Behind the Impact • Alice Brennan

In the ever-evolving landscape of social impact, Alice Brennan stands at the forefront of innovation at Sefa Partnerships. As the Head of Innovation, her role is a dynamic blend of exploration, design, and collaboration, all aimed at harnessing the power of capital for sustainable social change. Alice's journey is one of curiosity, resilience, and a deep-seated belief in the potential of purpose-driven finance. Join us as we explore the multifaceted nature of her work and the transformative impact it has on purpose-driven organisations.

Can you tell us a little bit about your role on the team and what your day-to-day responsibilities entail?

I am the Head of Innovation at Sefa Partnerships. My day-to-day can vary massively! My responsibilities include exploring new opportunities to create impact, supporting organisations who are looking to be auspiced by Sefa Partnerships, researching and designing learning and innovation programs, and acting as entrepreneur-in-residence and co-designing solutions with users and partners.

What's your go-to productivity hack when you need to power through a big project or deadline?

I really rely on having a good rhythm for prioritising and planning. I make sure I dedicate proper time to this every fortnight to try and stop deadlines from sneaking up on me. However, when my process fails, I like to put on Rodrigo Y Gabriela and type to the frenetic music - it usually gets the bulk of the work done!

If you could switch jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?

If it involves also switching brains, I would switch with Manfred - he knows so much about the world of finance and impact. And he has a motorbike.

What's the most interesting thing you've learned or accomplished in your role so far?

Not having a finance background, I have been most inspired by the creative ways that capital can be used to change incentives and create sustainable social impact. It's fascinating to me how different levers of capital can create (or destroy) social impact potential, and I'm very excited by the projects we have in the pipeline that are looking at ways to use capital to do more good.

What motivated you to pursue a career in this field, and how did you get started in your current role?

My career in social impact began a couple of years after I graduated from university. I moved to Japan to be an assistant language teacher and was unfortunate enough to be there when the Great Hanshin earthquake and tsunami hit the country, causing the Fukushima nuclear disaster. I answered an ad for a native English speaker from a local disaster response charity, Peace Boat, and took on the role of coordinating and communicating with the international community supporting the response in Ishinomaki. The charity has worked tirelessly with that community ever since.

I landed in my current role thanks to a career that has included being a social enterprise founder, a software product manager, and an innovation lead at a ventures lab. I don't think anyone ends up in innovation without a bit of a curly career path!

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your team or industry right now?

I think our biggest challenge right now is ensuring that different system players collaborate to ensure that all of our incentives are pointing towards the world we want to build. Collaboration is hard, and taking real action is harder, but I am seeing reasons to be optimistic.

What do you enjoy most about your job, and what advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a similar career path?

I enjoy working with my team the most. They are passionate, dedicated people who hold themselves to very high standards. And most importantly, they know how to have fun whilst changing the world.

Exploring Alice Brennan's role as Head of Innovation at Sefa Partnerships reveals a journey marked by adaptability, collaboration, and a drive for social change. Her work exemplifies the innovative spirit required to navigate the complexities of social finance and make a meaningful impact. For those drawn to a similar path, Alice's experience highlights the importance of embracing diverse experiences, fostering teamwork, and staying committed to the larger goal of transforming society for the better.

Alice's story is not just about individual achievements; it's a reflection of the collective effort at Sefa and Sefa Partnerships to create a more equitable and sustainable world.