Extra Credit Post

 Review of “Balancing Humility with Audacity” featuring Jacqueline Novogratz

Humility and audacity. These two themes have already played a massive role in my life in the form of my parents' divorce. My dad is the definition of audacity; he is bold, unflinching, and lives to the beat of his own drum. In contrast, my mom is the definition of humility; she is kind, caring, and always puts others before herself. They are equally amazing people, but they constantly fought and fought because of their unmendable ideological differences before divorcing when I was eighteen.

As a kid, I struggled to deal with the two different kinds of people my parents wanted me to become. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as I felt as if there were two people in my head, each with their own sets of ideals and values, constantly arguing over everything in my life. However, as I matured and went through university, I realized that both characteristics were equally important to my success. Humility and audacity sit on opposite ends of the spectrum, and I didn’t have to be one or the other. Instead, both of them were important in different circumstances, and this conflict that I had tried all my life to resolve was actually my strongest point. 

Watching Jacqueline Novogratz talk about humility and audacity in her impact investing career was enlightening, as it shows what I can become and the future. She was audacious in starting her company Acumen and kickstarting the trend of “impact investing,” even when many people in her industry were vehemently against the idea. She was audacious enough to continue pursuing her goals even after being held and watching the people she was close to die for her cause. At the same time, she was humble enough to know that she needed to listen to the stories of the people she tried to help and understand their strengths and values. I don’t hear a stint of ego in her voice, yet her presence and stories are full of confidence and optimism. Can I be just like her?

Another lesson I drew from the interview was the importance of for-profit businesses. Before this course, I thought I would never be a philanthropist. After all, my only plan is to work in my family business for the rest of my life. How can I call that living for anyone else? But Jacqueline explains that even for-profit businesses are essential to other people’s livelihoods. 

Jacqueline’s investment fund, Acumen, invested in the Kenyan solar energy industry to help bring green electricity to the third-world country. Her investments were a success, and the companies blossomed into large corporations. But her investments didn’t just translate into profits for the company’s stakeholders. They helped boost Kenya's electrification rate from 15% to 90%. They helped improve the country’s logistics network and spur economic growth in geographically isolated regions. They enabled families to buy televisions and electronic devices with education programs to help teach their young children.

Jacqueline’s stories about the impact of her investment made me rethink what my family business is. It doesn’t just provide a living for our family but also for the tens of thousands of our employees, customers, and suppliers. Maybe it isn’t precisely philanthropy, but even if I work in my family business for the rest of my life, I will still positively impact all these other people. Now that I realize that my success isn’t just my own, I am much more driven to be the best person I can to provide for all these people.