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KATALYST

 capacity-building 
for new leaders within families of wealth

Investing with Impact

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Do you want your family assets to drive positive change while generating returns?

Are you keen to develop and refine your investment skills and impact strategy?

Are you ready to step up and lead  your wealth toward impact? 

The Future of Wealth

TAKING FAMILY LEADERSHIP FOR IMPACT INVESTING 

Whether or not to address societal challenges is no longer a personal choice for wealth-holders; rather, it is a critical factor in generating and preserving wealth across generations.

 

To drive positive impact, families of wealth are increasingly moving away from the traditional route of separating philanthropic and business activities, towards using investment capital to generate positive, scalable, and sustainable change. 

It is not always straightforward for wealth owners to move into impact finance. Divergent views within the family, resistance from advisers, and a lack of knowledge or competent guidance are just some of common barriers.

 

Family members driving the shift towards impact investing may be younger or less experienced. They can find it challenging to navigate the complexities of investing for impact and difficult to win broader family and organizational support. 

Relevance
Program

About Katalyst

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM ABOUT?

  • Individualized, by-invitation-only Fellowship aimed to help families of wealth accelerate their involvement in impact finance, align assets with values, and drive positive change

  • Practice-oriented capacity-building program specifically designed for asset owners from non-financial backgrounds

  • Flexible, modular set-up with content, length, and intensity tailored to Fellows’  needs and available time

 

  • Delivered individually or in small-groups of 3-6 peers in a secure and confidential setting 

 

  •  Combines investment training with curated strategy development, coaching, access to networks, and internship

  • KATALYST is developed by JBJ Consult with active support from its Fellows and the Advisory Panel comprised  of experienced peers and academics

 

  • The program is in its 6th year, with 30+ Alumni from 14 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia across 6 cohorts and 4 custom programs. 90%+ of Fellows are from non-financial backgrounds and over 75% are female

 

  • ​The program builds on the learnings from the NextGen Impact Leadership Accelerator (NILA) piloted in 2018 by JBJ Consult and the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth at the University of Zurich with the support from Monique Bär​, Climate-KIC, and Wietlisbach Foundation.

Program Content

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

KATALYST provides a holistic training and support, covering the core knowledge of finance and impact investment, development of a bespoke impact strategy, and personal discovery and growth. The program is organised across five streams, with the final content, focus areas, and level of depth being driven by the Fellows' objectives, needs, and the level of prior knowledge. 

Impact Strategy & Implementation

Practical Impact Investment Skills

Leadership & Empowerment

Format of Katalyst

HOW IS THE PROGRAM STRUCTURED?

The program uses a variety of formats to deliver a unique experiential learning environment in  which to advance your impact journey, specifically adapted to your schedule and available time.

Curated Strategy Development 

In-Person

Module

In-Person

Module

Coaching &

Peer Mentoring 

Target Audience

Target Audience

WHO IS THE PROGRAM FOR? 

  • Does not require finance or investment experience

  • Also suitable for Alumni of IRI/CSP and Oxford University impact investment programs ​  

 

  • Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply

  • Designed for wealth owners looking to deepen their engagement in impact finance  

 

  • Suitable for adults of various ages 

  • Compatible with full-time employment

 Faculty & Advisers 

WHO WILL DELIVER THE PROGRAM? 

KATALYST is a practice-oriented Fellowship, designed and delivered by leading impact investment and sustainability practitioners, academics and more experienced peers. 

The program is led by Julia Balandina Jaquier, PhD, CFA, an impact investment expert, advisor to families and educator. She is supported by the experienced Advisory Panel. 

Faculty & Partners

Program Outcomes

HOW WILL I BENEFIT? 

PRACTICAL SKILLS 

 

Receive holistic financial training from leading industry practitioners, build your skills, and gain hands-on experience in impact investing.

BESPOKE STRATEGY

 

Understand peer strategies and lessons learned, and get help in building a pragmatic strategy for your family wealth or a personal project.

CONFIDENCE

 

Equipped with knowledge, tools and support, feel empowered to think big and forge your own investment future.

TAILORED LEARNING

 

 Customize the program to your objectives, needs, and availability, taking advantage of the unique flexibility of the KATALYST.   

NETWORK

 

Form a trusted peer group and an industry network, facilitating further learnings, access to investments, and expert advice. 

CAREER

 

Gain credibility and position yourself for a purposeful and exciting professional life, inside or outside the family ecosystem.

Outcomes
Options

Practical Information

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS AND HOW DO I APPLY? 

PROGRAM OPTIONS

KATALYST is offered in various formats.  

  • CORE (6-8 months); the full initial program held in small cohorts of 3-4 participants (max 6).

  • ADVANCE/CUSTOM: flexible offering that can be added to Core or Focus, or structured as a stand-alone, bespoke program for the family. 

  • FOCUS (2 months); for those who want to sample the program, have a narrow focus, or limited available time.

TIME COMMITMENT/TRAVEL/LANGUAGE

  •  KATALYST can be as light as 1-2 days per month, to near-full immersion over  2-15 months.​

  •  Learning modules and individual coaching sessions are scheduled taking into account Fellows' availability and time zones.  

  • The program can be completed without travel, with only one in-person module planned in Portugal or Switzerland. 

  • KATALYST is held in English, so an adequate proficiency in this language is required. 

FEES

Program fees depend on the chosen option(s) and start at CHF 15'000. See program brochure for details. The fees include all group and individual training, strategic advisory and coaching, as well as meals during the in-person module. Travel, accommodation, and taxes are excluded.  

ADMISSION

 

The CUSTOM program is available on an ongoing basis; CORE program is typically held once a year and starts as soon as the cohort is formed.  Contact us to discuss your goals, see if the program is a good match, and determine which option is most suitable.

 

Testimonials

WHAT THE PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING? 

                   The combination of practical, tailored learning sessions in an intimate group setting and expert coaching provides a unique, transformative experience. Julia is a superb coach: she is spot-on with her advice and helps you find simple and effective solutions to complex issues. The program has taken our family participation in impact finance to the next level."

Adriana, 2018/2019 Cohort Fellow

                    KATALYST was crucial to developing my strategy, engaging with my family and wealth managers, and quickly giving me the confidence and financial literacy I felt I lacked.  It demystified complicated financial jargon and helped me develop essential skills in a safe and supportive environment. Julia is incredibly generous with her time and knowledge, and tailors the program to each participant's needs.  KATALYST has been invaluable to my personal and professional development.”

Melissa, 2019/2020 Cohort Fellow                 

                   It is the only course I know where a personal impact investment strategy is designed and successfully put into practice. Julia has a talent for sharing her wealth of experience in a way that works for people with different backgrounds. Her classes transmit solid and actionable knowledge, they are tough, effective, exhausting, and fun! The program, including the internship, was great in building my skills and gaining experience, advancing my professional career and family engagement in the space."

Patrick, 2018/2019 Cohort Fellow

Testimonials
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