Bigger Than Us #223 Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX and IIX Foundation
Durreen Shahnaz is a global leader in social impact and a pioneer in impact investing. She is also the founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and IIX Foundation. IIX is the home of the world’s first social stock exchange and one of the world’s largest crowdfunding platforms for impact investing. IIX is also a leader in impact assessment methodology and innovative financial structures, such as the world's first gender-focused social bond, the Women's Livelihood Bond Series. IIX connects the Back Streets of underserved communities to the Wall Streets of the world by innovating financial solutions and structures for women empowerment, climate action, and community resilience, thus driving Sustainable Development Goals. IIX and IIX Foundation’s work has unlocked nearly US$300 million of private sector investment capital and impacted over 150 million direct household lives.
Shahnaz is the recipient of the UN Women’s 2020 Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP) award, the 2019 Sustainability Superwoman award from CSR Works, the 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award, often referred to as the ‘Nobel Prize for Business’, the 2017 Global Steering Group for Impact Investment Impact Market Builder of the Year award, the 2016 Asia Society Asia Game Changer Award, in addition to the prestigious 2014 Joseph Wharton Social Impact Award given by the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania. Recently, Shahnaz was named in the Forbes 50 over 50 list as a notable leader in the financial industry. Shahnaz has recently authored a book entitled The Defiant Optimist, which just had a global launch.
Shahnaz holds a BA from Smith College and a joint degree – an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a MA from the School for Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University.
Orange Bond Initiative™ Insights Paper - IIX - Impact Investment Exchange (iixglobal.com) Sustainable Finance for Global Impact | IIX Global