Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz is an author, philanthropist, and entrepreneur with a mission to unlock human potential to change the world. Her work has earned her many awards and recognition, and her inspirational work has moved millions to help others and create a better future for humanity.

Novogratz was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, and studied at Stanford University, where she majored in philosophy, psychology, and filmmaking. After Stanford, Novogratz began her philanthropic career by working for the Rockefeller Foundation and CARE International. In 2001, Novogratz founded a foundation called The Acumen Fund, which was designed to invest in organizations and companies that promote social justice and lift people out of poverty.

In 2009, she released her book, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World. The book is named after a blue sweater she found in a second-hand shop in Nairobi, which sparked her journey to bridge the divide between different parts of the world. The book draws on Novogratz’s life story, and reads like a memoir, connecting her experiences of volunteering, starting the Acumen Fund, and her reflection on poverty in Africa, India, and Latin America.

The Blue Sweater is a powerful and inspiring story that conveys Novogratz’s deep commitment, compassion, and passion for fighting poverty and inequality. Through her personal stories and the lives of people she’s helped, Novogratz makes a strong case for why it’s important for us to invest in people’s abilities to make long-term systemic changes. As she points out, many of the world’s major development organizations are focusing on addressing poverty through technical or quick-fix solutions, but it’s investments in skill-building and educating people to lead communities and solve local challenges that will have the most lasting impact.

Novogratz’s latest book, Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World, which was released in 2020, calls for a different type of leadership. In this manifesto, Novogratz challenges our existing leadership models. She argues that we need a broader understanding of leadership, one that goes beyond traditional business practices and hierarchical models. She argues that we must embrace alternative models such as circles, networks, and distributed systems to tap into collective intelligence, foster collaboration, and enable genuine change. Ultimately, she proposes that creating a better world starts with a moral revolution within ourselves.

Through her books, speeches, and philanthropic endeavors, Novogratz has helped to inspire and spark a global movement for social justice, equity, and economic opportunity for all. She has shown us that the power to bring about significant and lasting change lies in our individual commitments, and she encourages us to take action by connecting with one another and investing in and empowering individuals to become leaders in their own communities. Novogratz’s work serves as a powerful testament to the potential of people when they come together to make a difference.