On this year’s Valentine’s Day, Paloma Sjahrir Foundation hosted the first “Paloma Circles: Women Investors Breakfast” at Bimasena, The Dharmawangsa Jakarta—a meaningful reminder that investing for impact is, at its heart, an act of love.
Women investors are driving meaningful change by directing capital toward businesses that balance financial returns with social and environmental impact, including those that champion gender inclusion, empower women, and uplift communities. This breakfast provided a space to connect, exchange insights, and explore opportunities to amplify impact.
We began with an inspiring panel discussion, moderated by our Chairperson, Ratna Kartadjoemena, featuring two women impact investors who shared key insights on what makes investing for impact both rewarding and transformative:
- Invest in people, not just ideas:
Stephanie Hermawan, Angel Impact Investor and Managing Director at Instellar Indonesia Impact Investment, emphasized that successful investments start with mission-driven founders whose resilience and deep commitment drive lasting success. - Self-awareness is key to impactful leadership:
Stephanie also highlighted that the best founders deeply understand both their challenges and their own strengths. Investors should seek leaders who demonstrate clarity, adaptability, and purpose - Balancing social impact with commercial success is essential:
Jennifer Buckley, Founder & Managing Director of Sweef Capital, shared an example of this approach through their investment in USM Healthcare—Vietnam’s first company to locally manufacture high-technology medical devices, with 60% of its workforce being women. By addressing a critical healthcare need while ensuring long-term financial sustainability, USM exemplifies how impact-driven businesses can thrive in new markets.
The morning continued with engaging discussions, where participants shared their investment interests, challenges, and aspirations for impact. It was a dynamic exchange, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and shared learning.
To close, guests wrote down their hopes for the impact of their investments, followed by meaningful networking conversations. Instead of traditional event souvenirs, Paloma Sjahrir Foundation made a heartfelt donation on behalf of our guests to Rachel House Indonesia, supporting 52 children living with serious illnesses through palliative care. Additionally, leftover food was donated to Yayasan Amal Mulia Indonesia through FoodCycle Indonesia, ensuring that every resource made a difference.
As gender-smart investing continues to gain momentum, we are reminded that the greatest investments are those that create lasting change—not just financially, but in the lives of people and communities.
How do you see gender-lens investing shaping the future of business?
#WomenInvestors #ImpactInvesting #GenderLensInvesting #SustainableFinance
