Principles of Benevolence: Build, Lead, Invest with Purpose

She Built Thousands of Homes. Now She's Funding Millions More. | Alexandria Lafci

What does housing instability do to a child? To a family? To a community? Alexandria Lafci knows firsthand — and she's spent her entire career trying to answer those questions through action. Alexandria is the Managing Partner of Home Team Ventures, an early-stage venture fund investing in construction technology. Before Home Team, she co-founded New Story, a nonprofit that built thousands of homes across Haiti, El Salvador, Mexico, and Bolivia — and partnered with ICON to print the first-ever 3D printed community of homes. New Story went through Y Combinator in 2015. Alexandria is a Kauffman Fellow. In this episode, we cover: * Growing up in Section 8 housing and what that experience shaped * Teaching sixth grade in Southeast DC and watching housing instability derail her students in real time * How her mother's death became the unexpected turning point in her career path * The accidental social entrepreneur meetup in Atlanta where New Story was born * What Y Combinator actually teaches founders — and the story of the architects that reset her bar forever * Why she walked away from the nonprofit she loved to start a venture fund * The origin of Icon and how New Story funded the world's first 3D printed homes * What makes construction technology a genuinely compelling investment thesis * The burden and opportunity of being an emerging manager in a non-obvious space * What it would mean to bring construction costs down by 20% Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Alexandria Lafsey and her mission to build impactful housing solutions 02:15 - Growing up in Section 8 housing and how it shaped her social impact convictions 03:16 - Teach for America experience in Southeast DC and observing student homelessness 04:00 - The personal and systemic importance of affordable housing solutions 05:16 - Post-Teach path: from law school aspirations to founding News Story 06:03 - Personal tragedy and assuming caregiving responsibilities—impact on her career focus 07:26 - Lessons learned from McMaster Carr and company culture building 08:50 - The importance of culture in social impact organizations and News Story's values 09:36 - Purposeful work and integrating purpose with profit in social entrepreneurship 10:11 - Community work and the importance of resources for people close to the issues 11:02 - The serendipitous night that led to founding News Story 12:05 - The Haiti earthquake and the motivation to create scalable housing models 14:08 - Early stage funding, YC experience, and rapid community impact 15:16 - How News Story's model evolved to scale impact through land, credit, and finance 16:48 - Impact of transparency, stories, and participatory design on donor engagement 18:36 - The challenge of scalability in housing and innovating through land and collateral 20:22 - The influence of Y Combinator: access to networks and the peer community 21:44 - The importance of high standards, ambition, and the pursuit of alpha in venture investing 24:52 - The transition from nonprofit to venture capital: motivation and vision 26:16 - The potential of construction technology to solve housing affordability at scale 27:33 - How technology, like Icon, accelerates progress in building faster, cheaper, more sustainable homes 30:20 - Building a portfolio of startups in construction tech and their societal impact 33:28 - How Alexandria's emerging fund is carving a dedicated space in construction and impact investing 36:04 - Overcoming education barriers and the importance of positioning in an underserved yet vital industry 39:15 - Alexandria's entrepreneurial spirit rooted in audacity and vision from childhood 41:16 - Reflecting on her early dreams and the role of mentorship and self-belief 42:19 - Legacy ambitions: what Alexandria hopes Home Team Ventures will be known for 44:15 - The fundamental belief that housing is a human right and societal foundation 46:03 - Addressing societal normalization of homelessness and systemic inequities 47:12 - The importance of incremental progress and a community of changemakers 48:15 - Closing thoughts: building a better world through purpose-driven work Resources & Links: * Home Team Ventures: https://hometeam.vc [https://hometeam.vc] * New Story: https://newstorycharity.org [https://newstorycharity.org] * ICON (3D printed homes): https://iconbuild.com [https://iconbuild.com] * Y Combinator: https://ycombinator.com [https://ycombinator.com] * Kauffman Fellows: https://kauffmanfellows.org [https://kauffmanfellows.org] Connect with Alexandria: * LinkedIn: [Alexandria Lafci on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alafci/]] * Home Team Ventures on LinkedIn and Twitter/X Connect with Ebony: * Benevolent Advisors: [website] * LinkedIn: [Ebony Brown LinkedIn] * Instagram: @ebonybrown / @principlesofbenevolence * Subscribe to SEEDs Newsletter: [link [https://substack.com/@ebonyabrown]]

