Durreen Shahnaz

Durreen Shahnaz is a prominent figure in the world of impact investing and social entrepreneurship. As the Founder and CEO of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), she has been leading the organization since January 2009.1 Her career spans over three decades, during which she has made significant contributions to various sectors, including finance, media, and social impact.

Professional Background

Shahnaz's professional journey is diverse and impressive:

Early Career::

• Started as a Financial Analyst at Morgan Stanley (1989-1991)1
• Worked as an Officer at Grameen Bank (1991-1992)1
• Served as a Consultant at The World Bank (1992-1993)1

Media and Publishing::

• Vice President at Hearst Magazines International (1997-1999)1
• General Manager at Readers Digest Asia (2004-2005)1
• Managing Director at Asia City Publishing Group (2006-2008)1

Entrepreneurship::

• Founder and CEO of OneNest (1999-2004)1
• Founder and CEO of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) (2009-present)1
• Founder and Director of IIX Foundation (2010-present)1

Academic and Advisory Roles

Shahnaz has held several academic and advisory positions:

• Adjunct Associate Professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (2008-2012)1
• Advisory Board Member for various organizations, including:
  • United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
  • Duke University's CASE i3
  • National Book Council of Singapore
  • UN ESCAP's Science, Technology and Innovation board1

Recent Achievements

Author:: Durreen Shahnaz is the author of "The Defiant Optimist™: Daring to Fight Global Inequality, Reinvent Finance, and Invest in Women," published in January 2023.1

Recognition::

• Selected for the Forbes 50 over 50 List in September 20211
• Received the SustainabilityX® Global 50 Women In Sustainability Award in 20231
• Her book was longlisted for Inc. Magazine Non-Obvious Book Awards 20231

Global Influence

Shahnaz is actively involved in various global initiatives:

• Appointed Member of the Global Council at Asia Society (2018-present)1
• Asia Society Asia 21 Fellow (2009-present)1
• Participated in the Working Group on Conceptual Framework for Impact Accounting at the Impact Management Project1

Through her work at IIX and various other roles, Durreen Shahnaz has been instrumental in promoting impact investing, sustainable finance, and gender equality. Her approach, which she terms "defiant optimism," reflects her commitment to creating an equitable world through innovative financial solutions and social entrepreneurship.2