Cara Mertes on storytelling for impact

Per Heggenes is CEO of the IKEA Foundation, one of the largest foundations in the world tackling root causes of inequality: poverty, climate change and lack of resources.  He is a tireless advocate for children living in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.  In this podcast, he shares insights into his work on bridging the gap between protecting the planet and improving livelihoods.  

This podcast was recorded on 13 September 2021

Cara Mertes is a preeminent practitioner and theorist of storytelling for social justice.  She is currently Founding Director of a new donor collaborative, International Resource for Impact and Storytelling (IRIS).  Prior to this, she served at the Ford Foundation and the Sundance Institute's Documentary Film Program and Fund.  This 15-minute podcast touches on her important work at the intersection of media and social justice.  

Richard Curtis CBE is a film writer and director, responsible for films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Mr Bean and Love Actually.  This 20 minute podcast dives into the other side of Richard’s extraordinary life is one of tremendous advocacy and contribution to alleviating poverty globally.  He is the co-founder of Comic Relief, the creator of Red Nose Day, the instigator behind Make Poverty History, Live Aid, and most recently Make My Money Matter.  

Rt Hon David Miliband is the President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and former UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.  Having come from a refugee family, David brings a personal commitment to the IRC's work, and to rescuing the dignity and hopes of refugees and displaced people all over the world.  In this 20 minute podcast, we learn more about how his political career has influenced his work on alleviating poverty and scaling best-in-class solutions to help people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster.      

Mabel van Oranje is a serial entrepreneur for social change working globally to advance equality, freedom and justice. During the last decade, she played a catalytic role in the global movement to end child marriage, including the creation and growth of three entities supporting girls’ futures: Girls Not Brides, the Girls First Fund and VOW for Girls.  In this 20 minute podcast, we learn more about her personal motivation to bring together coalitions of actors to fight injustice and drive meaningful social change. 

Sir Ronald Cohen is one of the most influential figures in impact investing over the past 50 years.  Having fled Egypt as a refugee in 1957, he worked his way upwards to become widely known as the father of European venture capital and impact investment and continues to be a pioneering philanthropist, venture capitalist, private equity investor, and social innovator today.  In this 20 minute podcast, we learn more about his personal story and tremendous efforts to propel what he calls “The Impact Revolution”.  

Impact investing, social entrepreneurship and philanthropy have gained significant momentum in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. But what does success really look like in these spheres? Jacqueline Novogratz built Acumen by investing ‘patient capital’ into companies using the tools of business to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. She is optimistic about the potential for Covid to usher in a positive reset, citing recent collaboration, creativity and coordination as hopeful signs for the future. This 20 minute podcast touches on her own personal inspirations, lessons learned, and advice for the next generation of changemakers.

Recorded just days before the start of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, this discussion explains the implications of 1.5 degree warming, and what needs to be done to avert further crisis. By some estimates, less than 2% of global philanthropic capital is allocated specifically to climate-related action. But as Professor Johan Rockström explains in this 20 minute podcast, addressing climate concerns has flow-on effects across our environment, and profound benefits for the health and wellbeing of humanity. Learn more about the practical steps that philanthropists can take to help tackle the climate crisis.