Why Billionaires Won't Save Us — And What We Can Do About It | Hali Lee

When we think about philanthropy, most of us picture mega-donors, foundation galas, and the Giving Pledge. But Hali Lee has spent her career arguing that the future of giving was never in those rooms. It's been in the kitchen tables, the susu circles, the ge meetings — communities of regular people pooling their time, talent, and money to take care of each other and their neighborhoods. In this episode, Hali shares the story of how her grandmother's generosity after surviving two wars shaped her understanding of giving, how she built one of the country's most enduring giving circles from a group of ten girlfriends, and why she believes collective giving is both a solution to the loneliness crisis and a form of civic engagement we desperately need right now. Whether you're a first-time donor, a family office allocator, or just someone wondering what you can actually do — this episode is for you. In this episode: * Hali Lee shares her family's history of resilience and generosity rooted in Korean history and culture. * The origin and evolution of the Asian Women's Giving Circle over 20 years. * How informal community support systems, like susus and tandas, mirror modern giving circles. * Strategies for starting and sustaining a giving circle, including financial transparency and flexible participation. * The importance of loose ties and neighborly acts in building community and combating loneliness. * Critical insights into big philanthropy ('Big Phil') and its structural limitations. * The findings from research on affluent donors of color and how their giving approaches differ. * Resources and practical tools for creating and managing giving circles, including Philanthropy Together's Launchpad and Grapevine platform. * The role of volunteer pro bono services and shared talents in supporting funded organizations. * The historical role of neighbors in social justice and civic engagement, connecting past resilience with current community building. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Principles of Benevolence and the power of purpose-driven wealth 01:16 - Hali Lee's background and journey in philanthropy 03:20 - Family history and lessons from Korean history and culture 06:49 - Mirroring traditional Asian giving practices in contemporary circles 09:56 - Personal stories of informal community sharing and mutual aid 10:03 - The origins of the Asian Women's Giving Circle 12:30 - Reflection on strategic giving and personal philanthropy planning 14:31 - How to start a giving circle: tips and resources 16:19 - Sharing financial transparency practices in circles 19:59 - Flexibility and inclusivity in giving circle participation 22:22 - The essential pillars of launching a successful giving circle 25:43 - Platforms and tools: Grapevine and Philanthropy Together 26:53 - Volunteering and pro bono services as resources 27:31 - The decline of traditional collective participation and its impacts 29:28 - Building civic engagement and community through small acts of neighborliness 34:34 - Why loose ties matter and how they strengthen community bonds 41:27 - The connection between being a good neighbor and a good citizen 42:07 - The critique of 'Big Phil'—philanthropy driven by mega-billionaires 47:11 - Insights from the Donors of Color Network and its surprising findings 50:22 - Research on affluent donors of color and their giving behaviors 51:28 - Closing thoughts and resources for listeners interested in starting or growing giving circles Resources & Links: * The Big We by Hali Lee [https://www.amazon.com/Big-We-Hali-Lee/dp/1638931518] * Philanthropy Together — Free Launchpad Course for Starting a Giving Circle [https://philanthropytogether.org/] * Grapevine — Free Platform for Giving Circles [https://www.grapevine.org/] * Freedom School for Philanthropy [https://www.freedomschoolforphilanthropy.org/] * Donors of Color Network Research Report [https://www.radiantstrategies.co/] * Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam [https://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alone-Collapse-American-Community/dp/0743203046] * Just Giving by Rob Reich [https://www.amazon.com/Just-Giving-Rob-Reich-audiobook/dp/B07N95GDQX/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=186121865923&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0BUmYlrbAw-FGPf7AFjYEA.HkyA-3NBFdtJKA6KX7RPd2KJuHoZnbOe8C3lTHlU_dU&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779706666371&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9191194&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15716326414669673981--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15716326414669673981&hvtargid=kwd-635750731647&hydadcr=22561_13531225_8196&keywords=just+giving+rob+reich&mcid=17edfe8c27aa321695968c90a50f96f1&qid=1782315800&s=books&sr=1-1] * Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas [https://www.amazon.com/Winners-Take-All-audiobook/dp/B07FNSVK5S/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189455222347&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fSJ4GWH_niG6aKv5BIhJgSUG8BwuM71ghbDOmP5-CkcI7QUARsuzJHYfidxdgQ25rIrdeY3IkF2N2svv_BGEWpk6xN3ztXQqpKGeou0DmImMcl_KZyQ_ak6gSyO0gkdMfxktapEMDXkL3D4TDLAewEbMA2b1E-i1P8iIyNtUnciLqIDS81nkziZLtdQhStmdw12gu-RjjzW1e8M4kYghlX04DTUj3GpoA7Oablho6Ws.sAKYmZyeERBpLAhRhhLSdMvIG4HQec1Iasco75ZTGVs&dib_tag=se&hvadid=792840854833&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9191194&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=16993290390110386441--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16993290390110386441&hvtargid=kwd-302097848531&hydadcr=4984_13552963_2437578&keywords=winners+take+all&mcid=1fe7c96578ac393b92e7deeb89953740&qid=1782315766&sr=8-1] Connect with Hali Lee: * Website [https://halilee.co/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hali-lee-aa181a6/] * Radiant Strategies [https://www.radiantstrategies.co/] Additional Notes: This episode underscores the importance of community-based philanthropy, encouraging listeners to consider how small, intentional actions and collective efforts can lead to meaningful societal change, rooted in cultural legacy and neighborly care.

