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Meet Tamara and Susan: Believers in How Banking Can and Should Go Beyond the Balance Sheet by Linda Ryan

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Meet Tamara and Susan: Believers in How Banking Can and Should Go Beyond the Balance Sheet by Linda Ryan

With the launch of the Building Banking on Values, a new VoiceAmerica radio series I’m hosting that goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of the people, passion and positivity within the values-based banking and financing sector; I thought to introduce you to some of our guests. Listen to the show right now.

Meet Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO (Vancity), and Believer in How Banking Should Build the Well-being of People, Planet and Places. 

As President & Chief Executive Officer of Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union, Tamara Vrooman believes that banking has a vital role in developing a healthy society—building the well-being of people and, at the same time, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the communities in which they live and work. This summarises Vancity’s vision of redefining wealth.

Tamara views the economy as much more than what is written on a balance sheet; it includes the social and natural economies in which we all live. Understanding the interdependence of these three means that Vancity takes a very different approach to banking, ensuring its products, services and advice deliver financial, social and environmental results for the more than 500,000 members it serves. As a financial co-operative, Vancity is ideally suited to operate in an economy that is ever changing because it is through its close connection with members that Vancity sees what is required to meet their changing needs. This ‘member-led innovation’ guides Vancity in its business strategies.

Under Tamara’s leadership, Vancity has gained international recognition for its values-based banking model. Vancity was the first Canadian financial institution invited to join the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, an independent network of the world’s leading sustainable banks and banking cooperatives. In 2014, Pope Francis asked Tamara to participate in a Vatican Summit entitled The Global Common Good: Towards a More Inclusive Economy with 70 leaders from around the world. Tamara also spoke about Vancity’s model with the Dalai Lama at the 2014Heart-Mind Summit in Vancouver.

Tamara’s achievements at the credit union include leading Vancity to become the first carbon-neutral financial institution in North America, the largest private-sector living wage employer in Canada, and one of the first mainstream financial institutions to launch an alternative to predatory payday loans for its members—the Vancity Fair & Fast Loan™. Learn more.

Meet Susan Arterian Chang, Director, Capital Institute’s Field Guide to Investing in a Regenerative Economy and Former Blogger, Financial Journalist, and Foreign Exchange Analyst.

Susan has a rich past in finance as Blogger on Sustainable Finance and Investing (New York Society of Security Analysts Financial Professionals’ Post), Founder and Publisher (The Impact Investor), and Financial Writer (The Intersections of “The New Economy”), not to mention a stint as Foreign Exchange Analyst (Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust).

As Director of content development and the Field Guide to Investing in Regenerative Economy initiative, Susan has worked in the world of both global capital markets and local economies. As a financial writer she covered the evolution of the global capital markets, derivatives, and risk management for a variety of institutional investment and corporate finance publications, produced white papers on international taxation issues and performance management for consulting firms, and worked as a currency analyst and on the strategic forex trading desk at MHT Bank. From 1997 to 2005 she published a National Newspaper Association award-winning community newspaper in White Plains, New York, where she championed local ownership and quality of life issues in a small city struggling to revitalize. As publisher she received the Business Ethics Award from the Rotary Club and Entrepreneur of the Year Award from New York State’s Small Business Development Center. Her combined experiences give her a unique perspective on the importance of focusing finance and investment on long-term, place-based business models. Susan holds a BA in English Literature from Reed College, and did graduate study with a concentration in finance in the MBA program at NYU’s Leonard Stern School of Business.

Capital Institute is a non-partisan, collaborative founded in 2010 by financiers, business people, and academics from multiple disciplines to effect change. The institute’s mission is to drive systemic change of financial theory and practice necessary to harness the power of capital and markets to evolve a more just, regenerative, and  sustainable economic system.

The Field Guide is a digital storytelling project of Capital Institute (fieldguide.capitalinstitute.org) and was Short Listed for the 2014 Guardian Sustainable Business Award in the Communications. Learn more.

