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Janine Firpo: Building The Sheconomy—Wealth with Purpose
Welcome to Smart, Amazing Conversations with Dr. Nancy, a podcast that explores the stories of life and leadership from extraordinary women – and men – who are making a difference and creating a better world. Each episode features powerful conversations filled with personal stories, insights, and actionable advice to inspire you to lead, learn, and make a difference.
Show Notes:
Dr. Nancy welcomes Janine Firpo, investor, author of Activate Your Money, and co-founder of Invest for Better. Firpo shares the story of her unconventional path from tech and international development to pioneering values-aligned investing for everyday women. She introduces the Sheconomy, a collaborative national campaign that reframes what’s possible when women control capital and create impact while expanding returns. Firpo breaks down practical steps to align cash, stocks, bonds, and private investments with your values, and why shifting where money flows drives the products, policies, and outcomes that serve everyone. She also previews a 100-day action challenge to help women take financial control, build wealth with purpose, and shape a more equitable future.
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About Janine Firpo:
Janine Firpo is an author and social entrepreneur dedicated to empowering women to align their investments with their values. After a distinguished career at Apple, Hewlett-Packard, the World Bank, and the Gates Foundation, she pivoted in 2017 to focus on activating women’s capital for social change.
Her book, Activate Your Money, and social profit organization, Invest for Better, provide the tools for women to build wealth while creating a better world. Janine walks her talk, managing her own portfolio for impact and market-rate returns. A lead investor in Next Wave Impact, Forbes named her to its “50 Over 50” list in 2024.
Timestamp:
[00:02:43] From Tech to Impact Investing
Firpo traces her path from computer technology in the 1980s to international development and ultimately values-aligned investing.
[00:05:34] Writing Activate Your Money and Co-Founding Invest for Better
Firpo explains why she wrote her book during COVID, with help from 150 women, to make impact investing accessible, then trained thousands of women to align money with values through her social profit.
[00:09:16] Myth-Busting Reports on ESG Returns
Values-aligned investing does not require sacrificing market-rate returns. Do not believe misinformation, mostly from oil and gas interests.
[00:11:07] The Roots of Ethical Investing
Historical and faith-based origins—from Quakers to modern shareholder advocacy for products.
[00:12:34] Smart Capital, Growing Movement
Global momentum toward impact investing and why big investors participate.
[00:15:06] Anyone Can Start
Practical steps to align bank accounts, cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, and private startups.
[00:16:13] Funding That Serves Women
How women investors shift markets—maternal health, menopause, research equity.
[00:17:08] Power Goes Where Money Flows
Women are poised to control 40% of U.S. wealth by 2030—and what that can change if women step into their power.
[00:18:32] Introducing the Sheconomy
A national campaign imagining a world with women as equal economic partners.
[00:19:45] 100-Day Action Challenge
Weekly, bite-size actions to help women take financial control together, spotlighting 100+ orgs: coaches, advisors, funds, and education hubs.
[00:22:15] Do What You Can, Now
If we all do something, we can compound change.
[00:24:18] Choosing Positive Messaging
Turning away from doom-scrolling to focus on progress and solutions.
[00:25:42] Social Media Saturation
On opting out, digital health, and reclaiming personal interaction.
[00:26:21] Youth, Literacy, and Agency
Teaching negotiation, money skills, and education about the pay gap to the next generation.
[00:28:05] Equal Policies Benefit All
Envisioning parental leave, pay equity, and financial literacy in schools.
[00:30:42] A Shared Finish Line
Inviting everyone to collaborate and help build the Sheconomy.