About Jed Emerson

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Jed Emerson has worked in the arena of purpose-driven capital for over 30 years. He is co-author of the first book on impact investing, as well as seven other books on impact investing and social entrepreneurship. 

Jed is founder of Blended Value Group, a consulting and advisory firm working with investment firms, funds, family offices and foundations to advance more effective wealth management and impact investing strategy and practice.  

Emerson is a Senior Fellow with the Blended Finance Initiative at the University of Zurich and has held various faculty and academic appointments, including at Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and the University of Heidelberg’s Center on Social Investing in Germany. He has also taught social entrepreneurship at Kellogg Business School, Harvard Business School, and NYU-Abu Dhabi.

In the late 90s, Emerson coined the concept of Blended Value to describe the reality that the value we create in our lives and through our investing is a blend of social, environmental and economic elements. While the value we create is whole, society asks us to choose between doing well or doing good, making money or engaging in philanthropy and working in nonprofit or for-profit organizations. This dualism prevents us from capturing the full value and multiple returns of not only our investments, but our companies, organizations, lives and personal purpose. Emerson’s last book, The Purpose of Capital: Elements of Impact, Financial Flows, and Natural Being, explores how we may bridge the divide between how we think about doing well and doing good in order to optimize the total, integrative impact of our lives and wealth, creating an inter-generational, living legacy that reflects our values and aligns our wealth with our ultimate life goals.

Emerson is founding director of REDF, a leading investor in U.S.-based social enterprises and Larkin Street Youth Services, a leading multi-service center for homeless youth. 

    • Selected twice as one of North America’s Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior – 2012-2013, and awarded a Life Time appointment in 2015.

    • Together with co-author, Antony Bugg-Levine, winner of the 2012 Nautilus Gold Book Award for their authorship of the first book on the topic of impact investing.

    • Emerson has also co-authored 7 books on the topics of Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing, along with scores of papers and articles on those and related topics.

    • Twice Selected by the NonProfit Times as one of the 50 Most Influential People in the Sector.

    • As founding director of REDF/HEDF, one of the first venture philanthropy funds, Emerson played a key role in advancing Social Entrepreneurship and innovations in strategic giving.

    • As founding director of Larkin Street Youth Services, he led the creation of one of the leading street outreach and service programs in the United States, meeting homeless and runaway youth where they are while offering alternatives to help them get to where they want to be.

    • As originator of the concept of Blended Value, he has advanced new thinking and practice for both mission motivated investors and entrepreneurs launching sustainable, for-profit businesses.

    • As an internationally recognized author and passionate speaker, he has presented his work at The World Economic Forum, Skoll World Forum and countless conferences around the globe, addressing business, social justice, philanthropy, sustainable development and impact investing audiences.