7 Years And 7 Things We've Learned About How We Can Change The World
Photo by Saish Menon on Unsplas
7 YEARS AND 7 THINGS WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE WORL
Is anybody out there hearing this? When Align started out seven years ago, we often felt like we were alone in our mission to find ways to use capital to make the world work better for its 7.8 billion inhabitants. Today as Align celebrates our seventh anniversary I can say with certainty that people are finally getting it. The daily headlines about climate change, the world leaders who will be gathering in a few weeks at COP26 to discuss climate solutions, our society’s renewed focus on social justice, even the current infrastructure bill – all are important signs that the world is finally waking up to the urgent need to tackle our biggest challenges.
Seven years in and we are just getting started, but here are seven learnings I wanted to share with you about our journey so far that say a lot about where we’re headed.
Everything is connected. It’s not one thing. It’s everything. Climate change may be the planet’s most urgent crisis, but all challenges for people and planet intersect. Something as simple as nearly 50% fewer trees and fewer parks in lower-income communities and communities of color has rippling effects that extend far beyond those communities - including protection from serious storms, multi-generational health outcomes, and social justice implications. Understanding these linkages is critical to allocating our precious resources in the most impactful ways possible.
This has to be about systems change. Whatever we are all doing right now is a good start, but it's not enough. If we want to reverse climate change for good, if we want to create a society that is truly inclusive, if we want to eradicate ocean plastic, then we have to think BIG. Perhaps the most important thing about the current infrastructure bill currently being debated in Congress is not just what it can do but it’s an example of the big thinking we need to create systems change.
The climate threats are real, terrifying and will require a moonshot. As the 2021 IPCC report released in August makes clear, the pace and severity of the climate crisis are intensifying. From our best minds to our best technologies to our collective resources, the world must unite in common purpose to address adaptation, conservation and climate justice. This is our most urgent crisis and we will need nothing short of a new moonshot to save our planet.
Raise your voice. Align recently wrote California Governor Gavin Newsome to advocate for The Garment Worker Protection Act, which would establish multilateral accountability for wage theft violations and create a level field for sustainable businesses to thrive in the State of California. We spoke up because we feel it is our duty as a business and as citizens to use all of the levers to drive the changes we need. We need all impact investors to raise their voices, raise their hands and take action.
DEI matters. This truth has never been more manifest. Diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot be about lip service and doesn’t stop with a policy or statement. True equality is about giving people equal access to the levers of power and opportunity whether it’s equal compensation, access to the boardroom, or acces to capital markets. As Paul Donovan made vitally clear in his recent remarks at Gender Smart, DEI isn’t just about doing the right thing. Bringing in different viewpoints and life experiences leads to better decision-making. Full stop. Those who ignore DEI do so at their peril.
It’s the company you keep. Who you do business with, who you vote for, who you show up for – it all matters. We live and work and socialize in an ecosystem that is interconnected, so we all need to be sure that we’re working together towards the same goals. We have to constantly seek new and better ways to collaborate. More than ever our planet and our happiness depends on each of us connecting and amplifying our impact.
Leading is hard but that’s the only way I’d have it. Seven years in and the demands and job description of what it means to be a CEO keep changing. You have to move faster than ever before. You have to be flexible and adaptive. You have to be humble to have clarity of vision. You need to create a work environment where everyone from the bottom up feels like they can bring their whole self to work. Systems change is hard, but this is the only way to build a better society from the inside out.
Despite the enormity of our challenges, I am optimistic about our ability to create the future we want to see. It helps a lot that our mission is rooted in purpose and our vision clearer than ever. The work inspires me, and the relationships with our team, our clients and our colleagues in impact continue to fill me with a profound gratitude every day that drives me forward.
As for the next seven years? We don’t have a moment to lose. What we do in our next seven years around climate and DEI will shape us for decades to come. It won’t be easy, but thanks to you I am ever more committed to the task ahead. I hope you’ll join us on the next part of our journey.
With gratitude and in partnership,
Jenn and the entire Align Team.