Jane Leu

To make lasting policy change, you need a combination of strong #civic organizations + great leaders. You need people who can work closely with government policy makers but also maintain their independence, break down silos, and hold institutions accountable (if necessary). That’s why I’m so excited that my longtime friend and colleague, Kate Gordon will be the new CEO of California Forward. Kate is someone who has been a successful leader and visionary both inside and outside of government - and is a trusted voice who has worked across silos - #energy #housing #climate #landuse #economicdevelopment #workforcedevelopment. Given the complex interrelated challenges + opportunities at the State of California, I couldn’t think of a better person at this critical moment to take on the leadership role of this extremely important organization. California Forward was an important partner when we launched #RegionsRiseTogether with Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Lenny Mendonca and Kate Gordon 2019. Today, given the major state investment in #regionaleconomicdevelopment through #CAJobsFirst (formerly #CERF) and the continued importance of elevating #regions as a locus for planning and implementation in #California, having Kate at the helm of this organization is critical. Hats off to Ismael Diaz Herrera for his leadership and guidance of California Forward over the past year (and his ongoing leadership of the California Stewardship Network) as well as the great staff and many others who have led and worked with this organization over the past decade +. #RegionsRiseTogether

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Is climate change an LGBTQ+ rights issue? You bet! In our new report from The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, my co-author Lindsay Mahowald and I use U.S. Census data, along with climate risk data from FEMA and NASA, to show that same-sex couples are more vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. We find not only that LGBT people in same-sex couple households disproportionately live in coastal areas and cities that face greater risk of weather events like flooding or extreme heat, but they live in areas with poorer infrastructure and have less access to resources, compounding the negative effects of climate disasters. Climate change exacerbates existing disparities, and we know that LGBT people are more likely than straight people to face discrimination, live in poverty, and experience food insecurity. Climate change policies, including disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plans, must address these specific needs and vulnerabilities. Read more findings and recommendations in our report below.

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The best case study I taught last term was by Dorothee Baumann-Pauly and is about Veja’s efforts to responsibly source natural rubber from Brazil. Dorothee’s human rights work is amazing in general, and inspires me greatly. I will share the case study in the first comment. Here, she wrote for NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights about the gap between academic and practitioner research, and how much, much more work is needed to close that gap. https://lnkd.in/gwG3_zcF

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Thrilled to be showcased in Tipping Point Community’s annual report about its work on reducing poverty in the Bay Area, including for immigrants through workforce inclusion. Thanks to the support of Tipping Point’s network of funders for over a decade, Upwardly Global has been able to multiply its impact and help remove the employment barriers that prevent immigrant and refugee job seekers in San Francisco from obtaining skill-aligned work. In 2023 alone, we helped more than 1,000 job seekers in the Bay Area get a new job with an average starting salary of $72,000. In some cases, the job seekers that we worked with tripled their salary in less than a year. Tipping Point recognizes the critical importance of creating pathways to enable individuals at risk of poverty to secure well-paying jobs aligned with their skills and, consequently, unlock a brighter future. They also understand the importance of immigrants for cities like San Francisco. Investing in their integration and success is not just a choice but a necessity for maintaining thriving cities and communities. #Philanthropy #PhilanthropyMatters https://lnkd.in/e5Z5xnwt

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Honored to have represented Good Karma Partners and to have been part of this important milestone for the impact investment industry. Impact investors often express concern about “impact-washing” and “cherry-picking” in impact reports. To help address this, over the past 18 months Impact Frontiers, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, has facilitated a consensus-building initiative for investors in private markets, focusing on establishing shared expectations for impact performance reporting. The result of this initiative has just been published — Version 1 of the Impact Performance Reporting Norms.   As a voluntary “social contract,” the Reporting Norms are designed to guide the creation of impact performance reports shared privately by fund managers with their capital providers, as well as the creation of public impact reports.   More information is available at https://lnkd.in/dbsvBVaJ. #impactinvesting #impactreport #impactmanagement https://lnkd.in/decqQ_st

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Machiavellian leaders at the helm, prioritizing self-interest over all else, raise concerns about the true essence of freedom and democracy. Factors like greed, envy, and fear (the toxic triangle) have historically constrained freedoms, making it easier to manipulate the uninformed than the enlightened. Let's heed the warnings against propaganda, cronyism, sexism, nationalism, and the suppression of human rights. Leaders must govern, not just campaign, and uphold the law above all else. In a world where selfishness masquerades as moral superiority, let's reject divisive narratives based on skin color or religious beliefs. After all, we all live in the shelter of each other. Good leaders will guide with positive influence and educational materials; bad leaders will misguide with misinformation and propaganda. “All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach.” - Adolf Hitler The lessons of history tell us that if we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle ‘Machiavellianism’ is a real thing and a major component in the toxic triangle of destructive leadership. As we navigate the complexities of globalization, let wisdom guide us, not misinformation or mystical panaceas. Thomas Jefferson once warned… And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. But we may hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away all this artificial scaffolding...

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ICYMI. We have posted VIDEO of today's lively conversation about the politics and economics of immigration @BrookingsInst with Madeline Zavodny, Tara Watson and Ruy Teixeira (with my summary of some of Elaine Kamarck's thoughts.)

