This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jeanne de Guillebon, Regional Manager, based in Nairobi, Africa.
- Why did you decide to work in impact investing?
“Perhaps influenced by my education and inspiring individuals around me, I have always been drawn to the idea of making a positive contribution towards greater equality through fair and respectful treatment of all people. I believe in providing everyone with the opportunity to access a better quality of life. I specifically chose impact investing because it offers lasting effects, unlike grant projects or emergency initiatives, which tend to be temporary (though they have their role to fill!). My goal has always been to create sustainable and long-term impact, and I found that impact investing aligns perfectly with my visions.”
- What do you like most at BlueOrchard?
“The people and the professionalism. We can enjoy our time together, share a good laugh, and remain focused on our objectives for the year, all while striving for high performance and impact standards. It is rare to find a job where we can genuinely share the same values and aim to make a positive impact on the world at our own level. When I speak with friends who work in large corporates, I often hear about their struggles to get up in the morning and to connect with managers, executives, or colleagues, as many appear to think only of themselves. In contrast, at BlueOrchard, we work together as one.”
- What is the biggest global challenge in your view?
“I would say the same what initially drove me towards impact investing. It may sound idealistic, but I genuinely believe that we should strive to make the world a better place by ensuring everyone has a roof over their head, access to education, and the opportunity for a decent standard of living, regardless of their background, race, beliefs, or sexual orientation. Everyone deserves the right to be treated equally and to live without fear and peacefully.”
- What is the most valuable advice you can give to people interested in impact investing?
“Seeing is believing. Now and then, find time to visit beneficiaries—institutions and individuals in emerging markets—to see first-hand the impact that investments make.”
- What is your favourite book? Why?
“I particularly enjoy history and science fiction. I have fond memories of The Accursed Kings by Maurice Druon about power influence during the French monarchy, which I believe can still relates to nowadays politics or Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, which was written in 1932 but looks like today’s society in a certain way. What I enjoy from science fiction it that it has a unique way of pushing critical thinking about our world and exploring complex themes, presenting limitless possibilities, even if it tends to be dystopic. I believe this could drive towards positive change. Currently, I am reading The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, which is my first experience reading a Chinese writer.”