The Aspen Institute

Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows working across finance are increasingly tapping into existing chains of influence to address society’s most intractable challenges – often while transforming the existing system as they do. Through engaging existing pathways of power, leaders can achieve an unprecedented scale of impact in and through the finance industry to build a more free, just, and equitable society. Many are leading and shaping the finance industry with creative strategies that range from creating new forms of negotiation with shareholders and new relationships with scientists to inform investment decisions to redefining what it means to be a leader in their field and taking what may seem at first, a counterintuitive stance.  

On October 22 from 10:00AM – 11:30AM EDT, join the conversation with five AGLN Fellows who are working through existing spheres of influence in finance to affect societal change.

After the initial panel conversation, participants can engage in intimate, small group conversations with panelists and one another at the AGLN Collaboratory on Remo. We’ll continue to reflect on the challenges we face when incorporating stakeholders’ multiple, and sometimes competing interests, as well as how leaders challenge the prevailing ethos and practices of the finance industry.

Featured Fellows:

• Dennis Berman, Managing Director, Lazard, 2019 Finance Leaders Fellow
• Madelka McCalla Molinar, Global Stakeholder Relations Director, AES Corporation, Central America Leadership Initiative Fellow 
• Tilly Franklin, CIO of Cambridge Endowment, 2017 Finance Leaders Fellow
• Katherine Tweedie, Managing Director, Ninety One, 2016 Finance Leaders Fellow
• Moderated by  Kristen Grimm, Founder and President, Spitfire Strategies, and Henry Crown Fellow. 

This program is a partnership of the Finance Leaders Fellowship and the Resnick Aspen Action Forum. We’re excited to continue to deliver programming in partnership with the AGLN Fellowships that brings the power of the Aspen Global Leadership Network to life.

Get to Know the Featured Fellows:

Dennis K. Berman is Managing Director at Lazard Ltd.’s shareholder advisory practice. He will share his experience in strategic matters of corporate governance and shareholder activism, in addition to his evolving view on a post-shareholder future of capitalism as it moves away from a largely-shareholder-centric point of view. Lazard’s Shareholder Advisory practice serves corporate leaders and boards of directors with insights on shareholders, helps clients prepare for and create defenses against activists or unsolicited takeover attempts, and build shareholder support for strategic transactions. Dennis is a Finance Leaders Fellow of the 2019 Class. 

Katherine Tweedie is Managing Director for Ninety One’s operations in Canada. Ninety One, formerly Investec Asset Management, is spearheading multiple climate-related initiatives, including partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to use geo-spatial data to help EM Governments and sovereign debt investors better assess and manage environmental risks; a $1.2 billion development infrastructure fund investing in renewable energy projects in Africa; and a low-carbon global equity strategy that was recently recognized as Environmental Fund of the Year for its delivery of both returns and measurable impact. Katherine will share her experience in helping pioneer her firm’s work in climate finance as well as Ninety One’s unique approach to building an impact-oriented mindset into its DNA. Katherine is a Finance Leaders Fellow in the 2016 Class. 

Madelka McCalla Molinar serves as Global Stakeholder Relations Director for The AES Corporation, where she is focused on supporting AES and its businesses in the implementation of strategic approaches towards stakeholder engagement. Madelka brings to the session expertise in and a passion for creating positive and sustainable relationships with communities and developing and implementing effective social impact programs. The AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 global power company dedicated to providing safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy solutions. AES is committed to supporting its 14 markets in their  and ensuring effective and beneficial engagement with the communities where it operates. Madelka is a Central America Leadership Initiative Fellow in the XIII Class.

Tilly Franklin is CIO of the Cambridge University Endowment Fund (CUEF).She joins this dialogue as Cambridge University continues exploring its role in addressing climate change. As CIO of one of the world’s top universities, Tilly offers unique insight on the challenges of adapting a successful endowment model to a new era of sustainable investing and on what kind of investment team and approach are needed to meet these challenges. Also reflecting her commitment to change in the finance industry, Tilly comes to the table having successfully launched her Fellowship venture, GAIN, a UK-based charity which aims to inform and inspire more young women in the UK to enter investment careers. Tilly is a Finance Leaders Fellow in the 2017 Class.

Moderator: Kristen Grimm is the Founder and President of Spitfire Strategies and an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow. Since 2002, Kristen has led Spitfire Strategies in putting into practice the belief that everyone has the power to spark change. As a strategic communications firm, Spitfire helps nonprofits and foundations become more effective in efforts to communicate with funders, the public, and other key stakeholders. The Spitfire team counts among its successes advancing net neutrality and spotlighting critical questions around facial recognition. Kristen is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow.