ANGELINA YAO
Founder and CEO of Heels & Yield, a financial services company in Hong Kong that teaches women how to achieve financial freedom
MISSION STATEMENT I believe women should be encouraged to invest as soon as they get that first pay cheque. As soon as they start managing their money and accumulate wealth, they can have the financial freedom to make the choices in their life that they want. They can start their own businesses, they can support a local charity or save for an early retirement. Some of my clients use the proceeds from their investment gains to build schools. I’ve seen a huge change where all sorts of investors are measuring returns not just by their financial impact, but also by their social and environmental contribution.
STARTING OUT The first step is putting money into an ESG exchangetraded fund. Essentially, these funds avoid fossil fuel industries and focus on investing in technology and renewable energy companies. Then we suggest they go deeper and invest in areas that they are passionate about. For example, they can pick two sustainable development goals such as gender equality and affordable and clean energy.
LESSONS LEARNED When I grew up in California, the importance of sustainability and renewable energy was always drummed into me. When I came back to Asia, the focus was entirely on growth and the feeling was if you focused on sustainability, you would sacrifice that growth. I believe that mentality has changed and there is a feeling that you can now have both. China is making huge leaps in innovation and infrastructure, affordable and clean energy, and sustainable cities and communities that would have been unthinkable just ten years ago. Looking back, I wish I’d been more assertive in putting this agenda forward and finding allies.