Women in Leadership

A time to act - Season Two Episode 04

Credits Kayllana Vitória de Oliveira (center, with basketball) is a 14-year-old Brazilian girl. Twice a week, she attends workshops about leadership and girls rights but it is playing basketball that makes her feel stronger. “I feel more powerful when I’m on the court, with my team, doing what I love.” | UN Women/Gustavo Stephan
Published on April 8, 2021

Women in Leadership with Graham Macmillan, President of Visa Foundation, and Najada Kumbuli, Head of Investments at Visa Foundation. Features an insightful discussion on the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of Joint SDG Fund Secretariat, Lisa Kurbiel interviews our guests on women’s economic advancement and inclusive economic development. Gender equality and women’s full and equal participation in all areas of life, especially decision-making, are integral to the Decade of Action. Indeed, meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will only be possible when we recognize the value of women front and centre, together, leading the way and rising for all. With 400 million USD in assets and 200 million USD commitment over the next five years in both grants and investment capital, the Visa Foundation is advancing economic opportunity though philanthropy and investments in support of women entrepreneurs worldwide. This episode explores how the Visa Foundation is financially empower millions of women globally by prioritizing the resilience and growth of micro and small businesses benefiting women through grant-making and investing.

Panel

Graham Macmillan, President of Visa Foundation

Najada Kumbuli, Head of Investments at Visa Foundation

Moderated by Lisa Kurbiel, Head of Joint SDG Fund Secretariat 

Speakers

THE PANELIST

Graham Macmillan.png

Graham Macmillan

President of Visa Foundation

Mr. Macmillan brings 20 years of experience leading purpose-driven work in the private and public sector with global institutions. He joins Visa from the Ford Foundation, where he was the Senior Program Officer for Mission Investments responsible for impact investment initiatives, a global philanthropic investment portfolio, and programmatic strategy. Prior to the Ford Foundation, Graham was Director of Corporate Citizen Partnerships at Citi, partnering with business units to build Citi’s reputation and contributions to economic progress. Graham takes over for Douglas Sabo, who served as the Foundation’s Founding President and continues as Visa Inc.’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability.

Najada Kumbuli

Head of Investments at Visa Foundation

Prior to joining Visa, she worked at Calvert Impact Capital as their Director with the Investments team specializing in renewable energy and financial inclusion. Najada has led the development and execution of several investment strategies focusing on women empowerment, access to finance and climate change.

As part of Calvert Impact Capital’s investment focus on incubating and strengthening financial intermediaries, Najada was responsible for originating and executing transactions that leverage private debt capital to scale the renewable energy sector and local financial markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Prior to joining Calvert Impact Capital, Najada worked as a Project Assistant for the Central and Eastern European team at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. She also worked with Community Reinvestment Fund and has done international development work in Kenya, Cambodia, and Albania. Najada holds a B.A. in Economics from Macalester College in Minnesota.

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