Maria Kim REDF President & CEO Maria serves as the President and CEO of REDF – a venture philanthropy that invests in and drives demand for businesses that break down barriers to employment. They partner with social entrepreneurs — providing capital, capacity, and community — to amplify the success of their businesses and the people they employ. Prior to REDF, Maria served as CEO of Cara Collective – a nationally recognized employment social enterprise helping people experiencing homelessness and poverty get back to hope, jobs, and opportunity. Maria serves on the 2022 Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility Task Force for the state of California, and on the advisory boards of Procure Impact, First Women’s Bank, the Leadership Society Initiative, and the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab. She is a 2008 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, a 2012 American Marshall Memorial Fellow, a 2018 Vital Voices Global Ambassador, a former co-chair within Mayor Lightfoot’s 2019 transition team, a 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar, and a 2022 Distinguished Alumni in Public Service from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, from which she received her MBA. A social impact enthusiast, advocate, and entrepreneur, Maria knows firsthand we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us; and our job – or more like our opportunity – is to pave the way for others to stand on ours. She writes about that journey as it relates to her time leading Cara in Voice and Vocation: A workforce practitioner’s guide to building hopes, jobs, and opportunity. Recent speaking engagements, interviews, podcasts, and awards: Cause Artist. 25 Inspiring Nonprofit Leaders who will Impact the World in 2023. Overcoming Barriers to Employment. Rusty Center for Social Sector Innovation. University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Expanding Opportunity: Investing in Employment Social Enterprise. New York Federal Reserve Event. A Path to Purpose. Beyond Barriers Podcast.