This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Yvonne Gong, Private Equity Associate, based in our Singapore office. Continue reading if you want to find out what she likes most about working at BlueOrchard, the impact investing industry, and her most memorable experience at BlueOrchard.
How do you make an impact in your private life?
I try to reduce my own plastic usage, and I subtly influence people around me to consume less bottled mineral water. I have even noticed that my tennis group members are bringing their own reusable water bottles to games now!
What do you enjoy most about working at BlueOrchard?
I am very thankful to have colleagues from diverse cultures and backgrounds, who deeply care about what we do. They are high calibre people and are always willing to share their knowledge. Everyday I learn something new from the people at BlueOrchard and we are always making progress together.
What do you like the most about working in the impact investing industry?
I enjoy working with entrepreneurs who have the social mission to address challenges in emerging economies. It motivates me a lot to grow with the investee, help them succeed in their market place, and achieve the impact mission together.
What is the biggest global challenge in your view?
Climate change. The global average temperature is already at least 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial level and close to what scientists warn would be, “an unacceptable risk”. It is almost confirmed that we will cross the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold by early 2030. When the temperature rises over 2 degrees Celsius, the ultimate limit set by the Paris Agreement, as many as 18% of all land species will be at high risk of extinction and up to 3 billion people will experience ‘chronic water scarcity’ based on the IPCC report. To avoid more catastrophic and potentially irreversible impacts, we need to take serious actions.
Thank you, Yvonne.