Geeta Aiyer is an Indian entrepreneur, business leader, and social activist, best known as founder and president of Boston Common Asset Management, a sustainable investment firm.
Geeta Aiyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 |
| Education | |
| Known for | Founder and President of Boston Common Asset Management |
Early life and education
editAiyer was born in Chennai, India in 1958.[1]
Aiyer moved to America in 1983 to attend Harvard Business School.[2] She was the second Indian woman to attend to attend the school and graduated with an MBA in finance in 1985.[3] Aiyer also has a BA with honors as well as an MA degree from Delhi University, India.[4]
Career
editAfter graduating from Harvard, Aiyer started with Cambridge Associates as a consultant. She also founded the company East India Spice, her first entrepreneurial venture.[2]
In 1988, Aiyer became an analyst and portfolio manager at the United States Trust Company of Boston. She advised executives of the Albertsons supermarket chain after they had lost a $108 million lawsuit over denying female employees advancement opportunities. Aiyer "demonstrated to Albertsons that unfair employment practices were a financial liability", resulting in the company making a commitment to gender equity moving forward.[5]
In 1994, Aiyer founded Walden Capital Management, using the revenues made from running her first company. Aiyer cites pursuing "dual goals of financial return and social change on behalf her clients" as a driving principal behind establishing a firm focused on responsible investment.[1][6]
From 1998 to 2002, Aiyer was president of Walden Asset Management.[1]
In 2003, Aiyer founded Boston Common Asset Management as an employee-owned sustainable investment firm.[7] Aiyer has served as its president since 2003, overseeing $5 billion in assets under management. Boston Common is known for practicing ethical investing, making investments in line with environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) goals.[2][8]
Boston Common joined a group of other impact investors to pressure the Washington Redskins to change the name of their football team due to racial concerns over their name, a campaign that ran over the course of 12 years. The team complied in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. Aiyer remarked: "There comes a tipping point when, after a company has been fighting you, they suddenly let go because it becomes obvious to them that it’s not worth continuing the fight."[1][5]
Aiyer is currently a member of Boston University's Impact Measurement & Allocation Program's advisory board.[9]
Activism
editAiyer founded the nonprofit organization Direct Action for Women Now (DAWN), which advocates for victims of gender based violence in India.[3][4]
Awards and honors
edit- In 2010, Aiyer was awarded the Highest Leaf Award by the Women's Venture Fund[4]
- In 2014, India New England named her Woman of the Year[3]
- In 2017, Aiyer was the recipient of the Joan Bavaria Award at the CERES conference[10]
- In 2020, Aiyer was inducted into YW Boston's Academy of Women Achievers, honoring her dedication to "eliminating racism and empowering women"[11]
- In 2021, Aiyer was named to the Boston Business Journal's 2021 Power 50: The Movement Makers for being a "pioneer in impact investing"[12]
- In 2023, Aiyer was included by Time into the first TIME100 Climate list, recognizing the 100 most innovative leaders driving business climate action[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Riding, Siobhan (29 August 2020). "Chief of female-led boutique on the ESG 'tipping point'". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Murningham, Marcy (10 September 2015). "Geeta Aiyer: A life of integrity". Bay State Banner. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "In Chai With Manju, Woman of the Year 2014 Geeta Aiyer Talks About Her Selection for IAS, Second Indian Woman to Go to Harvard Business School and Entrepreneurial Journey". IndiaNewEngland.com. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Geeta Aiyer". InternationalEndowments.org. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Holding Business to Account". Harvard Business School. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ Blahnik, Mike (8 April 2000). "'Socially responsible' mutual fund branches into international investing". Star Tribune. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Geeta Aiyer". Forbes. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Geeta Aiyer: President and founder, Boston Common Asset Management". Time. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Current Board Members". Boston University. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Geeta Aiyer". Boston University. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Meet Geeta Aiyer, 2020 Academy of Women Achievers Awardee". YWBoston.org. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Jones, Carolyn M. (18 November 2021). "Meet the 2021 honorees of the BBJ's Power 50: The Movement Makers". American City Business Journals. Retrieved 7 December 2023.