Jessica Jackley grew up with values of generosity and compassion, which inspired her passion for helping others. Initially uninterested in business, she had a life-changing moment after hearing Dr. Muhammad Yunus speak about microfinance. This led her to East Africa, where she saw firsthand how small loans helped entrepreneurs escape poverty. In 2005, Jessica co-founded Kiva, a groundbreaking platform that enables individuals to lend small amounts directly to entrepreneurs worldwide. In this episode, Jessica talks to Ilana about how Kiva redefines the way people think about giving and social impact, the challenges of growing a social impact platform, and the importance of living a purposeful life focused on creating lasting change.

Jessica Jackley is a social entrepreneur and investor dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. As co-founder of Kiva, the world’s first microfinance crowdfunding platform, she has helped facilitate over $2B in loans since 2005, redefining traditional charity through partnerships built on equality.

In this episode, Ilana and Jessica will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:44) Early Childhood and Core Values

(02:18) From Poetry Student to Landing a Temp Job at Stanford

(04:04) Discovering Social Entrepreneurship 

(05:22) The “What If” Questions That Led to the Birth of Kiva

(08:03) Navigating Kiva’s Startup Struggles

(11:39) Jessica’s Approach to Decision-Making

(13:20) How Kiva Builds Partnerships with Real Stories, Not Guilt

(18:56) Patrick’s Inspiring Story of Resilience

(22:00) Building a Life of Purpose, Impact, and Growth

(26:34) How Jessica Learned to Dream Beyond Limits

(28:08) The Real Value of Impact in Every Decision

Jessica Jackley is a social entrepreneur and investor dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. As co-founder of Kiva, the world’s first microfinance crowdfunding platform, she has helped facilitate over $2B in loans since 2005, redefining traditional charity through partnerships built on equality. A venture capitalist, educator, and advocate for impact-driven entrepreneurship, Jessica inspires others to create meaningful solutions. She is the author of Clay Water Brick, a TIME "100 Most Influential People" honoree, and currently serves as a Professor of Entrepreneurship at USC’s Marshall School of Business.

Connect with Jessica:

Jessica’s Website: https://www.jessicajackley.com/

Jessica’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessicajackley/ 

Resources Mentioned:

Kiva Website: https://www.kiva.org/ 

Jessica’s Book, Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least: https://www.amazon.com/Clay-Water-Brick-Inspiration-Entrepreneurs/dp/0679643761 

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