The $800 Billion Healthcare Opportunity Hiding in Home Renovation | Cameron Carter

In this episode of Principles of Benevolence, Ebony sits down with Cameron Carter, CEO and Co-Founder of Rosarium Health, to talk about the overlooked connection between housing and healthcare. Cameron spent a decade inside value-based care at DaVita, Bright Health, Evolent Health, and Truven Health Analytics before a personal experience with his own grandmother and aunt in Compton, California led him to found Rosarium — a company helping people age safely in their own homes through accessible modifications. They cover what value-based care actually means in practice, why supplemental health benefits go so underutilized, the size and shape of the aging-in-place opportunity, how Cameron builds trust with patients entering their most private spaces, and why he believes founders in regulated industries have a responsibility to read the actual policy rather than the headlines. In this episode: Cameron's path from academic research on healthcare disparities through value-based care at scale, the family story that became the founding moment for Rosarium, the $800 billion home remodeling market and why it's shifting from aesthetic to accessibility, how health plans calculate ROI on a home modification, what it's like building trust as a first-time Black founder, and Cameron's vision for what aging in place could look like over the next decade. Main Topics Covered: * Cameron Carter's personal journey into elder care and home modifications * The role of value-based care in improving health outcomes outside traditional settings * Market insights: the $800 billion remodeling industry shifting toward healthcare needs * The importance of accessible home modifications for aging populations * Strategies to educate payers, providers, and families on health tech innovations * Policy impacts: tailwinds and headwinds shaping the elder care ecosystem * Building trust and partnerships with contractors, clinicians, and communities * Practical steps for families and individuals to start planning for aging in place * The future of aging with dignity, inclusivity, and technological advancements Timestamps: 00:00 - Principles of Benevolence: Building impactful, purpose-driven companies 00:45 - Introduction of Cameron Carter and Rosarium Health's mission 01:13 - Cameron's background in healthcare disparities and community-based research 02:20 - Journey through value-based care and its influence on elder care 02:39 - The intersection of healthcare and the built environment 03:47 - Cameron's experience with health benefits and social determinants 04:43 - How value-based care shifts focus to outcomes beyond hospitals 05:39 - The influence of policy on health benefits utilization 06:34 - Challenges and opportunities in educating payers and patients 07:15 - Underutilization of available benefits and improving awareness 09:30 - Cameron's personal motivation for founding Rosarium from family needs 10:24 - Market size, growth, and aging-in-place opportunities 11:17 - The shift from aesthetic to healthcare-driven remodeling 12:02 - The infrastructure gap in home modifications for health 13:17 - Differentiating Rosarium from nonprofits and conventional providers 14:40 - Impact of home modifications on quality of life and healthcare costs 15:31 - ROI of installing accessible features and reducing hospital visits 17:01 - Navigating new benefit categories and payer education 18:09 - Trust-building through communication and community engagement 19:13 - How contractors and clinicians are integrated into the platform 20:36 - Language diversity and service accessibility 21:05 - Strategies to ensure trust in patient interactions 22:14 - Partnering with community-based organizations and physician engagement 23:09 - Clinical assessments and physician approval for modifications 26:11 - Essential modifications for aging in place 26:40 - Personalization of home assessments based on goals and environment 28:29 - Cameron's entrepreneurial journey and the influence of mentorship 30:43 - Reflecting on unexpected insights about housing and healthcare 32:41 - Policy trends and their influence on the aging in place market 34:13 - The role of experienced operators in policy navigation 36:11 - Advice for founders: continuous learning and policy literacy 37:27 - Vision for Rosarium and the future of inclusive aging solutions 38:46 - Broader societal and technological trends influencing elder care 41:52 - Early indicators for families to begin planning 43:09 - How to determine insurance coverage and connection points 45:02 - Property value implications of home modifications 47:20 - Final thoughts: aging with dignity, inclusivity, and innovation Resources & Links: * Rosarium Health [https://rosariumhealth.com/] * Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies [https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/] * Rebuilding Together [https://rebuildingtogether.org/] * UnitedHealth Group [https://unitedhealthgroup.com/] Connect with Cameron Carter: * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-carter-62117175/] Connect with Principles of Benevolence: Instagram: @principlesofbenevolence LinkedIn: Principles of Benevolence [https://www.linkedin.com/company/principles-of-benevolence/?viewAsMember=true] Website: principlesofbenevolence.com [http://principlesofbenevolence.com]

