36: Navigating the human side of the social finance and corporate sectors

In social finance, we too often focus on the technical aspects of measurement and overlook the interpersonal and relational aspects at play. But in a field that bridges two very different sectors, vocabularies, worldviews, and ways of working, the interpersonal dimension is paramount. For instance, impact investing teams are often housed within philanthropic foundations, and social impact teams can sit within traditional corporations. This can create conditions that are ripe for culture clash, communication breakdowns, misunderstanding, and mistrust. Evaluators are uniquely positioned to help these teams understand each other, communicate better, and ultimately work together more effectively - and they end up playing this role, even when unplanned. In this Birds of a Feather session, evaluators will share their experiences and lessons playing a mediating role in social finance and corporate contexts.