UBS Global Visionaries: Transformational Impact Through Connection, Capacity, and Collaboration
Since its launch in 2016, the UBS Global Visionaries program has been a cornerstone of UBS’s commitment to fostering sustainable and impactful social change. By supporting innovative social entrepreneurs tackling the world’s most pressing challenges, UBS has demonstrated that the power of investing can drive tangible solutions for global issues such as health, education, inequality, and climate change.
We provide a snapshot insight into the recently released independent review of the program, conducted in collaboration with Wasafiri Consulting. The review, covering six years of implementation (2016–2022), highlights the achievements, learnings, and future opportunities for this impactful initiative.
What is the UBS Global Visionaries Program?
The UBS Global Visionaries program was designed to identify, support, and scale the solutions of leading social entrepreneurs working toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These entrepreneurs, known as Global Visionaries, are at the forefront of addressing critical challenges like health inequities, education gaps, and climate crises.
The program focuses on four key pillars to help these changemakers maximise their impact:
1. Creating Connections: Facilitating introductions to UBS clients, employees, and experts through events, roundtables, and direct meetings.
2. Raising Awareness: Amplifying the work of social entrepreneurs through UBS’s platforms, media partnerships, and public engagements.
3. Building Capacity: Providing coaching, mentoring, and training to enhance the skills and capabilities of Global Visionaries.
4. Improving Access to Finance: Offering financial advice and connecting social entrepreneurs with potential investors to help them scale their solutions.
Program Achievements
Since its inception, the program has supported 68 Global Visionaries and achieved significant milestones across its four pillars:
1. Expanding Networks:
89% of participants reported that the program positively influenced their ability to expand networks.
Over 263 direct client introductions and 359 curated events facilitated meaningful connections between entrepreneurs, UBS clients, and employees.
2. Raising Awareness:
UBS helped raise awareness of critical issues and solutions through 193 external media publications, including features in outlets like the Financial Times, Bloomberg, and the New York Times.
The program generated 3.3 million social media impressions, increasing visibility for Global Visionaries’ initiatives.
3. Building Capacity:
51% of participants agreed that the program helped them develop skills critical to achieving their mission, particularly in marketing, strategy, and pitching.
UBS employees contributed over 500 hours of pro bono support, acting as mentors or sponsors to help entrepreneurs overcome challenges.
4. Improving Access to Finance:
Nearly half (49%) of Global Visionaries reported that the program positively influenced their fundraising efforts, with more than $150 million raised during the evaluation period.
Key Impact Areas
The program’s alignment with the SDGs has been a defining feature of its success. Key achievements include:
Health (SDG 3): 86 million children benefitted from improved healthcare access, and $106 million was raised for medical research.
Climate Action (SDG 13): 86 million trees were planted, over 13 million tons of CO2 mitigated or removed, and thousands of green jobs created.
Education (SDG 4): 1.5 million people gained access to high-quality education globally, including 510,000 girls provided with educational opportunities.
The program has also supported innovative solutions like sustainable fashion, plant-based foods, and renewable energy, all of which contribute to building a thriving impact economy.
Program Learnings
The independent review, conducted by Kercombe Consulting in collaboration with Wasafiri Consulting, identified several areas where the UBS Global Visionaries program has excelled and growth opportunities.
The Power of Connections: The program’s network-building efforts have been transformative for participants. By connecting entrepreneurs with UBS’s extensive ecosystem of clients, employees, and partners, the program has helped catalyse partnerships, investments, and collaborations. For example, one participant, Nicole Rycroft of Canopy Planet, leveraged UBS connections to launch a $750 million private equity impact fund for sustainable supply chains—one of the world’s most transformative climate solutions.
Tailored Support is Key: The review emphasised the importance of customised support for social entrepreneurs. Participants who received tailored mentorship and training benefitted significantly more than those who engaged in standardised program activities.
Awareness Drives Action: Raising awareness of the issues and solutions is critical to driving social change. UBS’s ability to amplify Global Visionaries’ voices through media, events, and social platforms has been instrumental in mobilising support and investment for their initiatives.
Employee Engagement Matters: UBS employees play a pivotal role in the program’s success. Their mentorship, guidance, and introductions have been critical to helping participants achieve their goals. Enhancing employee engagement and expanding mentorship opportunities could further amplify the program’s impact.
Focused Themes Drive Greater Impact: In 2022, the program refined its focus to support entrepreneurs working on SDGs 3 (Health), 4 (Education), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 13 (Climate Action). This thematic focus has helped maximise synergies across program cohorts and align efforts with UBS’s broader sustainability goals.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the UBS Global Visionaries Program
The review provides a roadmap for the program’s future evolution, with recommendations to enhance its impact:
Streamlining Engagement Simplifying processes and involving participants’ teams could increase efficiency and broaden benefits.
Facilitating Peer Learning: Creating opportunities for Global Visionaries to collaborate and share experiences could foster innovation and resilience.
Prioritising Systems Change: By leveraging connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and UBS employees, the program can catalyse systemic change in the impact economy.
Clarifying the Value Proposition: Clearly articulating the program’s unique value to participants will enhance engagement and outcomes.
Conclusion
The UBS Global Visionaries program has demonstrated the power of investing in social entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change. By connecting social entrepreneurs with UBS’s resources, networks, and expertise, the program has enabled participants to scale their solutions and amplify their impact.
Looking ahead, UBS is committed to building on this foundation, fostering even stronger connections, and driving greater progress toward the SDGs. The UBS Global Visionaries program continues to inspire a future where the power of investing is harnessed to create a better world for all.
Link to the full report here.