Midori Takasaki

Principal | Investor | Impact Strategist

Professional Overview

Midori Takasaki is a seasoned impact investment professional with a diverse background spanning finance, public policy, and sustainability. As the Principal at King Philanthropies and the Head of Impact at Change Forces, she leverages her expertise to drive sustainable, scalable change through strategic investments and innovative solutions.

Experience Summary

Current Roles

Principal at King Philanthropies (2023-09-01 to Present)

• Oversees the organization's climate venture portfolio, evaluating and supporting high-impact startups and initiatives

• Collaborates with the investment team to identify, structure, and monitor strategic investments aligned with the firm's mission

• Provides guidance and expertise to portfolio companies, helping them scale their impact and achieve sustainable growth

Investor | Head of Impact at Change Forces (2024-08-01 to Present)

• Leads the firm's impact strategy, developing a vision and framework to amplify the social and environmental benefits of investments

• Evaluates potential investment opportunities, assessing their alignment with the firm's impact goals and long-term sustainability

• Collaborates with portfolio companies to implement robust impact measurement and reporting systems

Career Progression

Prior to her current roles, Midori held various positions within the financial, public policy, and sustainability sectors, including:

• Climate Venture Associate at King Philanthropies (2022-01-01 to 2023-09-01)

• Portfolio Operations at Stanford GSB Impact Fund (2021-11-01 to 2022-06-01)

• Executive Office of the Secretary General at United Nations (2021-05-01 to 2021-08-01)

• Global Public Policy at BlackRock (2019-06-01 to 2020-08-01)

• Equity Derivatives Sales & Trading at Goldman Sachs (2016-07-01 to 2019-04-01)

This diverse experience has equipped Midori with a comprehensive understanding of the financial, regulatory, and sustainability factors that shape the impact investing landscape.

Academic Background

Midori holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she specialized in Social Innovation and Sustainable Finance. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with Honors.

Areas of Expertise

• Impact investment strategy and portfolio management

• Sustainable finance and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration

• Public-private partnership development and stakeholder engagement

• Climate technology and clean energy venture evaluation

• Nonprofit and philanthropic program design and implementation

Professional Impact

Throughout her career, Midori has demonstrated a commitment to driving positive social and environmental change. Some of her notable achievements include:

• Spearheaded the development of a groundbreaking impact measurement framework at the Stanford GSB Impact Fund, enabling data-driven investment decisions

• Played a key role in the launch of a $50 million climate tech venture fund at King Philanthropies, catalyzing innovative solutions to address climate change

• Contributed to the United Nations' sustainable development initiatives, providing strategic counsel and policy recommendations to the Secretary-General's office

Conclusion

Midori Takasaki is a versatile impact investment professional with a proven track record of success. Her deep expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to sustainable change positions her as a valuable asset in the evolving impact investing landscape. Midori's multifaceted background and demonstrated impact make her a compelling leader in the field of sustainable finance and social innovation.