Inside Melinda French Gates' Multi-Billion Dollar Bet on Women | Erin Harkless Moore

What does it actually take to change who controls capital — and who benefits from it? In this episode, Ebony sits down with Erin Harkless Moore, Managing Director of Investments at Pivotal, the group of organizations founded by Melinda French Gates to advance social progress for women and families. Erin leads Pivotal's fund and direct investment strategy, backing overlooked founders and next-generation fund managers in women's health, the care economy, and financial access. Erin's path to one of the most influential investment seats in the country wasn't linear — it was intentional. From growing up in San Antonio with a deep sense of service, to cold-emailing HBS alumni from endowments and family offices, to writing her professional purpose on an index card, to landing a role she describes as "too good to be true" — this is a conversation about what happens when preparation meets clarity of vision. They go deep on what it means to "reframe the bar, not lower it" in diligence, why women's sports is a contrarian bet worth taking, how Pivotal uses philanthropy, investment, and advocacy as a single system — and what Melinda French Gates' expanded women's health commitment means for the investment landscape right now. In this episode: * The "to whom much is given" values instilled in San Antonio that still drive her today * Why Goldman Sachs was a phenomenal training ground — and why it wasn't enough * The index card exercise that helped her crystallize her professional purpose * How she cold-emailed her way into HBS alumni networks at endowments and family offices * What Cambridge Associates taught her about contrarian investing and reframing the bar * How Pivotal uses three levers — philanthropy, advocacy, and investment — simultaneously * Why the care economy is a $648 billion opportunity hiding in plain sight * The case for women's sports as an undervalued, mission-aligned investment * What AI means for women's health and care — and why embedding diversity at the start matters * What success looks like for the ecosystem, not just the portfolio Main Topics: * Erin's early influences and foundational values rooted in community service and faith * The role of internal purpose and deliberate career planning (index card exercise) * How Pivotal integrates philanthropy, policy, and investment to drive social change * Reframing the investment bar while maintaining rigor in due diligence * Strategies to support overlooked fund managers and diverse founders * The growth of women's health investments, including midlife and menopause research * Opportunities and challenges in women's sports and AI from an investment perspective * Cross-sector collaboration in social impact initiatives * Vision for a more inclusive, diverse ecosystem of entrepreneurs and investors Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction to principles of benevolence and shaping society through purpose-driven work (02:05) - Erin's childhood and core values influencing her career path (03:15) - Lessons from Goldman Sachs and the impact of early experiences (04:11) - How business school and Cambridge Associates shaped her investment philosophy (09:08) - Creating conditions for marginalized talent to access capital (09:27) - The power of internal clarity and strategic positioning for career growth (13:56) - Erin's journey to Pivotal and her vision for impact investing (14:18) - Pivotal's mission and its integrated approach to social change (16:01) - Evolution of Pivotal's investment thesis and strategies (19:01) - Maintaining rigorous due diligence with an impact lens (25:24) - Embracing risk and big swings in impact investments (29:12) - Development of Pivotal's direct investment strategy (33:37) - Advancing women's health and addressing key gaps (44:46) - Investing in women's sports and expanding impact areas (46:17) - The influence of diversity in AI development (48:09) - Envisioning success in building an inclusive ecosystem (49:29) - Closing thoughts and legacy for future generations Resources & Links: * Pivotal Ventures [https://www.pivotal.com] * Monarch Collective — Women's Sports Fund [https://monarchcoll.com/] * Magnify Ventures — Care Economy Fund [https://magnifyventures.com] * Millie — Midwifery-Centered Maternal Health [https://www.millieclinic.com/] * Recast Capital — Emerging Manager Programming [https://recastcapital.com] * Barron's 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance [https://www.barrons.com/women-in-finance] * Rising Families at Ohai.ai [https://ohai.ai] Connect with Erin Harkless Moore: * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-harkless-cfa/] Connect with Ebony Brown: * Instagram [https://instagram.com/principlesofbenevolence] * LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/ebonypope] * YouTube [https://youtube.com/@principlesofbenevolence] * principlesofbenevolence.com [https://principlesofbenevolence.com]

