Jacqueline Novogratz

At-a-Glance

Chief Executive Officer of Acumen, a non-profit venture capital fund
Founded Acumen in 2001 to invest patient capital in businesses serving people living in poverty
Co-founded Duterimbere, a microfinance institution in Rwanda, in the late 1980s
Authored 'The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World' (2009)
Acumen estimates it has impacted 648 million people through its investments
Serves on the boards of the Aspen Institute, Council on Foreign Relations, American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and UNICEF
Holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia

Biography

Jacqueline Novogratz is an American entrepreneur and author, recognized for her work in social entrepreneurship and global development. Born in 1961, she began her career at Chase Manhattan Bank in 1983 as an international credit analyst. After three years, she transitioned to working in Africa as a consultant for the World Bank and UNICEF, where she helped establish Duterimbere, a microfinance institution in Rwanda in the late 1980s.