 

Don’t forget to tune into Building Banking on Values. My VoiceAmerica radio show airs on Thursdays 15:00 PDT on theBusiness channel. Learn more.

#BankingOnValues @CatalystWarrior @bankingonvalues  @VoiceAmBusiness  @arterianchang @Vancity @CapInstitute

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Meet Jesse and Stewart: Building Economic Resiliency and Independence Through Financial Inclusion by Linda Ryan

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Meet Jesse and Stewart: Building Economic Resiliency and Independence Through Financial Inclusion by Linda Ryan

With the launch of the Building Banking on Values, a new VoiceAmerica radio series I’m hosting that goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of the people, passion and positivity within the values-based banking and financing sector; I thought to introduce you to some of our guests. Listen to the show episodes right here!

Meet Jesse Fripp: General Manager, Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (Switzerland).

Jesse is the General Manager of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, based in Geneva. The underlying objectives of AKAM are to reduce poverty, diminish the vulnerability of poor populations and alleviate economic and social exclusion. AKAM aims to improve the quality of life of people by helping them to improve their incomes, become self-reliant and gain the skills needed to graduate into the mainstream financial markets.

From AKAM founding in 2005, AKAM institutions in nearly a dozen key emerging markets have served over 2.5 million low-income households and small business clients with credit, deposits and other needed financial services, intermediating and disbursing over $2.2 billion in real economy investment into primarily rural and fragile-state environments, many in active state of extended crisis.

Jesse holds a Master’s in Public Management with a concentration in International Economic Development from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a certificate in Finance from the Edinburgh Business School. He is former Vice Chair and member of the Board of Oikocredit USA, a member of the Board of SEEP, a former member of the Advisory Board of Arrow Global Capital, and has taught as Adjunct Faculty at the George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, DC.

Meet Stewart Anderson, Manager, Community Investment-Indigenous Partnerships, Vancity (Vancouver City Savings Credit Union), Canada.

Stewart grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and attended Dalhousie University, before travelling, doing his Masters degree in International Development in Arizona, and relocating to Vancouver.

He has worked in the financial services sector for the last 25 years, and has a strong background in economic development, project finance, and corporate lending, as well as a keen awareness of the importance of relationship building. His clients have included Aboriginal Social Service agencies, First Nation Governments, Aboriginal and First Nation Development Corporations, and First Nation/Private Sector Joint Ventures.

In his current role as Manager, Indigenous Partnerships, Stewart works to broaden and deepen the Credit Union’s involvement with Aboriginal communities in and beyond the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people where Vancity is located.

Vancity is based in the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people. As a financial services co-operative, the credit union works in partnership with First Nation government and Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations to help build stronger communities.

 

Don’t forget to tune into Building Banking on Values. My VoiceAmerica radio show airs on Thursdays 15:00 PDT on theBusiness channel. Learn more.

#BankingOnValues @CatalystWarrior @bankingonvalues  @VoiceAmBusiness  @jcfripp  @akdn @Vancity

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https://www.twitter.com/Vancity
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Meet Brendan and Kenneth: Strategic Advisers Leading Research and Organisational Change From Scotland to Canada

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Meet Brendan and Kenneth: Strategic Advisers Leading Research and Organisational Change From Scotland to Canada

With less than a month to go to the launch of Building Banking on Values, a new VoiceAmerica radio series I’m hosting that goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of the people, passion and positivity within the values-based banking and financing sector; I thought to introduce you to some of our guests.

Meet Brendan Reimer: Strategic Partner, Values-Based Banking at Assiniboine Credit Union (Canada).

Brendan is Assiniboine’s Strategic Partner of Values-based Banking. As the former Manitoba Regional Director at the Canadian CED Network, member of the Social Enterprise Council of Canada, former board member at LITE and former member of ACU’s Board of Directors, Brendan is a passionate educator and organiser dedicated to creating inclusive, fairer, and more sustainable economies and communities.

