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Nothing brings communities together quite like the holiday season. Families, friends, and colleagues share laughter and warmth at holiday parties. Religious congregations worship and pray together. Volunteers organize to bring food and gifts to those who are less fortunate.

As we reflect on the importance of community, we thought it apt to dedicate this month’s newsletter to the many changemakers who strive every day to bring positive change to their communities. When people come together, we strengthen each other and amplify our impact.

From fostering support networks, to investing in social change, to advancing scientific research, the stories we spotlight below demonstrate the power of individuals to drive a more sustainable and inclusive world — especially when they collaborate with others.

We wish you a joyful holiday season!

 
 
 
 
FEARLESS FEATURE
 
 
 
 

Innovating to Support Women and Girls

Reshma Soujani has been an inspiration to countless girls and young women. As founder of the successful nonprofit Girls Who Code, she has inspired millions of girls to pursue their dreams in computer science — but her impact doesn’t stop there.

More recently, Soujani launched the Moms First campaign to advocate for affordable childcare, paid family leave, and equal pay for mothers. As she told the World Economic Forum, she believes that technology like AI can help solve problems for women and people of color.

Soujani has exemplified fearlessness throughout her career, using her voice to inspire others. Her book Brave, Not Perfect, encourages women to take risks and pursue their ambitions unapologetically.

In a recent podcast interview, Soujani emphasized the importance of learning from failure, one of the five “Be Fearless” principles. “I want to go through the journey and the steps and the stumbles and the challenges and the mistakes and the failures because that's living,” she said.

By making failure matter and showing others that it’s okay to make mistakes, Soujani is paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative future.
 
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IMPACT INVESTING
 
 
 
 
Fostering Financial Inclusion with Impact Investing
One way impact investors can help bridge gaps in underbanked regions is to channel capital into microfinance institutions. Using innovative technologies like mobile platforms and AI-driven credit scoring, the microfinance sector is expanding its global reach. It serves as a lifeline to individuals and small businesses that would otherwise be excluded from the traditional financial system. With the global microfinance market projected to more than double by 2031, investors have significant opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
 
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Studies Show Momentum for Impact Investing

Appetite for impact investing is on the rise, according to Private Equity International. A recent survey found that 62% of limited partners plan to increase allocations to impact investments over the next year, with a strong preference for climate-related strategies such as the energy transition and decarbonization. Pitchbook’s latest research reinforces that trend, finding that impact investors’ top focus area is energy, followed closely by climate.
 
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INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
 
 
 
 

Women AI Entrepreneurs Find Success with Community

For women founders in AI, succeeding in the male-dominated tech sector requires building strong networks of support and mentorship. Groups such as Female Founder Circles and Women and AI are empowering women entrepreneurs with guidance and connections. As community-driven initiatives flourish, more women are launching startups, raising funding, and creating transformative solutions, underscoring the power of collaboration in fostering innovation and equity.
 
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Entrepreneurs Driving Change
Two newly released rankings show the power of entrepreneurs to drive lasting change in their communities. The Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact List features young innovators addressing issues such as climate change, disabilities, mental health, and elections. Among honorees, 56% identify as people of color and 44% are women. We know that the judges of this list, including the Case Foundation’s Jean Case, find inspiration from these entrepreneurs, and we hope you will too.

Inc.’s 2024 Best in Business list also spotlights several diverse entrepreneurs who are making an impact. For example, Jenny Nguyen of Hello Human is making PR services accessible for small design businesses, and the mother and daughter co-founders of SkinnyDipped are channeling their success to support women entrepreneurs in Sudan.
 
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BEFORE YOU GO
 
 
 
 

5 Women Scientists Leading the Way in Climate Research

Do wildfires spread pathogens through the air and water? How do clouds contribute to climate change? These are just two of the big questions being investigated by the winners of The Story Exchange’s Women in Science Incentive Prize. The five women received recognition and grants for their efforts to understand and mitigate the impact of extreme events. We applaud their innovative ideas and tireless efforts to combat the effects of climate change.
 
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