“My Journey to Setting Up Angels of Impact” By Laina Raveendran Greene

My journey began in the 1960s in Singapore, born to parents who had emigrated from Kerala in search of a better future. Despite our modest means, my parents, both government civil servants, instilled in my sisters and me the importance of social work, teaching us to be grateful for what we had and to help those less fortunate. This upbringing profoundly shaped my worldview and commitment to service.

With this foundation and influenced by the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru and later the Baha’i Faith, I pursued graduate studies in Geneva, aiming to work for the United Nations. As an intern and staff member at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 1986 and later at INTELSAT in Washington, D.C., I focused on ensuring affordable communication services for rural areas. This work revealed the stark digital divide and ignited my passion for creating business models that could do well socially while being financially viable.

In 1997, I founded an e-learning company to bring education to developing countries, working with corporations like Cisco to subsidize services for Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Though we did not yet use the term, we functioned as a social enterprise. This venture attracted media attention and underscored the potential of cross-subsidization in bridging educational gaps.

Inspired by pioneers like Grameen Phone and SELCO, I saw the potential of social enterprises in transforming rural economies. After selling my e-learning business, I aimed to establish a fund to replicate successful social enterprise models, focusing mainly on women entrepreneurs who often faced significant barriers to funding. However, the 2008 global financial crisis delayed these plans.

During this period, I worked for an internet social enterprise and later moved to Indonesia to run an Innovation Investment fund for a conglomerate. Here, I introduced aspects of CSR and initiated small-scale projects to help women, but I craved a more sustainable impact. Through UnLtd Indonesia and Ashoka, I deepened my understanding of social entrepreneurship and systems change, realizing that sustainable impact requires altering ineffective systems.

My pivotal moment came when I met Dinny Jusuf, founder of Toraja Melo, a social enterprise empowering indigenous women weavers. Her success confirmed my belief in the power of women-led social enterprises in poverty alleviation. Inspired by such stories, I recognized the need for a dedicated platform to support these entrepreneurs.

Thus, Angels of Impact was born. We aim to support women-led social enterprises that create sustainable livelihoods for marginalized communities. We aim to empower these enterprises to scale their impact and drive systemic change by providing funding, mentorship, and market access. Over the past eight years, the organization has steadfastly adhered to these principles, supporting 35 women-led social enterprises and impacting over 62,000 lives. You can learn more about our work at www.angelsofimpact.com.

Reflecting on my journey, I am grateful for the experiences that led me to this point. From my early days in Singapore to my work with global organizations and social enterprises, each step has reinforced my commitment to creating a world where business and social good go hand in hand. Angels of Impact is the realization of this vision, and I am excited to continue this journey of empowering women and transforming communities.