Global Lessons in Integrating Cultures and Systems Impact Approach: A New Methodology to Measure ROI

Linda Lopez NEXO Impact (we are bringing together the founders of Dr. Gilad Tanay, ERI Institute, Maria Velasquez, Radiante Strategy Group based in Colombia and Impact Strategies, Inc. to do the workshop, and Dr. Linda Lopez, Impact Strategies, Inc.) to do the workshop. Dr. Linda Lopez, Gilad Tanay, and Maria Camila Velasquez and a diverse group of researchers and experts lead Nexo Impact, revolutionizing social and environmental impact through a novel methodology that combines data science with cultural insights. Each brings a unique set of skills and experiences, from Linda's two decades of governmental and philanthropic strategy, through Gilad's leadership in the field of data-science in the service of social impact, to Maria's dedication to systemic disparity solutions. Their collective work not only addresses specific challenges, like those in Chile's education sector, but also brings a global perspective to sustainable investing.Gilad Tanay, founder and chairperson of ERI, is at the vanguard of social impact research and consultancy. His work emphasizes data science, evaluation and the measurement of impact per dollar of social investments, thereby redefining strategic approaches to complex social challenges. Gilad's global experience, including his contributions to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and his leadership roles in academia and international NGOs, underscores his dedication to maximize impact through informed, strategic insights. Together with his team, he is the author of several landmarks in research for social impact, including the knowledge map on social mobility, the impact per dollar investment framework and the normative multidimensional poverty index.Maria Camila Velasquez, MPA, founder of Radiante Strategy Group, has dedicated her dynamic 14-year career to fostering sustainable processes and addressing systemic disparities. Her comprehensive expertise in capacity building, policy, change management, and strategic planning, especially with a focus on social determinants of health, has led to significant advancements in child welfare, healthcare, education and beyond. Maria's collaboration with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Latino Justice and the Inter-American Development Bank, coupled with her innovative leadership at Casa Innovation, based in Colombia exemplifies her profound impact on social enterprises and her ability to connect talent and opportunities between Latin America and the global stage.

In this session, we will explore a new way to think about impact ROI through examining varied use cases such as Chile’s failing education system, low social mobility in developed countries and non-communicable disease in the global south. We will demonstrate how this new impact investment methodology can be applied to better solve across widely different contexts of challenge. The NEXO method, blends the precision of data science with the nuance of cultural insights, to identify the rare investments that can move the needle on complex social and environmental challenges. Using concrete case studies, data and engaged group discussion, this session will generate actionable knowledge for impact entrepreneurs and investors on how to increase their impact per dollar returns.