Brendan’s primary responsibilities in Assiniboine are to act as strategic adviser to the CEO and senior management team on values-based banking initiatives; support the Board and committees to meet the objectives set out in ACU’s Values-based Banking Policy and action framework; and help ACU embed the principles and practices of values-based banking into the credit union’s core functions and daily work. Ultimately this work helps further Assiniboine’s reputation as a values-based banking leader – locally, nationally and internationally. Learn more.

Meet Kenneth Amaeshi: Head of the Strategy Group and Reader in Strategy & International Business, University of Edinburgh (Scotland)

Kenneth is the Head of the Strategy Group, a Reader in Strategy & International Business, and the Director of the Sustainable Business Initiative. Following a career in management consultancy, he has held positions at the Cranfield School of Management and the University of Warwick (Warwick Business School and Warwick Manufacturing Group, respectively). He was a Chevening Scholar (2002/3), a Scholar of the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, Nottingham University Business School (2003/4) and a Visiting Scholar at Said Business School, University of Oxford (2007/8).

Besides teaching and researching, Kenneth works with businesses, NGOs and governments. He is a Committee Member of the prestigious Gifford Lectures chaired by the Principal. In addition, he currently leads a University platform on Corporate Responsibility and Governance for continuous interactions with industry players, policy makers, and the general public. Learn more.

 

Oh, and don’t forget to tune into Building Banking on Values. My VoiceAmerica radio show airs on Thursdays 15:00 PDT on the Business channel

Learn more 

#BankingOnValues

@CatalystWarrior

@bankingonvalues

@uoebusiness

@VoiceAmBusiness

@Brendan_Reimer

@kenamaeshi

Meet Katrin: Researcher, Human Capital Expert, and MIT Educator Changing the Next Generation of Banking Professionals

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Meet Katrin: Researcher, Human Capital Expert, and MIT Educator Changing the Next Generation of Banking Professionals

With less than a month to go to the launch of Building Banking on Values, a new VoiceAmerica radio series I’m hosting that goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of the people, passion and positivity within the values-based banking and financing sector; I thought to introduce you to some of our guests.

Meet Katrin: Researcher, Human Capital Expert, and MIT Educator Changing the Next Generation of Banking Professionals.

Dr. Katrin Kaeufer is research director at the Presencing Institute, and Research Fellow at the Community Innovators Lab (CoLab) at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Her research focuses on leadership, social transformation and socially responsible banking. Kaeufer earned her MBA and Ph.D. from Witten/Herdecke University, Germany. Her dissertation on Socially Responsible Banking was published as a book. She has consulted with mid-sized as well as global companies, non-profit organisations, the World Bank and with the United Nations Development Program in New York. She is also co-founding member of the Presencing Institute. Her recent book (2013) which she co-authored with C. Otto Scharmer is titled “Leading from the emerging Future: From Ego-system to Eco-system Economies”.

 Creating a new wave of banking professionals

Katrin is also changing the profession of banking by launching a new Massive Open Online Course from MIT and with contributions, insights and case studies from members of the Global Alliance of Banking on Values and other sustainability and community-focused banking change makers.

The free six week online course called Just Money – Banking as If Society Mattered will launch on April 19, 2016. Here’s a snippet of what the course reveals…

What do you know about banking? Do you know what your bank does with your money? The recent financial crisis highlighted some of the most fundamental issues with the mainstream banking system.

 

This is the world’s first Massive Open Online Course looking into banks that operate differently, namely, ‘just banks’ that use capital and finance as a tool to address social and ecological challenges.

The course is for anyone who wants to understand the unique role banks play as intermediaries in our economy and how they can leverage that position to produce positive social, environmental, and economic change.

Course instructors have worked for over 10 years with ‘just banks’ from around the world, as well as in the fields of community development, economic democracy, and social change. No previous knowledge of finance or banking is needed to take this course. Register for the course now.

