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Georgie Benardete

Founder & CEO at Align17

Georgie Giner Benardete is a prominent technology investor and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of Align17, a platform designed to connect family offices and ultra-high net-worth individuals with vetted, impactful investments. Her career spans various roles, including co-founding OrchardMile.com, a luxury fashion marketplace, and serving as Managing Director at Multicultural Capital, which focuses on renewable energy consulting.13

Benardete has a strong commitment to environmental issues; she founded Yeslist.com, Turkey’s largest green portal, and is involved with Al Gore’s Climate Project. Additionally, she is recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for her contributions to environmental progress and has held leadership roles in various initiatives aimed at fostering entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico.12

Her educational background includes a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and executive studies at Harvard's Kennedy School and Yale University. She is also an active investor with Belle Capital USA, which promotes investments in companies led by women.14

Highlights

Jun 13 · linkedin

John Fullerton, I agree with you that this is indeed, the "Great Work of our time". #RegenerativeFinance #ANewWorldIsHere

Nov 12 · linkedin

I recently returned from Saudi Arabia, where together with colleagues from the Young Global Leaders I experienced what must be the most comprehensive, global effort to redefine what the sustainable country of the future will look like.

In Buckminster Fuller’s words, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Saudi’s new development model aims that high.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to create new economic ecosystems and drive diversification. Embedded in this vision is the Salmani architecture and urbanism design blueprint, whose Charter includes six mutually reinforcing core values: Continuity, authenticity, human-centricity, livability, innovation, and sustainability. (I see you, Nadia Maqbool Al-Lawatiya!).

The outlines of the future are visible already:

-The King Abdullah Financial District is the largest LEED platinum-certified mixed-use district in the world, achieving the highest possible accreditation from the world's leading authority for Green Building (USCBC).

-With the creation of the Ministry of Culture in 2018 and 11 new Commissions ranging from culinary arts to libraries and museums, Saudi is investing deeply in increasing the cultural sector’s contribution to GDP.

-Considered the birthplace of the nation, Diriyah is already attracting local and foreign visitors and aims to welcome 27MM tourists before 2030.  The first phase of the master plan includes the At-Turaif World Heritage Site. Diriyah will be an exquisite balance of history and modernity, with smart city strategies, pedestrianized areas, greater use of public transport, and a new metro connection.

And then there are those living firmly in the future.

-NEOM's mission (”Neo” - Greek for “New”. “M” for “Mustaqbal,” Arabic word for “future”) is to serve as a model for the Kingdom and the world as the global pioneer in sustainable living. NEOM is pioneering the concept of “zero gravity” with urbanism design around humans, not the other way around. While best known for The Line project, it’s actually made up of a number of regions, surrounded by a nature reserve. At 5 years from launch, there are 6 different projects already underway. They include the world’s largest Hydrogen Plant, the mountain resort town Trojena, as well as Oxagon, a port city powered by 100% renewable energy.

I carry with me the kindness from total strangers, the welcoming hospitality, and the smiles everywhere I went. I am inspired by the breathtaking focus, speed, and scale of the transformation. The sense of excitement was expressed by every single person I met. Vision 2030 is welcoming best-in-class companies, investors, and talent, and extending a very welcoming hand to those who want to be part of a sustainable future. Thank you to my unparalleled hosts, Ali Adnan Ibrahim, SJD, Silje Vallestad, Dr Martyn Davies, for letting me peek into it.

Related Questions

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Georgie Benardete
Georgie Benardete, photo 1
Georgie Benardete, photo 2
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Location

Seattle, Washington, United States