{"id":17295,"date":"2017-12-22T13:31:42","date_gmt":"2017-12-22T18:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.greenmoney.com\/2025\/?p=17295"},"modified":"2018-03-07T22:48:39","modified_gmt":"2018-03-08T03:48:39","slug":"greenmoney-interviews-morgan-simon-author-of-real-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.greenmoney.com\/2025\/greenmoney-interviews-morgan-simon-author-of-real-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"GreenMoney Interviews: Morgan Simon, author of Real Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"
>> Back to January 2018 Issue<\/a><\/div>\n

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GMJ: Why did you write this book?<\/em><\/h3>\n

Morgan: <\/strong>Impact investment\u2014the practice of investing not just for profit, but also for social benefit\u2014is the trillion-dollar trend most people have never heard of. There\u2019s the opportunity for it to do a tremendous amount of good in the world if we all pay attention and help it achieve its highest potential. But we also need to learn to become \u201cconscious consumers\u201d of impact investment\u2014and not just assume that an investment is social because a financial institution tells us so, but because it\u2019s actually making verifiable systemic change and holding true to social justice values. I recognized that with 17 years of experience in the field influencing over $150 billion, I had unique experience to share not only with investors, but with anyone inspired to leverage society\u2019s resources towards social change. So, while my experience moving large portfolios into impact is directly applicable for any number of investors, from individuals to endowments and foundations, it also raises many larger questions about the role of money in society, which deserve to be a topic of conversation amongst global citizens looking to build a more just economy.<\/p>\n

GMJ: You have been a social justice activist nearly all your life. How did you come to dedicate your career to impact investing?<\/em><\/h3>\n

Morgan: <\/strong>Strategic activists think a lot about the influencing power in society\u2014whether it be political power, cultural power or economic power. We also think a lot about systems\u2014the policies, practices and social norms that lead towards better or worse outcomes for people and the environment. Economics is at the heart of so many societal systems, and thus I think it\u2019s essential for activists to pay deep attention to what happens in the economy. Impact investment provides in-roads for social justice advocates to be able to influence economic systems in new and exciting ways\u2014this has kept me in the field, as it\u2019s where I feel I can have the greatest impact.<\/p>\n

GMJ: What do you say to activists <\/em>who are skeptical of finance?<\/em><\/h3>\n

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