From Salesforce CFO To Humanitarian CEO - Amy Weaver

What does it take to walk away from one of the most powerful roles in corporate America — not because something went wrong, but because something more important was calling? Amy Weaver spent nearly twelve years at Salesforce, helping guide the company through a period of extraordinary growth as its market cap surpassed $300 billion. She made history as the first person in Fortune 500 history to go directly from Chief Legal Officer to Chief Financial Officer. Then she did something almost no one saw coming — she left to become CEO of Direct Relief, a humanitarian organization delivering over $2 billion in medical aid annually across 92 countries and all 50 states. She accepted that offer the same week USAID was defunded. This episode is about what it actually takes to pivot without starting over — to change lanes at the highest level of your career without losing the ground you've built. Amy talks about the conversation that changed everything, the philosophy that has guided every leap she's ever taken, and why kindness is one of the most underrated leadership weapons in any industry. If you've ever been told you don't fit the traditional mold — this one is for you. Key Topics Covered: * Growing up in a family of lawyers and how a heightened sense of fairness shaped everything that followed * The Hong Kong chapter — how a fellowship took her halfway around the world and taught her she could do anything * The Cravath years — going on her knees every morning to pray she wouldn't commit malpractice, and what two years of that gave her * The FaceTime call from Mark Benioff — and why "she's not on my list" became the beginning of an unprecedented career move * Bret Taylor's reframe — "you're not qualified to be the traditional CFO, but that's not what I'm looking for" * Why she almost said no — and what finally made her say yes * Kindness is not weakness — the parking lot phone call that changed how she thinks about leadership forever * Salesforce's 1-1-1 model — what it teaches every founder about building purpose into a company before you have anything to give * Accepting the Direct Relief offer the same week USAID was defunded — and why chaos was the reason to lean in, not pull back * What a 78-year-old organization that has never taken a dime of government funding can teach every leader about sustainability * The AI gap in humanitarian work — why she's worried and what she's doing about it * Year one at Direct Relief — what listening taught her that no spreadsheet ever could * Why "you can't be what you can't see" is her least favorite saying — and what she believes instead Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to purpose and benevolence in leadership 00:36 - Amy Weaver's childhood ambitions and family influence 01:10 - Early career at Salesforce and leadership during rapid growth 02:07 - Transition from law to Silicon Valley and risk-taking mindset 04:48 - Lessons from Cravath and international experiences in Hong Kong 06:37 - Embracing risk and the power of leaps of faith 10:48 - Moving from legal to CFO at Salesforce - an unprecedented shift 11:09 - The story behind Amy's surprise CFO nomination 13:04 - Overcoming self-doubt with strategic mentorship and thinking creatively 16:38 - Leadership through kindness vs. loud or aggressive styles 18:18 - Breaking stereotypes: kindness as strength in leadership 24:15 - Embedding benevolence in corporate culture with Salesforce's 1:1:1 program 27:15 - Amy's decision to lead Direct Relief during upheaval in global aid 28:17 - The impact of recent U.S. government funding cuts on nonprofits 30:57 - Scaling strategies: from Silicon Valley to humanitarian aid 32:44 - The importance of cross-sector mobility and skill transfer 34:56 - Integrating cutting-edge technology and AI into humanitarian work 37:10 - Lessons from one year at Direct Relief about listening and impact-driven leadership 42:34 - The significance of representation and role models for future leaders 44:35 - Final words on seizing opportunities and leaping in faith Resources & Links: * Direct Relief [https://www.directrelief.org] * Direct Relief Hope Ahead Newsletter [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/direct-relief-hope-ahead-7356404130849939456/] * Salesforce 1-1-1 Model [https://www.salesforce.org/pledge-1/] * Principles of Benevolence [https://principlesofbenevolence.com] Connect with Amy Weaver: * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-weaver-b800762/]