Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder and director of Acumen Fund, a non-profit venture fund that invests in businesses providing goods and services to low-income communities. She grew up in a military family that instilled in her values of responsibility, community, and helping others. After studying economics and working for Chase Bank in over 40 countries, she realized she could have the greatest impact through improving access to financial services. In 2001, she founded Acumen Fund to provide "patient capital" to sustainable businesses in the developing world. Her leadership style at Acumen reflects the values of listening, accountability, humility and audacity that she and her husband Chris Anderson, owner of TED, share in their personal life

1. Jacqueline Novogratz
FO U N D E R A N D D I R EC TO R O F AC U M E N F U N D
“A RICH LIFE IS ONE
WHERE YOU ARE
STRETCHING YOURSELF
TO WORK ON THE
WORLD’S TOUGHEST
PROBLEMS AND
FOCUSING ON
OTHERS”
– JACQ U E L I N E N OVO G R AT Z
ANNE CONLIN
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2. Early Life – valuing responsibility and community
 Born in 1961; spent childhood in Upstate
New York and Detroit
 Eldest of seven children in a military family
 Father did several tours in Vietnam, and
was responsible for helping dead soldiers
families – shared his stress about economic
inequality with his family
 Inculcated with family and community
responsibility through Catholic school and
family values: “If there was a family ethic,
it was to work hard, go to church, be good
to your family, and live out loud”
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3. Early work experience – experimenting and exploring
 Attended UVA where she studied
Economics and International Relations
 At graduation, wanted to bartend, ski,
and see the world but her parents
encouraged her to recruit
 After bring promised travel, accepted
with Chase Bank and began “three of
the best years of my life”
“Chase trained me in finance and cash
flow and how companies work, and I did
work in 40 countries. It was a gift from
the universe and the perfect beginning of
a career”
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4. Founding Acumen – authentic leadership
 Banking taught her that she could have greatest community impact via improving
financial access – left Chase for Rwanda where she started country’s first MFI
 In 2001, founded Acumen Fund, a non-profit venture fund that invests “patient
capital” in financially sustainable businesses that provide goods and services to low
income people in developing countries
 Leadership style – and Acumen’s organizational values – reflects her values and
personality outside work
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“We think about our values in
pairs, and there is a tension or a
balance between them. We talk
about listening and leadership;
accountability and generosity;
humility and audacity”

5. Personal life – an intellectual partnership
 Married Chris Anderson, owner/curator
of TED in 2001; have three children
 Both share values and want to use work
to impact community, but have adopted
different missions and platforms
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“There’s an extraordinary sense of mutual respect; we
both feel we want to change the world”
 Provide mutual support: Chris was a frequent editor for
Jacqueline’s bestseller The Blue Sweater and Jacqueline
regularly contributes to TED
 Live in New York within walking distance of her siblings

6. Four circle integration
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Work
Self
HomeCommunity
Work serves
broader global
community
Has built
Acumen into an
organization that
reflects her
values, leads
authentically
Marriage provides
mutual career
support, both
careers support
community
Balances hectic work
schedule with family
time

7. I chose Jacqueline because she embodies several
things I would like for myself
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 Pragmatic career choices – realized she would gain
necessary training at large private sector professional
services firm
 Foundation in the private sector – began career as a
banker
 Devoted career to innovation for social impact – through
Acumen Fund
 Inspiring personal life – marriage is an intellectual
partnership, views her life as a system she can change

8. Lessons
 Be real: find work in which you can have
impact outside yourself
 Bring your personal values to bear as a
leader
 Be whole: Build an organizational culture
that you personally find satisfying
 Find a partner with complimentary
passions
 Be innovative: Balance adventure and
growth with being grounded
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