While studying for her MBA at NYU Stern School of Business, Maya Johnston learnt how to build an impact investment portfolio — from sourcing early-stage companies to conducting investment diligence and pitching companies to an investment committee. But it is no classroom exercise; it is using real dollars.
Through the NYU Impact Investment Fund, students from NYU Stern School of Business, its Wagner School of Public Service and NYU Abu Dhabi use funds provided by philanthropic donors. The money is housed in a donor-advised fund, which executes the students’ investment decisions. Profits are reinvested into the fund.
Making real investments, says Johnston, who is one of the programme’s deal team leaders, intensifies the learning process. “It gives a whole new level of gravity to the work you’re doing, because you know you’re dealing with real people,” she says.
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