organization, Nagi has established more than 800 learning centers in underserved communities and villages across India. At these vibrant, open-air spaces, teachers simplify concepts through art-based learning, volunteers give skill-based lessons, donations help children access school supplies, and educational murals ignite community-wide change.
As a result, dropout rates have fallen by over 50%, children show improved literacy and numeracy, and community attitudes toward education are changing.
That impact may be why Nagi was selected from among 5,000 nominations to receive the Global Teacher Prize last month. She plans to use the $1 million reward to expand her nonprofit’s reach — helping even more children turn their big ambitions for the future into reality. |
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| Impact Investing Gains Ground Around the Globe |
While often characterized as facing headwinds in financial news outlets, several new studies suggest global momentum for impact investing continues to grow. In Japan, awareness has reached a record high, with more than one-fifth of consumers familiar with impact investing. Meanwhile, markets continue expanding in Latin America and Europe. The number of organizations participating in impact investing in Mexico more than tripled between 2019 and 2024. In the UK, researchers estimate the impact economy now represents 15% of gross domestic product, with the impact investing market growing 10.1% annually between 2020 and 2023.
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Exploring AI’s Impact on Impact Investing
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| As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes our economy, some impact investors are exploring ways to use it as a force for good. For example, AI-enabled evaluation systems can be used during the selection process to ensure founders are evaluated against the same criteria, asked comparable questions, and assessed with greater transparency. Additionally, some investors are testing ways to use AI to improve the efficiency and quality of impact assessments — and sharing lessons learned to help others. While AI may not be a substitute for human judgment, early experiments show it may have some value for value-aligned investors. |
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A $3 Trillion Opportunity for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs
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| As baby boomers retire, approximately six million small- and medium-sized businesses will be available for acquisition by 2035, according to a new McKinsey study. This ownership transition presents a unique opportunity for new entrepreneurs, including those who have long faced barriers to starting their own businesses, to acquire established businesses and unlock $3 trillion in new household wealth, say researchers. |
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| Honoring Visionary Women Founders |
| Alexis Carpenter is helping foster youth rebuild their lives, Erika Sinner leads a fast-growing biotech company, and Josephine Bonsu runs a skincare brand — but despite their very different careers, these women share one thing in common: they each earned a spot on the Entreprenista 100 Awards. The ranking honors 100 visionary women who are making a difference in their communities and industries. Check out the list to read the stories of these innovative, resilient women working across diverse industries to build better futures. |
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Celebrating the Women Shaping a Sustainable Future
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| Imagine living in a 1,000-year-old redwood tree for 738 days or diving to the depths of the ocean to study marine life. These are just a couple of the impressive feats accomplished by the fearless women featured in the March issue of the National Women’s History Alliance Magazine. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, these stories show how trailblazing women have been leading sustainable change for generations. |
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