Of the many lessons that we, as a global society, have learned since the start of the pandemic, one of the more significant is how interconnected our individual lives are to the outcomes experienced by our community. The career paths we choose, the businesses and organizations we support, how and where we invest our money, and what policies or candidates we vote for, do not operate inside of a vacuum. These choices ripple outward and can generate impacts, both positive and negative, on the communities we live in and our planet. 

At Net Impact, it has always been our goal to steer business toward the good and to provide the resources, tools, and activations necessary for individuals to realize the positive social impact they can make. The question is, though, where do you start? What personal shifts, actions, or practices can you adopt in order to support a more regenerative economy, a more inclusive society, and a healthier planet?

As part of our ongoing theme of The Regenerative Economy, we’ve outlined three key areas that can help you better understand how investing in yourself and your career can also lead to positive impacts for your community.  

Impact Investing

Impact Investing is an actionable way you can use your own capital to make a social or environmental impact. In addition to making financial returns on investment, impact investors look at how they can make a difference in the world through finances, business ventures, and projects. Impact Investing can cover a wide array of topics from sustainability in agriculture, to reducing carbon footprints with technology, to advocating for job security and financial literacy. You can be an Impact Investor in whatever way interests you - there are a multitude of different social and environmental issues impacting the world today that can be addressed by investing your own individual capital. 

Building a Career in Social Impact 

If you've ever tried to find a meaningful role in social impact, sustainability, or as a social entrepreneur, you understand that it requires navigating an ever-evolving career landscape. But centering the skills you have on a career in impact, whether at a social enterprise or within a company, can make a significant difference. And fortunately, businesses big and small are prioritizing civic engagement, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability. Further, these impact careers can be found across fields as wide-ranging as human rights to education to think tanks and healthcare, so there are many ways to find a role that connects with your passions and interests. 

Creating Connections for Impact

Building a network with like-minded colleagues can help you understand how to use your unique background and skill set for good and find a career that aligns with your values. Further, by connecting with those in your community, you can better understand the immediate needs of those around you and how you can uplift others. Creating meaningful connections and building supportive networks is a crucial way to invest in your own impact career and those around you. 

Get Involved  

If you are looking for an opportunity to explore how you can create positive social impacts and support regeneration through your career, your investments, and the ways in which you network and build connections with others, then join the Net Impact global community on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET for a special event in our Regenerative Economy series, A Career of Impact: Investing in Yourself and Your Community. This sixth event in our Regenerative Economy series will provide opportunities to engage, learn, and connect as you delve deeper into exploring how the choices you make regarding your career and money can spark lasting social change. The event will spotlight 1) how you save and invest your money; 2) how you navigate your career, and 3) the connections and partnerships you build.

To learn more about this event and to register, visit: netimpact.org/career-of-impact.

To learn more about The Regenerative Economy series, visit: https://netimpact.org/regenerative-economy.