SoFi Joins Skoll Foundation and Imprint Capital on Social Enterprise Panel

Last week, SoFi co-founder Dan Macklin was invited by Chicago Booth to participate on a social enterprise panel in San Francisco.  Local alumni from the University, prospective business school students, and other members of the community were in attendance to hear the panel’s take on the future of social entrepreneurship.

Moderated by Glen Low of Blu Sky, SoFi was honored to be on a panel with other prestigious members of the social enterprise and impact investing space. Richard Fahey, COO of the Skoll Foundation, John Goldstein, Managing partner of Imprint Capital, and Kristin Hull Director of the Nia Community Fund participated on the panel.

Introduced by Fahey early in the evening, the theme of the conversation was “Bet on good people doing good things” – advice former eBay president Jeff Skoll was given when starting his philanthropic ventures. Macklin built on this idea when introducing SoFi as an example of a for-profit venture that does social good, “We take capital from good sources and put it in places where it does good.”

Discussed in-depth were the challenges facing the social enterprise space and what might be limiting its growth. Hull remarked on the knowledge barrier between “good people” and their investing in “good things.” She noted that many investment advisors do not realize that impact investing is a product available to them with the potential for financial and social returns. Developing metrics around social outcomes is another challenge facing the industry.

Despite these concerns, panelists agreed that a shift is happening. John Goldstein has seen a clear talent flow in impact investing and social enterprise which will only help with growth and awareness. Dan Macklin remarked on a shift in the pressure students are putting on the investing practices of their university endowments. “Ten years ago, they were telling them what not to invest in: tobacco, weapons, etc. But today they’re being more proactive in their recommendations.”

SoFi welcomes the opportunity to be a part of these conversations and looks forward to (in the words of our moderator) continuing to “challenge assumptions”  at future events. Couldn’t attend this time? Come hear Dan Macklin at a future panel sponsored by the Harvard Club of San Francisco on March 20th.