On this episode of Dadages, Chad Hagle sits down with Ward Hendon to discuss the importance of relationships in business and impact investing. Ward is an experienced venture capitalist who believes that social capital plays a crucial role in friendships and relationships, and works with his partners at Dangerous Ventures to invest in companies that are building a more resilient future for people on the planet.
In the previous solocast episode, Chad shared his vision for "For-Profit Philanthropy," a new approach to philanthropy that combines business and social responsibility. He emphasized the importance of finding partners who share your values and goals and discussed the potential for-profit philanthropy has to address pressing global challenges.
During the conversation with Ward, they dive deeper into impact investing and how it can create positive change in the world. Ward shares stories from his own experience, including teaching civics classes at San Quentin Prison, which changed his life and gave him deep empathy for how people with different lives experience rights such as those outlined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. He highlights the abundance of entrepreneurial talent inside San Quentin and the role venture capital is playing in creating more diversity in the ecosystem.
They also discuss the essence of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) impacts when it comes to investing, activism leading to change, market-driven decision making in a capitalist economy, and talent allocation through internships like Talent Lab. The discussion then shifts to Bill Gurley's speech on building blocks for success, which includes networking tools such as LinkedIn and Twitter, where 85% of jobs are filled through networking according to a 2016 study cited by Gurley. Ward also expresses his belief that private sector enterprises are essential for solving climate change due to their speed and scale capabilities.
The episode concludes with Ward sharing his parenting advice, based on his parents' example, but acknowledging that what worked for him may not work for his children. He emphasizes the importance of being kind, keeping an open mind, and following The Four Agreements: be impeccable with your word, don't make assumptions, always do your best, and don't take things personally. They also discuss having family councils, talking about feelings, and sharing dad jokes.
This episode provides valuable insights into the importance of relationships in business, impact investing, diversity in the ecosystem, networking, and parenting. Chad's solocast also adds to the discussion by highlighting the potential for-profit philanthropy has to make a difference in the world. Together, these episodes demonstrate the power of combining business and social responsibility to create positive change.