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In this conversation, we were joined by two Silicon Valley investors, who focus on investing in artificial intelligence in a way that is positive sum for society, what they referred to as the enlightened bottom line. In our discussion, they explained this term and how they draw on their faith traditions to find investments and business opportunities with great returns, positive impact on humanity, and ones that support their religious and spiritual desires. We concluded the conversation with a deep dive into the Baháʼí faith and the many ways AI is utilized within that community.
Meet our speakers:
Host: Gilad Berenstein is currently working in venture capital in Seattle after founding and leading a successful travel personalization startup and serving as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2). Gilad holds masters and undergraduate degrees from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.
Daryn Dodson is Managing Director at Illumen Capital, the world’s first private equity firm dedicated to addressing bias across financial markets to unlock returns and impact. Illumen Capital invests in the world’s top impact fund managers and applies research-based interventions in partnership with Stanford University to help fund managers to see past bias to add value. Daryn previously led the Special Equities Program, as the Private Equity and Venture consultant to the Calvert Funds, the $45 billion pioneer of the impact investing field. Through this vehicle, Calvert maintains a portfolio of more than 40 funds on five continents, representing over 350 underlying portfolio companies across a range of themes including renewable energy, biotech, education technology and microfinance. Daryn currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ben and Jerry’s, The National Advisory Board of Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University, and The Natinoal Theater in Washington, DC. He is also a lecturer in General Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he earned his M.B.A., after reciving an A.B. in Public Policy from Duke University.
Jenna Nicholas is an investor, entrepreneur, advisor, author, coach and speaker. She is the President of LightPost Capital, an investment and acquisition firm, and the Co-Founder and CEO of Impact Experience, which advances equity across climate, healthcare, education, and investments. Jenna is the author of Enlightened Bottom Line: Exploring the intersection of spirituality, business and investing. An active angel investor, Jenna has backed over three unicorns. She previously served as Investment Partner at One Planet Group, where she also led corporate development and acquired four companies. Prior, she worked with the World Bank Treasury on green bonds and sustainability projects, with Toniic supporting its global impact community, and with the Calvert Special Equities team investing in education technology, financial inclusion, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. As Project Manager of Divest-Invest Philanthropy, she led a coalition of foundations of over 170 foundations representing $50 billion in assets under management shifting capital from fossil fuels into impact solutions, which she shared on the TEDx Portland stage. Jenna serves as an advisor to Ethic and the Nexus Global Youth Summit and previously sat on Apollo Global Management’s Impact Advisory Committee. She co-chaired the Emerging Leaders Council of LISC, co-taught at Tsinghua School of Economics and Management, and is Vice President of Stanford Angels and Entrepreneurs. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, a BA in International Relations from Stanford with study at Oxford University, and has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, PDSoros Fellow, Echoing Green Fellow, and is a Council on Foreign Relations member. Jenna serves on the board and investment committee of the Oakland Museum of California. Jenna has been featured in the New York Times, Financial Times, Forbes, amongst other publications. Jenna is an active member of the Bahá’í Faith.
Views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AI and Faith or any of its leadership.
Production: Penny Yuen
Host: Gilad Berenstein
Guests: Daryn Dodson and Jenna Nicholas
Editing: Isabelle Braconnot
Music from #UppbeatLicense code: 1ZHLF7FMCNHU39
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