Nicole Etchart: Pioneering Impact Investing Since 1997

This week, Apollo sits down with Nicole Etchart, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of NESsT, a philanthropic group dedicated to creating social enterprise and jobs internationally. Founded in 1997, NESsT has invested in 233 social enterprises with a total of $27M dollars and trained more than 30,000 entrepreneurs around the world. 

Nicole, whose PLE score is strong in Prioritize and Leverage and only 4% in Execute, reflects on her 25+ years in the philanthropic space at NESsT. As the world turns more modern, she shares stories on the ever-changing landscape of philanthropy, and how her eagle-eye attunement to capital and entrepreneurship has impacted the work she does with indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and other marginalized communities

NESsT once operated much like a traditional non-profit: they relied solely on donor capital, operated on thin budgets, and worked with local organizations that addressed single issues. But Nicole, a prioritizer at heart, shares prescient insight around how she’s innovated the way NESsT operates over the years, and how she faces her challenges on a daily basis.

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Guest Bio

Nicole Etchart, a trailblazer in the realm of social entrepreneurship, is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of NESsT. With a deep-rooted passion for uplifting individuals out of poverty, Nicole has dedicated over three decades to international development and economic empowerment. In 1997, she co-founded NESsT, an organization that invests in and supports social enterprises in emerging market countries, providing dignified employment opportunities that have transformed the lives of countless marginalized people.

At NESsT, Nicole's visionary leadership has propelled the organization's growth and impact worldwide. Under her guidance, NESsT has expanded its reach to eleven countries, strategically investing in a diverse portfolio of high-impact enterprises. By improving the quality of life for over half a million individuals, Nicole's unwavering commitment to social change has solidified NESsT as a pioneer in the field. 

With an impressive background in international development, Nicole's expertise is deeply rooted in economic development and entrepreneurship. Prior to her work with NESsT, she spearheaded the launch of several social impact organizations and held esteemed positions such as the first Executive Director of the Association for Women in Development and Director of Global Education for CRS. Nicole's accomplishments have been recognized globally, and she currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, further solidifying her influence and expertise in the field.

Nicole holds an MA from Johns Hopkins University, Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a BA from Tulane University. Her triple nationalities from Chile, France, and the U.S. reflect her multicultural background and diverse perspective. Born in Santiago, Chile, Nicole currently resides in Oakland, California, where she continues to drive social change, empower communities, and inspire future generations of leaders through her exceptional work at NESsT.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 56%
• Leverage - 40%
• Execute - 4%

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Guest Quote

“In the first 10 years, a lot of our conversations were: identifying what we were trying to do and why it was different, and why it was important to have this different mindset as to how you “do good”. So that you can still do good, you can still have impact, but you don't always have to do it with a charity model

…And we had a whole methodology showing them that you don't have to do that. You don't have to move away from the impact that you have, and the mission that you have, because you're starting a business. These two things can align!”- Nicole Etchart

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Time Stamps