E383 - Current & Critical - Ray Sawatsky, Impact Investing - A playbook for success
“We’re checking our Western personalities at the door and embracing kinship. We think that holds great hope and potential. Our aim, ultimately, is for every Rwandan employee to feel like an owner of the business.”
Impact investing transcends mere profit; it's a vehicle for positive change. At the helm of Kinvest, Ray is pioneering a novel investment model aimed at eradicating poverty in rural African communities. This model isn’t conventional; while it promises a robust 12% annual return over a decade, it hinges on investors eventually relinquishing their shares at cost, not at their increased market value.
Why would investors agree to this? The answer lies in a transformative mindset. Ray has engaged with 50-60 investors, all united by a common goal: they seek meaningful impact over monetary gain. These are individuals who prioritize actionable change over ambiguous charity donations. This episode isn't just a story; it's a call to action. It challenges you to rethink the status quo and discover how proven strategies can be adapted for greater impact in new arenas.