What does it take to balance philanthropies and charities against government regulations, financial markets, and more. A brand new perspective takes shape on this episode of the Improving Alpha podcast when we welcome Zita Cobb, CEO and Founder of Shorefast. Listen to the discussion today and see if investors can really achieve a sensible return from philanthropies, and more.
Michael Oliver Weinberg, co-founder, Improving Alpha Podcast Series
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How can philanthropies and charitable organizations structure capital layers to maximize private, public, and government funding? In this episode, we explore whether society’s core pillars—governments, financial markets, and local communities—must be brought back into balance to drive sustainable growth for impact-driven organizations.
The Improving Alpha podcast welcomes Zita Cobb, Founder and CEO of Shorefast, a Canadian charity driving community and economic development across Fogo Island. Host Michael Oliver Weinberg speaks with Zita about how philanthropies can optimize for place, build a balanced operational framework, and unlock greater long-term investment.
Other key takeaways include:
Additional takeaways from this episode:
- What led Zita back to Fogo Island, and what learnings from the dot.com bubble did she bring back with her?- Can philanthropies generate a stream of sensible returns for investors given the market volatility today?
- What are Zita’s thoughts on building a Community Reinvestment Act for Canada and how would that impact SME’s (small-medium sized enterprises) across the country?
- Why does Zita believe that the 3 pillars of human society (government, financial markets, and community) are out of balance?
- What is the definition of place as it relates to business, technology, and investments? Is this definition being cannibalized by an imbalance of these market pillars?
- What are Zita’s thoughts on ESG and AI, and does she believe these are valuable tools for investors today?
- and more.
Zita Cobb is a Canadian business leader and social entrepreneur who serves as the Founder and CEO of Shorefast, a Canadian charity focused on community-based economic development. She is the visionary behind the Fogo Island Inn, a globally acclaimed Michelin Three Key property and social enterprise located in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.
She previously played a key role in the expansion of JDS Fitel (later JDS Uniphase), a leader in fiber optics technology, where she served as CFO. In 2001, she retired to focus her time and financial resources on philanthropic initiatives.
In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, and she holds the distinction of being the first social entrepreneur inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.
About Our Host: Michael Oliver Weinberg, CFA
For three decades Michael has invested directly at the security level and indirectly as an asset allocator in traditional and alternative asset classes. Most recently he was a Managing Director, Head of Alternative Alpha, on the Investment Committee, and a board member at APG, a Dutch pension provider. Previously he was the Chief Investment Officer at MOV37 and Protege Partners. Michael is also an Adjunct Professor of Economics and Finance at Columbia Business School, where he teaches Institutional Investing, an advanced MBA course that he created.
Michael is a published author, having written for The New York Times, international investment books, and other publications. Michael has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, CNBC, Bloomberg and Reuters. He is a frequent panelist, moderator and lecturer for investment banks, institutional and family office organizations, and business schools.
The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.
