Managing Director

MacArthur Foundation

Debra Schwartz is the Managing Director of Impact Investments at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where she leads a $500 million portfolio dedicated to advancing social and environmental change through catalytic capital. With over two decades at MacArthur, Debra has been instrumental in deploying impact investments across diverse sectors, including affordable housing, community development, and climate solutions. Before joining the foundation in 1995, she worked in investment banking at John Nuveen & Co. and held financial management roles in the nonprofit sector. Debra holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a BA from Yale University. A recognized leader in impact investing, she has served on the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Advisory Board and is a founding board member of the Mission Investors Exchange.

Managing Director

Pivotal Ventures

Erin leads the fund and direct investment program for Pivotal Ventures, a company created by Melinda French Gates to advance social progress in the U.S. With nearly two decades of investment experience, building and managing customized portfolios for endowed institutions and family offices, Erin is responsible for identifying, investing and overseeing a diverse portfolio of investments that drive breakthrough innovations and advance women’s power and influence. Erin has extensive experience developing strategies for impact and mission-aligned investments and advising on investment governance best practices and also writes and speaks frequently on the topics of investing with a social equity/gender equity lens and investing in diverse and emerging managers. Erin received her MBA from the Harvard Business School as a Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow and her BSBA magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis as a John B. Ervin Scholar. She is also a CFA charterholder and member of the CFA Society of Washington, DC.

Managing Director

Cambridge Associates

Jasmine N. Richards, CFA, is the Managing Director and Head of Diverse Manager Research at Cambridge Associates, where she leads initiatives to identify and research investment managers with underrepresented ownership or leadership, including women and people of color. With over 15 years of investment experience, Jasmine has held roles such as International Equity Manager and Research Analyst at FIS Group, and Portfolio Manager at State Street Global Advisors. She earned her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, concentrating in Finance, Accounting, and Strategic Management, and studied Mechanical Engineering at MIT and the New York Institute of Technology. A CFA® charterholder and member of the CFA Society of Boston, Jasmine is a frequent speaker at industry events and contributes to thought leadership on diverse manager investing.

Founder & Chief Investment Officer

Nia Impact Capital

Dr. Kristin Hull is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Nia Impact Capital, a women-led investment firm based in Oakland, California. With a mission to harness financial markets for social justice and environmental sustainability, Kristin launched Nia Global Solutions in 2013, introducing a gender-lens portfolio focused on solutions-driven companies. Prior to this, she founded Nia Community Investments in 2010, a fund dedicated to mission-aligned investments in Oakland. Kristin's commitment to education is evident from her co-founding of the North Oakland Community Charter School and her tenure as a classroom teacher. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in Research in Bilingual Education from Stanford University, and a B.A. from Tufts University. Kristin is a recognized leader in impact investing, frequently speaking on topics of gender-lens and racial equity in finance.

Head of First Fund

MassMutual

Akobe Sandy is the Head of First Fund at MassMutual, where he oversees initiatives aimed at fostering early-stage investments that drive social and economic impact. Previously, Akobe served as an Impact Investments Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, managing a $500 million portfolio dedicated to advancing health equity and community well-being. His experience also includes a tenure at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where he developed grantmaking strategies to promote racial equity and inclusive investment practices. Before transitioning to philanthropy, Akobe worked as an investment banker with KPMG Corporate Finance and Madison Street Capital, advising on mergers, acquisitions, and capital-raising transactions across various industries. He holds a BA in Political Science from Yale University, is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and was recognized as a 2019 IMPACT Leadership Fellow by the Chicago Urban League and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Chief Executive Officer

San Francisco Foundation

Fred Blackwell is CEO of The San Francisco Foundation. Since assuming leadership in 2014, Fred has steered the foundation towards a renewed commitment to social justice, collaborating with donors, community leaders, and public and private partners to foster thriving communities. An Oakland native, he has an extensive background in civic and community development, having served as Interim City Administrator for Oakland, Executive Director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Development in San Francisco. Fred began his association with The San Francisco Foundation as a Multicultural Fellow, later managing a comprehensive community initiative in West Oakland. He holds a master’s degree in City Planning from the UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Morehouse College. Fred also contributes to various boards, including the Independent Sector, the Bridgespan Group, and UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design Advisory Council.