“One of the things that makes Blue Haven unique is that we really try to connect our investment work with our philanthropic work and civic engagement. ”
— Liesel Pritzker-Simmons
Millennials care much more about how their investments affect the world around them. Since they’re set to inherit the largest wealth transfer in history, we’re seeing a shift toward impact investing. Today’s episode is proof of this.
My guest is Liesel Pritzker-Simmons, a millennial who’s rewriting the rules of wealth management with her single-family office, Blue Haven Initiative. It’s one of the world’s first family offices to go all-in with impact investing across all asset classes, transforming their wealth into catalysts for social and environmental impact through strategic investments.
We begin the conversation with her transition from Hollywood’s silver screens to the forefront of private wealth investing. Born into a lineage renowned for its philanthropic and entrepreneurial ventures, Liesel’s journey is not just one of inheriting wealth but of redefining its purpose.
Through her acting work and her time at Columbia University, Liesel developed a diverse background that laid the groundwork for co-founding the Blue Haven Initiative with her husband in 2012.
At BHI, Liesel oversees a diverse portfolio that spans several asset classes, including traditional equities, private equity, and philanthropic programs, all structured to generate financial returns while addressing social and environmental challenges.
Liesel also works closely with organizations that support and advance the field of impact investing, co-founding The ImPact, a network of families committed to the conscientious stewardship of wealth, and serving as a board member of Activate, the IDP Foundation, and ImpactAssets.
Blue Haven Initiative demonstrates that a single-family office can do more than just manage wealth; it can wield it as a force for good through strategic placements in sustainable ventures and innovative startups.
Our conversation also explores topics of social responsibility, investing in fintech in Sub-Saharan Africa, the power of civic engagement, and catalytic and philanthropic capital.
Ready to learn how you can also transform your wealth into a force for positive change? Listen in.
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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Connect with Liesel Pritzker-Simmons: LinkedIn, Twitter/X
- Learn more about Blue Haven Initiative
- Learn more about Liesel’s foundation
- Learn more about the five dimensions of impact we discuss in this episode here
SHOW NOTES:
[00:00] Episode introduction
[02:37] Liesel’s transition from child actor to impact investor
[22:11] A Millennial’s POV on investing
[25:48] What the Blue Haven Initiative is & their investment approach
[40:30] A deeper look into Blue Haven’s impact goals and strategies
[56:17] A few examples of Blue Haven’s investments
[01:04:28] Investing in the youth vote
[01:10:39] Thoughts on impact washing, catalytic capital, and philanthropic capital
[01:23:14] Rapid fire questions
MORE LIESEL PRITZKER-SIMMONS QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW:
“People just want to feel more connected to what they’re doing in the world, and millennial investors bring that into their portfolios. They want to know what’s going on, why things were chosen, and if they had a hand in something either good or bad. ”
— Liesel Pritzker-Simmons
“You will have less impact to make up for in the future if you start today. ”
— Liesel Pritzker-Simmons
