S13E37: "Impact investing is broken", with Brett Simmons (CEO, Scale Link)
March 21, 2024
Why is impact investing broken? And how can you be a more impactful entrepreneur?
We're continuing our season on "business as a force for good", Richard speaks with Brett Simmons, CEO of Scale Link. Scale Link is a social venture and a first-of-its-kind secondary market for small business loans, working with more than 30 community development finance institutions (CDFIs) and having purchased over $52M in loans over the last 3 years to provide capital and additional revenue to important community organizations - to the tune of $5.5M in unrestricted funds.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- Why Brett believes impact investing is broken
- The art of "execution versus calibration," as new information comes in
- Why humility is a leadership superpower
Resources/sources mentioned:
- scalelink.org
- The Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast(https://xquadrant.com/podcast/)
- Join Rivendell (https://xquadrant.com/rivendell/), our exponential programme for elite CEOs dedicated to transforming themselves, their businesses, and the world.
- Ready for a big leap forward in your own leadership? Elevate your leadership forever with Richard's book "Making time for Strategy: How to be less busy and more successful". Buy your book here: https://xquadrant.com/time/
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
04:46 How to make transactions more efficient
07:55 Planning vs. Execution
09:32 Challenges in selling to different bank sizes
12:58 Structuring environment for self-discovery and growth
20:48 Addressing societal needs
26:30 The Power of Humility