Engage - VPF News (Autumn 2013)

Click here to read the latest inspiring stories from VPF's portfolio of innovative social ventures, and update yourself of new members, initiatives and opportunities across the VPF network.

Leave painting to the painters?

I know we don't judge books by their covers, but if you were asked to guess the occupation of the woman in the photo above I bet you would not plump for builder, or decorator, or landscape gardener. No, unsurprisingly, Corneilia Luciana (name changed to protect true identity) is a private equity investment professional working in London. She is also working pro bono with one of VPF's ventures, MyBnk.

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Lots of pro bono community programmes see financiers, lawyers, marketers, investment professionals... bascially anyone who isn't an expert on laying pathways, painting fences, building school blocks etc... sent off to lay pathways, paint fences, build school blocks... bascially anything that doesn't use the highly valuable skills that they hone day-in-day-out in their careers. It's great to get out of the office for some team building, but from the perspective of society, it doesn't seem the most effective use of city professsionals' particular skills - painters are better than investment professionals at painting, builders building etc, surely?

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We think (and this is changing across the board to be fair) that the best way anyone can help society without donating money is by donating their professional expertise, the things they have been trained to be good, no, excellent at. VPF is the counduit for City professionals to acheive this.

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A couple of testimonials (we'll give you more a couple each month):

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SANDEEP DHILLON

"As a VPF member I have been working with AfriKids management team to provide them with input on strategy and to help refine their current business model for future development. After meeting some of the exceptional CEOs of the social enterprises supported by VPF, Afrikids seemed like the perfect organisation to become involved with. VPF has provided the perfect platform for me to use my consulting and banking skill-set for wider social impact."

KIERAN D'SILVA

"Working with social ventures allows me to get involved with good causes which operate in line with robust, sustainable market principals. By contributing the skills I have developed during my career then I can offer much more to the organisations than I could by donating funds alone. I have enjoyed applying my due diligence and investment analysis to projects outside of my usual sector and geographic coverage. The regular VPF events also allow me to meet with like-minded individuals within the Private Equity industry."

If you are a City professional and would like to donate your skills (from a couple of hours a month upwards) then please do get in touch with us, we'd love to hear from you.