Introduction:
In a rapidly changing world, the traditional lines between philanthropy and investment are blurring. Christina Anne Kyosti, Family Principal & Chairwoman of the ViaTalenta Group, has spent her career at this intersection, exploring how purposeful investments can drive social and environmental change while still delivering financial returns. With a background in medicine, strategy, and leadership, Christina-Anne brings a unique perspective to the table, blending her personal and professional experiences to create a holistic approach to philanthropy. In this exclusive interview, she shares her insights on the future of philanthropy, the challenges of innovation, and how family offices can lead the way in impact-focused strategies.

Your background is remarkably diverse, encompassing medicine, strategy, and leadership. How did these experiences lead you to focus on philanthropy and impact investments?

My journey has been three-pronged: a traditional career in the corporate and institutional world, a family career in philanthropy and investments, and being a mother, which brings continuous perspectives from the next generation. I am fascinated by the seamless cross-over between all the roles I have and what we can achieve when combining the tools of philanthropy and investments.

What do you consider the most significant innovations in philanthropy in the 21st century, and how can family offices capitalize on these advancements to enhance their impact?

Philanthropy is the love for humanity. The greatest innovations, therefore, relate to how we engage in society in line with the time we live in and the needs we encounter. Innovation goes beyond the ‘tools’ such as MRIs, recoverable grants, and structure evolution. In essence, it addresses the two major challenges: the lack of time and knowledge of how to engage in philanthropy and the marriage between deploying new technologies in the ever-changing regulatory/compliance landscape. We, as family offices, need to leverage our experience and be more proactive by providing easier access to philanthropy through our platforms and focus on better combining technology, education, and our desired impact.

As an advocate of purpose-led investing, how do you navigate the balance between achieving financial returns and generating positive social and environmental outcomes?

It is a balance in everything we do, not just as investors. The critical part of the definition is mindset and clarity of purpose. For example, take a time horizon of 5 and 15 years of a climate investment in the blue economy. In 5 years, we can affect returns and impact in a narrow band of renewable energy and waste management. However, with a 10-year horizon, we can start building a systemic investment approach across the interdependencies that significantly increases both returns and impact and democratizes the investment audiences to be more inclusive. For me, true purpose-led investments equal systemic investment with Mother Nature as the main stakeholder.

Your work spans several critical sectors, including Energy & Environment, Health Care, and Education. How do you identify and prioritize opportunities within these sectors to maximize impact?

The deal-flow of opportunities is constant and ever-increasing, and we are largely sector-agnostic. We, therefore, look at it from three key lenses. First, we look at it from our family compass perspective. Second, we look at the systemic impact across sectors and the stakeholders affected. Finally, we discuss it as a family, with Mother Nature having a vote. Once an opportunity has passed through these lenses, it then goes through our accelerated due diligence process.

What are the most significant challenges you encounter when implementing innovative philanthropic strategies, and how do you address them?

Moving the paradigm of philanthropy towards more innovative strategies is inevitably met with resistance. Many philanthropic strategies are passive in nature, and although there is much literature published, it is challenging to decipher and become better informed and comfortable with the change. We look at philanthropy and investment in the same continuum and as different tools to make an impact. This allows us to manage risk and create philanthropic strategies as part of the impact objective.

What advice would you offer to other family offices seeking to transition from conventional investment and philanthropic models to more innovative, impact-driven strategies?

Be courageous and unafraid of change. It is easy to say, but the changes that are happening are a wonderful opportunity to make an impact. Collaborate with other family offices and engage actively in one or two projects first where you either match finance or follow a more innovative strategy. This will allow for peer learnings and a better alignment of your philanthropic endeavors with the opportunities at hand. Most of all, be confident in the transition and never lose sight of the end goal. The more positive impact we make, the more we enable others to succeed, and that is the purpose of philanthropy and the love for humanity.

Conclusion:
As the lines between philanthropy and investment continue to blur, leaders like Christina Anne Kyosti are at the forefront of a new era in impact investing. Her insights and strategies offer a roadmap for others looking to make a meaningful difference in the world. By embracing innovation, collaborating with peers, and maintaining a clear focus on purpose, family offices can not only achieve financial success but also contribute to a better future for all.