Convergence

In developing Project Covalent, I have noticed some recurring themes in my conversations that reflect a convergence of thinking in my portfolio and network:

Systems thinking - there is a shift towards investors' embrace of systemic investing across the full, customized risk/return/impact spectrum. I authored a recent article for Private Company Director that synthesizes these themes in a corporate-friendly framing: https://www.privatecompanydirector.com/from-esg-reporting-to-value-intelligence/  

Cross-archetype learning - Customized data signals from different investors, each with their unique investment hypotheses, can be mined to form meta-insights. A philanthropic investor's worldview could help a profit seeking hedge fund in the area of health care, etc. The opportunity for collaboration among public, private, and philanthropic capital can be facilitated by more concrete data of how their goals and strategies intersect.

The Role of Foresight: I'm on the board of a new think tank / incubator: https://www.horizon2045.org/ that is applying a future lens from a decade of nuclear security work into reframing systemic change in global security, international law, and philanthropy. One of their foundational tools is a Foresight Radar, and it is being used in those different fields as a strategy-developing, scenario-planning framework.

Future of Blended-Return Governance - From my career in asset management (asset owner, fund manager, philanthropic intermediary, consultant) and board member, I see the challenges of developing effective governance decision protocols for the tradeoffs around risk/return/impact. I have been in conversations about the next-generation of boards and advisory firms that can drive more effective blended-return decisions.

Rapid Acceleration of Technology - Given advances in data analytics, quantum computing, and AI, it is critical for this initiative to define clearly "what" is needed to innovate decision-making around risk / return / impact, without self-censoring "how" this can be actually done.. Recent conversations have reinforced my belief that centering blended-return decision-making around predictive causality rather than retrospective correlation is the critical shift to leverage current technology trends to develop new robust tools.