Our Team
Our team empowers investors to create authentic, long-lasting social and environmental change – one impact investment at a time.
Executive Leadership
Team
Adam Rein
CEO, CIO, and Co-Founder
Day job
Help lead the CapShift team including overseeing our investments.
Life Before Capshift
I spent a decade focused on climate investing as a Managing Director for MissionPoint Partners and climate startups as a co-founder of Altaeros and Greentown Labs.
I believe
Over $1.5 trillion of charitable investment assets in DAFs and foundations – of which less than 1% is estimated to be invested in private impact opportunities today – has massive untapped potential to solve our global challenges.
Secret talent
Planning totally unique birthday activities.
Liz Sessler
President, COO, and Co-Founder
Day job
I do a little bit of everything – like a Swiss Army Knife. I primarily focus my time on our technology platform, our donor advised fund provider clients, and making us a stronger organization.
Life Before Capshift
Co-founder and Senior VP at ImpactUs Marketplace LLC, head of innovation at Enterprise Community Partners, and loads of front lines expertise gained at Calvert Impact Capital and working internationally to connect small and growing businesses with capital and technical assistance.
I believe
That people have more opportunities than they realize to change the world they live in – and consciously deciding how to invest your capital is an important one.
Secret talent
Tackling home improvement projects in my spare time.
(My super-secret secret is that this is a talent I am actively cultivating by googling and watching lots of YouTube home improvement videos!)
HALEY AUBUCHON-JONES
Director, Marketing
Day job
Bringing CapShift’s brand to life through digital campaigns and enhancing our online presence.
Life Before Capshift
Marketing and communications manager at Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research.
I believe
That even a few dedicated people can change the world.
Secret talent
Paper crafting – scrapbooking, collage, art journaling – I’ve tried almost all of it.
Deanna Diaz
Marketing and Client Experience Fellow
Day job
I support both the Marketing and Client Experience teams by helping communicate CapShift’s mission, coordinating with partners, and ensuring clients receive high-quality materials and service.
Life Before Capshift
Before joining CapShift, I worked in sales in the insurance industry, where I learned the importance of clear communication, client relationships, and understanding people’s needs.
I believe
Everyone has a connection to nature, whether they are aware of it or not. Protecting our environment is about ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.
Secret talent
I’m surprisingly good at identifying songs, especially older hits across genres like hip hop, pop, rock, alternative, and oldies from before 2015, just by hearing a few notes. My brother will sometimes send me a voice note where he hums a melody or sings a tiny lyric snippet and challenges me to figure out the song. It turns into a fun musical mystery I can usually solve within an hour!
Carleigh Douglas
Managing Director, Client Solutions
Day job
Helping our clients turn their values into investment decisions that create impact, and making the process feel less daunting than it sounds.
Life Before Capshift
Client relationship management, sustainable investing strategy, and Chief of Staff roles at BlackRock, followed by impact investing at the Rockefeller Foundation.
I believe
That most people are more capable of driving meaningful change than they give themselves credit for. The barrier is rarely willingness – it’s knowing where to start.
Secret talent
Anything combining peanut butter and chocolate – preferably ice cream, but I’m not picky.
Dan Geist
Managing Director, Finance and Operations
Day job
CapShift’s maestro of finance and operations, orchestrator of transactions, mobilizer of money, and all-around conductor of behind-the-scenes processes.
Life Before Capshift
Derivatives, hedge funds, and operations… oh my!
I believe
Collaboration is a beautiful process that empowers us to come up with impactful solutions as we work towards a greater good for all.
Secret talent
Making costumes and props for my kids.
Garima Gupta
Senior Manager, Impact Investments
Day job
I lead investment research and portfolio monitoring across private market impact investments. My work focuses on evaluating funds, tracking performance, and generating insights across venture, private credit, and blended finance strategies to support long-term capital allocation.
Life Before Capshift
Before CapShift, I worked as an M&A lawyer, advising on corporate transactions and building a foundation in deal structuring and risk assessment.
I believe
I believe blended finance is essential to scaling impact, particularly in markets where risk perceptions limit the flow of capital, and that thoughtful structuring can unlock investment opportunities that would otherwise remain underfunded.
Secret talent
Packing light for any trip, regardless of the destination or duration.
Ben Kramer
Senior Director, Business Development
Day job
I lead Business Development and focus on expanding our client base and partnerships to accelerate impact investing. I’m genuinely excited to work with the CapShift team and help move more capital toward meaningful social and environmental outcomes. It feels energizing to be part of something that can actually move the needle.
Life Before Capshift
I built up my startup, awamo, digitizing microfinance institutions in East Africa to drive financial inclusion and dramatically lower borrowing costs. Reaching one million clients across Uganda and Kenya remains one of the most meaningful milestones of my career.
I believe
I’d love to see people truly listen to one another again – really giving each other a chance to understand different perspectives. In a polarized world, stepping outside our comfort zones matters. You don’t need to travel far (though it helps): be open, be curious, and remember that the “foreign” only feels foreign until you get to know it.