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Robert McCorquodale, chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, joins Richard Howitt on Frank Bold's Frankly Speaking podcast for an insightful discussion of the Working Group's recent report on investor responsibility to respect human rights. You can read a summary of the report here: https://lnkd.in/gcR7TXiM #bizhumanrights #esg #investment #rightswashing #csddd https://lnkd.in/ggdJgH9C

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Interesting Stanford Social Innovation Review article by Marina Gorbis on the power of futures thinking. As Raising a Reader navigates through what the future will look like, the ability to anticipate and adapt is more critical than ever. By adopting foresight tools, we can ensure that our mission to foster the development of literacy and family engagement skills and a lifelong love of reading, not only remains relevant, and is anticipating and proactive in the face of evolving opportunities and challenges.    https://lnkd.in/gBNsQb7c 

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I love this! Thank you to Rachel Brown from Beauty Independent to kick-off this exchange with Andrew Ross' provocative thesis and have us all react to it. I truly enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on the topic of the shortening lifecycle of beauty brands. Here is a snippet of mine: "Because beauty brand lifespans are shortening, it is important that we are able to differentiate brands with staying power from brands that will end up being a flash in the pan. There are much more of the latter than the former in the market right now, and if a brand is not well-positioned, it will be challenging for that brand to survive over the long-term. That’s why we focus on understanding each brand’s differentiators and long-term relevance." See more here: https://lnkd.in/esVbwnu2 and you will discover what Kevin Murphy, Odile Roujol, Rich Gersten, Tina Henry Bou-Saba, Oliver Nordlinger, Claire Chang, Manica Blain, Sonya Brown, George Birman had to say. #beautyindustry #beautyinvesting Stride Consumer Partners

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🙌 I'm excited to share that we've launched our new blog, The Wide Lens, at Panorama Strategy! 📰 Our first post shares Strategy leadership insights (including my own!) into how social impact leaders can play a pivotal role in strengthening democracy during these transformative times. Authored by our very own Wil Watkins, this article dives into how social impact leaders are safeguarding democratic values and enhancing societal inclusion. Join us in sparking meaningful conversations by reading and sharing your thoughts on this vital topic. Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/gTpkE6YA #SocialImpact #Leadership #NewBlog #TheWideLens #Democracy

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Attention women (and allies) of The World Bank! Thanks to the generous support of Felice Gorordo, the Office of the U.S. Executive Director is proud to present the first in what we envision to be a powerful Coffee Chat Series on Executive Women in Leadership. Thanks to my partner in crime Emana Shunnom who had the vision that we need to inspire the women of the Bank to shoot for the highest levels in the international financial community. Sharing here in case you missed the first announcement over email, another, with an invite to join in person or virtually will come out this week- please join us as we have an all-star line up of incredible women: Reta Jo Lewis, Esq., President and Chair, Export-Import Bank of the United States Anabel González, Vice President for Countries, Inter-American Development Bank Mamta Murthi, Vice President for Human Development, The World Bank Chidi Blyden, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation British Robinson, Coordinator, Prosper Africa Championing gender advancement and enhancing the empowerment of women in the global workplace are key commitments shared by the World Bank and its partners. The event, "Empowering Women in Leadership: An Executive Journey," highlights the significant advancements women have made in international finance and development, taking on leadership roles that bring innovative solutions and perspectives to global challenges. Despite these advancements, gaps remain, particularly in senior leadership roles where many emerging female professionals lack access to role models and mentorship. To address this, the event brings together a panel of distinguished women executives to share their insights and experiences with the next generation, aiming to bridge these gaps and empower young women at the World Bank to pursue their leadership aspirations with confidence, promoting intergenerational learning and paving the way for a more equitable leadership landscape. This will help build a more robust pipeline of female leaders who are prepared to take on critical roles within the international finance and development space.

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A new future is in front of us, climate change will reshape our societies and with it how we move through the world. Now is the time to prepare and embrace freedom of movement as the solution for the future of humanity in the face of climate change.

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Came across a fascinating article that challenges the traditional model of philanthropy. The idea that wealthy donors hold all the solutions to complex social issues has come under scrutiny. The article argues for "empowerment philanthropy": *Shifting focus* : Instead of funding pre-determined solutions, empower communities to define and address their own challenges. *Power to the people*: This could involve supporting youth and women empowement initiatives and organizations working towards social justice. *Direct impact* : Consider unrestricted cash transfers or Universal Basic Income (UBI) programs. Trusting communities with resources allows them to make choices that directly address their needs. Why this matters for Sub-Sahara Africa? I have always maintained that traditional aid models haven't always delivered lasting change. Empowerment philanthropy offers a fresh perspective for tackling poverty in Africa: Sustainable solutions: By placing power in the hands of local communities, we can foster solutions that are relevant and long-lasting. Building agency: When people have a say and resources, they are more invested in creating positive change. Context matters: Empowerment philanthropy allows us to move away from "one-size-fits-all" approaches and address the unique challenges of each African nation. https://lnkd.in/dwpRWqHc #philanthropy #africa #povertyalleviation #empowerment #socialimpact

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Pleased to highlight the important commitments made by G7 Leaders to advance women's economic security! They underscored the importance of strengthening the care economy as essential to enabling women's economic leadership, and set a target to track progress, "aim[ing] by 2035 to support 200 million more women to join the workforce by investing in efforts to close the global gap in the availability of childcare, including through the The World Bank Invest in Childcare Initiative." USAID helped launch the World Bank Invest in Childcare Initiative two years ago, with a commitment of $50 million over 5 years. This public-private partnership is showing immense impact. In partnership with other G7 nations, hopes are high that we will reach the historic target set last week.

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