Oh, and don’t forget to tune into Building Banking on Values. My VoiceAmerica radio show airs on Thursdays 15:00 PDT on the Business channel

Learn more

#BankingOnValues

@CatalystWarrior

@VoiceAmBusiness

@MITx_JustMoney

Meet David: a Serious Banker Who Believes Banking Should Have a Seriously Social Conscience

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Meet David: a Serious Banker Who Believes Banking Should Have a Seriously Social Conscience

With less than two months to go to the launch of Building Banking on Values, a new VoiceAmerica radio series I’m hosting that goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of the people, passion and positivity within the values-based banking and financing sector; I thought to introduce you to some of our guests.

Meet David Korslund: a Serious Banker Who Believes Banking Should Have a Seriously Social Conscience. 

David Korslund has filled a number of senior and strategic roles in banking since 1976. He began his career at Shore Bank in Chicago while completing his MBA at the Booth School of the University of Chicago. From 1983 through early 2009 he worked with ABN AMRO Bank in the United States and The Netherlands. He held a variety of senior positions including responsibility for the planning and performance management of all ABN AMRO activities while providing strategic decision support to ABN AMRO’s Managing Board. Since leaving ABN AMRO in 2009 he has focused on providing strategic advice on inclusive finance delivering a Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Prosperity.

David works as Senior Adviser for Enclude an advisory firm dedicated to building more sustainable businesses and institutions. He is also Senior Adviser to the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a consortium of socially progressive and innovative banks focused on delivering sustainable economic development and environmental improvement throughout the world. For the GABV he researched and authored “Real Economy – Real Returns: The Power and Positive Impact of Sustainability-focused Banking” updated in October 2015. More recently, David acted as Adviser for the GABV initiated investment vehicle Sustainability | Finance | Real Economies that closed in February 2015.  David resides in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with his Dutch husband.

David

Join us on the show each week to hear David share his thoughts and interpretations about what’s in the news and behind the headlines in the world of banking. 

Oh, and don’t forget to tune into Building Banking on Values. My VoiceAmerica radio show airs on Thursdays 15:00 PDT on the Business channel

Learn more 

#BankingOnValues

@CatalystWarrior

@VoiceAmBusiness

Meet Linda: Connector, Translator and Maverick Who Builds Bridges in the EU Banking Sector

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Business
Meet Linda: Connector, Translator and Maverick Who Builds Bridges in the EU Banking Sector

With less than two months to go to the launch of Building Banking on Values, a new VoiceAmerica radio series I’m hosting that goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of the people, passion and positivity within the values-based banking and financing sector; I thought to introduce you to some of our guests.

Meet Linda van Goor, Regulatory Communications Expert whose motto is to ‘connect, translate, empower’ when facilitating change in the EU banking sector. 

Linda has worked for universities, the banking sector, De Nederlandsche Bank and the European Commission as a teacher, adviser, moderator, issues-manager, supervisor, regulator and trainer. She’s been explaining, connecting, coordinating, translating, drafting and applying European regulatory issues in the financial sector for years. The European idea “unified in diversity” has always been a guiding principle.LindaEU

Finding common interests and bridging the gap between legal text and day-to-day practice has been my guiding approach. Regulatory communication is my means to find common interests and to guide and empower people to solve problems, to cooperate across national or sector borders and to create opportunities.

Colleagues in Brussels sometimes referred to this approach as “the Linda way” – listening until finding the essence of a problem or a legal text, the commonalities and common goals of the many parties involved, then explaining that essence in simpler words to others and finally inducing joint initiatives. That’s how Linda van Goor contributed to bringing home high impact legislation (especially Directive 2011/89/EU and related initiatives regarding complex financial groups) in full cooperation with respective Presidencies and the Council, Commission colleagues and the European Parliament, and under the responsibility of the European Commission.

Read Linda’ s blog

 

Oh, and don’t forget to tune into Building Banking on Values. My VoiceAmerica radio show airs on Thursdays 15:00 PDT on the Business channel

Learn more 

#BankingOnValues

@CatalystWarrior

@VoiceAmBusiness

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