The Criterion Institute Podcast Joy Anderson

This episode explores the journey of creating an investment portfolio intentionally designed to address gender-based violence. The discussion highlights the importance of finance as a tool for transformative systems change and the reduction of gender-based violence in the Core Pillar of the Criterion Institute's Strategic Plan. Joy's conversation with the InFaith Foundation delves into the process of designing the portfolio and selecting the fund managers. Joy then discusses the intersectionality of gender-based violence with other issues, and the need for flexibility in framing the issue in a way that balances complexity with simplicity.
Episode Highlights
00:28 - Introduction02:38 - Core pillar: The reduction of gender-based violence06:15 - InFaith Foundation interview18:26 - GBV and balancing complexity and simplicity
Relevant Links
Criterion Institute website and LinkedInJoy’s LinkedIn

This episode begins with a reflection on the inception of Convergence, highlighting its origins as a space for transformative dialogue. Convergence is a series of hour-and-a-half-long conversations that bring together people from different fields to discuss topics related to impact investing, development finance, grassroots activism, and social justice campaigns.
Then Sana Kapadia shares her experiences of Convergence, emphasizing its role in fostering meaningful conversations among diverse stakeholders. Finally, in the Practices section, Joy explores the significance of scripted acknowledgments at the beginning of each conversation, which set the tone for inclusive and respectful dialogue.
Episode Highlights
00:28 - Introduction02:45 - The birth of Convergence06:59 - Interview with Sana Kapadia17:13 - Practices: Scripted Acknowledgments
Relevant Links
Criterion Institute website and LinkedInJoy’s LinkedInSana's LinkedIn

In this episode, Joy Anderson explores strategies for building movements and the tension between going broad and going deep. She discusses the concept of preaching to the choir and the importance of engaging with new audiences while also supporting those already doing the work. Sana Kapadia then joins Joy in conversation about working within mainstream systems and the balance between incremental progress and transformative change. Finally, in the "Practices" section, Joy looks at the cost of excitement and the responsibility of follow-through. The episode emphasizes the need for power analysis, resilience, hope, and collaboration in advancing meaningful impact.
Episode Highlights
00:27 - Introduction03:55 - Preaching to the choir10:43 - Interview with Sana - Balancing Broad and Deep Strategies21:39 - Power Analysis, Resilience, Hope, and Collaboration in Advancing Impact24:55 - Practices - The cost of excitement
Relevant Links
Criterion Institute website and LinkedInJoy’s LinkedInSana's LinkedIn

In this episode, Joy Anderson and Sara Wolfe discuss the concept of the kitchen table as a space for creativity, collaboration, and transformative change. They highlight the importance of relationships, informal processes, and listening, and challenge traditional norms of success. Then, in a new section called "Practices", Joy explores the practice of carrying around ideas and testing them in conversations, being open to feedback and learning. The episode emphasizes the need to redefine success and think about innovative ideas that can create change in specific contexts.
Episode Highlights
00:27 - Introduction03:25 - Interview with Sara - the kitchen table10:05 - Practices: Carrying around a set of insights14:48 - Building Relationships and Inclusion
Relevant Links
Criterion Institute website and LinkedInJoy’s LinkedInSara's LinkedIn

In this episode, Joy Anderson and Teresa Wells discuss systemic risk in finance and the need for different choices to address it. They explore the evolving understanding of risk in investment decisions, the short-termism of financial decision-making, and the challenges with benchmarking. They also emphasize the importance of better data to identify systemic risks and the role of indexes in driving investment decisions. The conversation concludes with a discussion on representation versus equity in leadership, and using retention as a metric for companies that are good for women and diverse gender identities.
Episode Highlights
00:00 - Introduction03:49 - Systemic Risk in Finance06:12 - Short-Termism in Financial Decision-Making08:04 - Challenges with Benchmarking10:00 - Long-Term Investing and Valuation14:22 - Data and Systemic Risks22:20 - Using Data to Drive Investment Decisions26:27 - Organizational Systems Change29:58 - Retention as a metric and leadership33:44 - Conclusion
Relevant Links
Criterion Institute website and LinkedInJoy’s LinkedInTeresa's LinkedIn

In this episode, Joy Anderson speaks with Denise Hearn about the role of finance in transformative systems change. They discuss various themes, including misconceptions about competition and collaboration, identifying leverage points in market systems, unmasking the narrative of free markets, the power of paradoxes in systems change, understanding emergence in market systems, and envisioning alternative pathways for change.
Episode Highlights
00:00 - Introduction02:54 - Misconceptions about Competition and Collaboration08:09 - Identifying Leverage Points in Market Systems09:05 - Unmasking the Narrative of Free Markets13:20 - Anthropomorphising markets19:06 - Understanding Paradoxes and Emergence in Market Systems29:13 - Envisioning Alternative Pathways for Change
Relevant Links
Criterion Institute website and LinkedInJoy’s LinkedInDenise's LinkedIn