Nicole Ballin Principal, Growth Portfolio Helping Social Enterprises Scale their Impact. As Portfolio Manager, Nicole Ballin supports REDF portfolio partners to help scale their impact. From program design to operations support, she provides customized technical assistance so that they can train and employ more people facing barriers to employment. As co-founder of UpEnergy, a social enterprise that distributes clean energy technologies in East Africa, Nicole has experienced firsthand how challenging it can be to build a social venture that effects meaningful change while still striving for financial sustainability. Equipped with lessons and insights from her personal experience, she’s excited to support the incredible work of REDF’s grantees. Nicole earned her MBA from UC Berkeley, Hass School of Business and her BA in International Economics from UCLA. She hails from South Africa and has lived and worked on three continents. With a passion for travel, she’s visited 43 countries and looks forward to sharing her wanderlust with her children. Closer to home, you’ll find Nicole spending time in her garden, exploring the Bay Area with her family, or busy planning her next vacation!