E100: Mary Ellen Iskenderian: Women’s World Banking Capital Partners Funds I and II

Mary Ellen Iskenderian is President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, the global nonprofit devoted to giving more low-income women access to the financial tools and resources they need to achieve security and prosperity. Ms. Iskenderian has led the Women’s World Banking global team, based in New York, since 2006 and also serves on the Investment Committees of its two impact investment funds. Previously, Ms. Iskenderian worked at the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, and the investment bank Lehman Brothers. Ms. Iskenderian is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a member of the Women’s Forum of New York and the UN’s Business and Sustainable Development Commission. She serves as a Director on the Board of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Ms. Iskenderian holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in International Economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Recently, she was recognized in the Forbes 50 over 50: Investment list, which highlights female investors and financial leaders. Her first book, There’s Nothing Micro About a Billion Women: Making Finance Work for Women, was published by MIT Press in April 2022.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:20 How did Women's World Banking come about and how did you get involved with the Women's World Bank?

06:15 How do you think what you're doing at the women's world banking will impact venture capital or be an enhancement or addition to venture capital?

06:28 What are you currently reading or learning or listening to these days?

15:04 In 2 years, how do you see venture capital evolved or changed?

18:46 How do people contact you?

19:22 Thank you

Featured Guest Bio:

Previously, Ms. Iskenderian worked at the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, and the investment bank Lehman Brothers. Ms. Iskenderian is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a member of the Women’s Forum of New York and the UN’s Business and Sustainable Development Commission. She serves as a Director on the Board of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Ms. Iskenderian holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in International Economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Recently, she was recognized in the Forbes 50 over 50: Investment list, which highlights female investors and financial leaders. Her first book, There’s Nothing Micro About a Billion Women: Making Finance Work for Women, was published by MIT Press in April 2022.

Guest Contact:

LinkedIn
Personal Website

Fund Information:

With >$150M AUM, Women’s World Banking Asset Management (“WAM”) has been spearheading gender lens investing for financial inclusion in global emerging markets since 2012. WAM makes direct equity investments in inclusive financial institutions with an explicit focus on women through Women’s World Banking Capital Partners Funds I and II. We create value through advocacy and a dedicated technical assistance facility to help portfolio companies capture the sizable market of financially underserved women and attract female talent to all parts of their organizations, thereby achieving higher returns on investment while helping to close the gender gap in financial inclusion.

Fund I, a $50M fund with a 2012 vintage, launched gender-focused investing in inclusive emerging market financial service providers.
Fund II, a $103M fund with a 2020 vintage, expanded WAM’s gender-focused investment strategy in innovative inclusive financial service providers, with a dedicated, grant-funded technical assistance facility to help portfolio companies achieve strategic objectives.

Fund Site:

Women’s World Banking

Fund Contact:

Women’s World Banking on LinkedIn