Secret talent
I’m a better dancer than people expect (at least I like to think I have rhythm). I also used to scuba dive and will gravitate toward anything involving water.
Javier Monterroso
Managing Director, Impact Investments & AI
Day job
I lead CapShift’s sourcing strategy and perform due diligence of private investments. The best part of my day is learning about interesting impact opportunities and speaking with founders and managers.
Life Before Capshift
Senior Project Officer at The Trust for the Americas – Organization of American States and Founder of The Migrant Peacebuilding Project
I believe
Cross sector partnerships are necessary to work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Secret talent
Memory games and techniques – I can memorize up to 42 objects and name them in any order!
Will Mucci
Deputy Chief Investment Officer
Day job
Managing CapShift’s impact investment due diligence process, investment buy lists, and investment monitoring capabilities.
Life Before Capshift
Senior associate at HarbourVest Partners and consulting expertise honed at Cambridge Associates.
I believe
That investment and market forces are our greatest tools for creating systems-level change.
Secret talent
College football trivia, including naming each mascot of every division 1 team.
Rasika Parkhi
Senior Manager, Portfolios and Reporting
Day job
Helping clients build impactful investment portfolios and reliably track progress towards their intended impact and financial goals.
Life Before Capshift
Financial auditor at KPMG. Non-profit strategy and fundraising at Teach For India.
I believe
Well-intentioned, impact-minded, resource-owning people can kick-start change. However, systemic re-design is the only way for change to scale and sustain.
Secret talent
I’m trained in the Indian classical dance form called ‘Kathak’
Jordana Fremed Pleat
Managing Director, Impact-First Investments & Foundation Solutions
Day job
Helping CapShift’s clients authentically support organizations with the greatest impact.
Life Before Capshift
Consultant at the The Bridgespan Group and CFO of Kunduz.
I believe
That philanthropic capital is a powerful tool to test, innovate, and take risks in pursuit of transformative impact.
Secret talent
Cooking for crowds of 2 or 25+, and nothing in between.
Jesse Simmons
Managing Director, Portfolio Strategy and Growth
Day job
As CapShift’s head of investment research, I help our clients build higher impact portfolios and support our advisor partners in becoming impact experts.
Life Before Capshift
Senior investment analyst and impact advisor at Align Impact, consulting know-how gained at Dalberg Global Development Advisors, and a stint at the World Bank.
I believe
Capital markets divorced from values have helped lead us into the inequitable and environmentally degrading world we see today. Integrating people and planet into investment decisions can mobilize the power of investable capital to help remedy these challenges.
Secret talent
Cooking veggie-based meals with whatever might be left in the fridge.
Lanson Tang
Senior Manager, Investment Operations
Day job
Keeping the gears running smoothly behind the scenes, from implementing private impact investments to taking out the trash and recycling.
Life Before Capshift
Served as the primary point of contact for several decades-old client relationships at a venerable private wealth management firm; delivering responsive and flexible white-glove service to advisors, family offices, trusts, and foundations.
I believe
“We don’t notice that the body is nothing more than a box – a parcel for delivering our personality, thoughts, beliefs and intentions to this world,” and that you can actively choose to bring affirmation and joy (even in little ways!) to the people around you every day!
Secret talent
Vacuuming, organizing fun activities, and helping others see/appreciate the beauty in the mundane.
Cynthia Desmet Villar
Impact Investing Associate
Day job
I’m in charge of sourcing, conducting due diligence, and monitoring impact investment opportunities across asset classes, sectors, and geographies to help channel capital toward impactful solutions.
Life Before Capshift
Supported investments in Asia and Latin America as a private equity analyst at a development finance institution. I had the opportunity to work on a renewable energy project in Latin America and the Caribbean that required coordinating across teams and analyzing financial, environmental, and social impact, showing me how financial returns and meaningful impact can go hand in hand.
I believe
Broadly speaking, I’d love to see more kindness, generosity, and trust, especially in societies that are becoming increasingly individualistic and among those who have the power to generate transformative, systemic impact.
Secret talent
I have experience leading backpacking trips in the New Mexican wilderness and know how to do a bear hang, purify water from a river, and protect a group from lightning.
Angela Wang
Manager, Impact Investments
Day job
Source, diligence and monitor investments across debt, equity, funds and recoverable grants. Serve CapShift clients with promising and thesis-aligned opportunities in the impact investing market.
Life Before Capshift
Consultant at an international finance corporation and Investment Associate at Tarrson Impact Investment Fund.
I believe
It’s possible to do good and do it well.
Secret talent
Bonding with 2–7-year-olds, after taking care of my two siblings who are ~20 years younger than me.
Nicky Wu
Manager, Growth
Day job
Liese across growth, marketing, and client teams to support client engagement and expand CapShift’s reach among investors, advisors, and institutions.
