About 5 years ago, my 9-year-old daughter came back from school and asked me, “Mom, how can we save the planet?” Her words were both alarming and inspiring to me and the reason I started AlphasFuture, an investment business focused on sustainability and impact.
I have spent nearly 2 decades in the global financial markets in sales, research and investments. I obtained my MBA at London Business School. I worked across India, London, Switzerland and now in the US. I learned all the financial jargon, and maximizing return was my only motto.
But sustainable investing is something I grew into. During 2014-18, I worked with Pictet Asset Management in Geneva Switzerland and co-managed their sustainable / ESG strategies. This experience really changed my perspective. It was the time when the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework was established and the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.50C was signed. I had the opportunity to understand global issues like climate change and learn from experts in the space. It made me recognize that we are living through a sustainability crisis that has the potential for irreversible damage to the planet and if we don’t take urgent action now, our future generations are at risk.
So, when my daughter asked me that question, I knew I needed to act. It was my Greta Thunberg moment!
Through AlphasFuture, we aim to create a better world for our future generations. We aim to create awareness about global sustainability challenges as well as direct capital towards sustainable innovation whether it is clean energy solutions, regenerative farming, alternatives to plastic, or disease management.
How do we do this? We manage equity portfolios for clients with a focus on four investment themes – Smart Energy & Materials, Smart Cities, Sustainable Food & Ag and Health & Well-Being. Our objective is to only generate superior financial returns for the investors but also help them make a positive impact on the environment and the society through their investments.
It enables me to leverage my investing experience for social good. I call it Investing with Purpose.
I am often asked what it is like to be a woman Fund Manager. We know that women are less likely to get hired, to get promoted, to get sponsored, to get investment capital. Women are underrepresented in the fund management industry globally. In the United States that number stands at just about 10% even though research shows that women perform as well as men. So, indeed when I am talking to my clients or marketing my business, I stand out not just as a woman but also as a person of color.
But I also believe it is the best time to be a woman in history. The push for change is the greatest ever. So, I am very optimistic about the future of women. This moment is ours. Let’s grab it.
In conclusion, my advice to my fellow entrepreneurs/ professionals is to believe in yourself. Women are competent, full stop. Be courageous, confident, sit at the table and don’t let anybody or anything stop you.
To learn more about AlphasFuture, click here: https://alphasfuture.com
Author Bio Geetu is the Founder and Investment Manager at AlphasFuture LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the US. AlphasFuture manages equity portfolios for HNW Individuals, Foundations and Small Business clients with a focus on sustainable investing. Geetu has nearly two decades experience in the global financial markets across Asia, UK and Europe and in the US. Prior to starting AlphasFuture, Geetu was co-managing $4bn global equities strategies at Pictet Asset Management in Switzerland. She has also worked with Credit Suisse and Standard & Poor’s in areas including equity research, credit research and institutional sales. With AlphasFuture, Geetu aims to leverage her investing experience to increase awareness about global sustainability challenges and help her clients earn superior risk adjusted returns whilst “Investing with Purpose”. Geetu is an MBA from London Business School (Dean’s List). She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband and two daughters.
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