December 2018 Edition
In this edition of the Pique Ventures newsletter, I'm sharing with you some of my favourite books. Some are entertaining or offer fresh perspective. Some are critical and give us insight into the challenges we face in the world. I hope some of these will inspire you to take action and help ensure people - your neighbours, your community, and future generations - continue to have access to the essential resources they need to survive, thrive, and be happy.
As the end of the calendar year approaches, share with me what your greatest learnings from 2018 were. Tell me what you plan to be mindful or ambitious about in the new year.
2018 was a year punctuated by significant and memorable events that reflected ikigai, family, recognition, birth, and responsibility. For 2019, although I have plans for growth, I'm holding onto thoughts about curiosity, discovery, fearlessness, play, and joy because it's these things that will help manifest growth and help make people's lives better.
All the best,
Bonnie Foley-Wong
CEO, Pique Ventures
Author, Integrated Investing
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The Impact of Interning With Us
Pique Ventures is growing and I'm looking for a recent graduate to work with us in Vancouver, Canada (if you recently graduated from university in 2017 or 2018). This role could be a fit for you if you’re interested in learning more about venture capital and impact investing, are curious by nature and like to ask questions.
Read more
Via Pique Ventures
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The Impact of Investing With Us
Pique Ventures is building Pique Fund II to scale the impact and outcomes we've experienced with our first fund. The past four years, we've been investing in technology ventures that help make people's lives better and focusing on leadership diversity.
Learn more
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The Impact of Finance and Economics
As an impact investor, I'm constantly juggling economic, social, and environmental impacts. I am focused on sustainable wealth generation, well-being, and taking care of the village. These three books challenge the conventional when it comes to growth, wealth, and debt.
Tim Jackson discusses the complex relationships between economic growth, environmental crises, and social and societal impacts. First published as a report by the UK's Sustainable Development Commission in 2009 after the credit crisis and recession, Prosperity Without Growth refocuses our attention on concepts of prosperity and well-being and what that means in terms of a sustainable economy.
Thomas Piketty turns our attention to income from labour versus income from capital. In Capital in the Twenty-First Century, he discusses the impact on wealth inequality when the rate of economic growth is less than the rate of return on capital, particularly in the context of lower anticipated economic growth.
Margaret Atwood applies her story-telling prowess to the origins of debt in a set of literary pieces, originally developed for the CBC Massey Lectures. We may know debt as a means of financing, however, Atwood's Payback offers unusual perspectives which may cause you to think differently about debt.
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The Impact of and on Our Minds
The mind is a powerful thing and these three books shaped how I readied my mind to tackle challenges, solve problems, and make decisions. A mindfulness practice, intuition, and growth mindset all help us be better impact investors.
Mind Your Life, written by my friend and executive coach, Meg Salter, provides practical tools for busy people to develop a mindfulness practice - whether it's a deep practice, part of your everyday routine, or whatever fleeting moments you can grab and integrate into your busy life.
In 2012, when Pique Ventures was just getting started, I had the opportunity to meet the author of The Intuitive Investor, CFA Charterholder, Jason A. Voss. I appreciate Voss' perspective on what intuition is, how it is connected to our creativity, and how it gives investors an edge.
As an entrepreneur in the investment industry and as an impact investor, I often find myself forging new ground, identifying and supporting pioneers, and overcoming barriers. In doing so, I have found Carol Dweck's Mindset, very valuable in dealing with challenges and setbacks in a positive way.
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The Impact of Creativity
The types of books I read in 2018 and when I read them tell me something. I started the year reading exclusively non-fiction - lots of productivity and business-related books. In the summer, particularly after the birth of my second child, my attention turned to mindfulness. In the last few months, I felt I needed to nurture the creative side of my brain, to get it ready to grow Pique Ventures.
In September, I heard Madeleine Thien speak on a panel at LiterAsian, an annual festival of Pacific Rim Asian Canadian writing and a community-building initiative of the Asian Canadian Writers Workshop. In an effort to read more female Asian authors, Do Not Say We Have Nothing is on my list of books to read.
"So what do you do?" I asked. "I'm a writer," she said. I was at a party in London, hosted by friends of a friend who was a banking lawyer. "Have you written anything I've heard of?" and as the words escaped my mouth I realized who she was. Fifteen years later, after awkwardly meeting her at a party, I read Zadie Smith's Feel Free, a brilliant and insightful book analyzing and critiquing contemporary socio-economic issues, relationships, art, technology, and her own personal experiences.
This year, I started following people on Twitter from diverse backgrounds. Amongst the venture capitalists, impact investors, and changemakers, I now follow black activists and investors, Indigenous leaders, and Asian writers, for example. Having a diverse group of voices in my social feeds makes me more aware of the challenges and opportunities in the world and around me. Celeste Ng is one of the Asian writers I follow and Everything I Never Told You is on my reading list.
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Upcoming Events
- Foundation, Endowment & NFP Investment Summit - January 30-31, 2019, Toronto, ON
- FWE Pitch for the Purse Gala - February 21, 2019, Vancouver, BC
- Innovation Week - March 2-9, 2019, New Westminster, BC
- BC Tech Summit - March 11-13, 2019, Vancouver, BC
- RIA Conference - April 24-25, 2019, Montreal, PQ
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Follow @PiqueVC on Twitter, Pique Ventures on Instagram, or Like the Pique Ventures Facebook page to get more information about investing in Pique Fund and to hear about the upcoming events where you can meet us.
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