Recently, Sonen’s Head of Research, Carolyn Ezelino was a panelist at the USAID-led reception on Catalyzing Gender Equity in Climate Finance at SOCAP24. It was an energizing event bringing together passionate advocates and thought leaders committed to advancing gender equity in climate action.
Why prioritize women-led climate initiatives? As Anjani Harjeven from WomenHub put it, “women are connectors…they can have exponential impact within their communities.” The UN reports that communities are more successful in resilience and capacity-building strategies when women are part of the planning process. Women-led solutions don’t just tackle environmental issues, they also address underlying social and economic inequalities, which can have lasting positive impacts on communities.
Investing in Early Stage Companies and Diverse Leaders
At SOCAP, Sonen Capital’s Head of Research, Carolyn Ezelino, also participated in a panel discussion on “Career Education: Investing in Early Stage Companies and Diverse Leaders” hosted with American Student Assistance (ASA). The session explored how impact investors can support career readiness startups and promote diversity in leadership, even amid a challenging funding environment.
Carolyn shared how Sonen’s outcomes-based approach enables a multi-dimensional investing strategy that includes workforce development, career readiness, and themes like climate or healthcare. She also emphasized the need for caution in integrating AI into education: “We can’t let AI function as a black box or exacerbate the exclusion of marginalized communities.” Educational inequities remain a root cause of many societal challenges, so bridging the gaps with innovation and investment is essential long-term success and inclusivity of education-focused initiatives.
