“Neither traditional aid nor philanthropy will solve problems of poverty—nor will the market itself,” declared Jacqueline Novogratz, Henry Crown Fellow and founder and CEO of the Acumen Fund. Novogratz went on to assert that, when it comes to solving the problems of global poverty through philanthropy, “This is the moment to experiment. Philanthropy is our most flexible capital.” 

In a captivating discussion on her new book, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World , Novogratz recounted her experiences working in Africa on microfinance issues. She discussed her past failures and how through her journeys she discovered how interconnected the world is today. Taking what started out as a desire to change the world when she moved to Africa and combining that with her belief that humans are “fundamentally good,” Novogratz founded the Acumen Fund to capitalize on entrepreneurship as a means to solve global poverty issues.