Life Before Capshift
Supported strategic communications for impact investing clients at a financial services public relations firm, leading on thought leadership development, brand and messaging refinement, and media relations.
I believe
Investing in community-centered solutions designed by and for those most impacted will help us drive toward a more equitable, sustainable future for all.
Secret talent
Thrifting an entire wardrobe.
Jacob Turville
Manager, Product and Technology
Day job
Helping to build and maintain Capshift’s technology products to empower users to deploy capital for impact.
Life Before Capshift
Do-it-all product person at early-stage tech startup, Finlit, and Donor Advised Fund and community foundation researcher at University Impact at Brigham Young University.
I believe
The biggest thing preventing people from deploying their capital for good isn’t lack of desire, but not having the tools and know-how to do so.
Secret talent
Dancing – I’m a sneaky good dancer.
Bochu Ding
Manager, Product and Growth
Day job
Our clients’ strongest internal advocate. I lead us in exploring our users’ needs and pain points — and building solutions that are just what they’re looking for.
Life Before Capshift
Ethnographic researcher by training, with a focus on emotion, technology, and media. All things user experience for a communications design practice serving purpose-driven organizations.
I believe
In advancing bold ideas built by and for the people.
Secret talent
Waking up at 2 a.m. to write down an idea in the Notes app (some are better than others).
Vivian Lee
Director, Product and Operations
Day job
I oversee CapShift’s technology products and operations, making sure our systems run smoothly to enable the mobilization of more capital at scale.
Life Before Capshift
Loads of operational expertise gained at social enterprises Wedu and Rags2Riches preceded by a spell as a management consultant.
I believe
That capital directed towards the most impactful opportunities and changemakers can be truly catalytic for the social and environmental change we need to see in the world.
Secret talent
Karaoke, downing unlimited chips & salsa, falling asleep within 3 minutes once I put my head down.
Abby Melagrano
Community and Partnerships Associate
Day job
CapShift’s connective tissue – responsible for sales enablement and analytics, community-building initiatives, event support, recruiting and onboarding, and all things team culture.
Life Before Capshift
Nonprofit consulting and social entrepreneurship experience gained through positions at the Social Innovation Forum and Ashoka Indonesia, preceded by interning with the Rian Immigrant Center and Arrowood LLP.
I believe
Directing capital to those most proximate is the best way to tackle social and environmental issues.
Secret talent
Learning new languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Indonesian, and Italian (although everything but English is currently rusty).
Anna Noonan
Managing Director, Marketing
Day job
I lead the marketing team, focusing on marketing and growth strategy, client engagement initiatives, key partnerships, and events. I play an important role in shaping CapShift’s brand, refining messaging, and driving outreach campaigns to attract and engage both clients and prospects.
Life Before Capshift
Before joining CapShift, I held several director-level roles within institutional marketing at investment management firms Impax Asset Management and Columbia Threadneedle Investments. I began my career at Wellington Management, where I worked in Equity Product Management.
I believe
In the transformative power of catalytic capital to help drive social and environmental change.
Secret talent
Taking pictures and capturing beautiful memories through my camera lens.
Jacques Perold
Board Chair and Co-Founder
Day job
Setting strategic vision for the organization and directing and managing our team at CapShift.
Life Before Capshift
President of Fidelity Management & Research Company, President and Chief Investment Offcier of Geode Capital Management, LLC, and many years in a variety of leadership positions at Fidelity Investments.
I believe
In the power of leveraging private and philanthropic capital to spur innovation and catalyze high impact change.
Secret talent
Syrup producer.
Guilty pleasure
Cadbury chocolate bars and suspense TV.
Linda Sanchez
Senior Director, Client Experience
Day job
I’m here to serve as an extension of our clients’ team – understanding and supporting their priorities, strengthening our partnership, and exceeding expectations.
Life Before Capshift
Director of account management and ESG program manager at NationSwell, VP of investment solutions at Camden Asset Management LP, and a rotation working with Teach for America.
I believe
Innovative and collaborative partnerships can help connect capital to the those looking to help address the vast and persistent issues we face as a society.
Secret talent
My ability to take 10-minute power naps anywhere and at any time.
Guilty pleasure
Going on long neighborhood walks with my dog while listening to a podcast or any dessert à la mode.
Sydney Schnitzer
Manager, Client Experience and Impact
Day job
Helping clients to deploy their capital in alignment with their values and passions – including all things portfolio construction, asset allocation, manager selection – and into investments that make a positive impact on people and planet.
Life Before Capshift
Senior investment associate at Cambridge Associates supporting mission and impact driven endowments and foundations in aligning assets with their mission and impact objectives.
I believe
We all have the potential to make a positive impact on the world around us, whether that be by investing your capital in impact opportunities or by being hands on in your own community – we each have the power for good, big or small!
Secret talent
Puzzles, song recognition, finding the best coffee shops and restaurants in new cities.
Join CapShift
Are you passionate about the role that impact capital can play in empowering people and improving our planet?
Come join our team!
