The Criterion Institute Podcast

In this episode, Joy Anderson responds to some listener questions, naming six paradoxes she encounters when working to shift financial systems toward gender justice and social change. Joy frames paradox as a discipline: holding two seemingly incompatible truths at once such as movement and field-building, urgency and patience, collaboration and competition and resisting the urge to resolve them pr...

In this episode of the Criterion Institute Podcast, Joy reflects on a recent conversation with her brother, philosopher Joel Anderson, about how AI is changing the way we work. While AI can function like a team of highly capable research assistants by supporting analysis, drafting, and synthesis, Joy explores the unintended consequences of turning to machines instead of people. What appears effici...

In this episode, Joy Anderson reframes one of the most common narratives in moments of crisis: instead of asking how to stabilize and return to normal, she asks what disruption makes visible. Building on earlier conversations about systems opportunities, she distinguishes between disruptive events and the deeper structural patterns they expose, and highlights how moments of volatility can make lon...

In this episode, Joy Anderson reflects on invitation as a foundational practice for leadership, collaboration, and systems change. Moving beyond calendar invites, she reframes invitation as a form of power that determines whether participation is passive or meaningful. When people are explicitly invited into roles that matter, where their presence is needed and their contribution is clear, progres...

In this episode, Joy Anderson reflects on a renewed wave of conversations around innovative finance following recent funding disruptions across the feminist movement, particularly in the context of discussions surrounding the Women Deliver conference in Australia. Drawing from Criterion Institute’s long-standing work at the intersection of finance and social change, she introduces a set of reframe...

#77: Strength Is the Strategy: A Conversation on Movement‑Led Finance What happens when feminist movements stop asking permission—and start acting as asset owners? In this episode, Joy Anderson is joined by Giselle Carino and Meradith Leebrick of Fòs Feminista to explore how movement‑led organizations are building financial tools, institutions, and enterprises that sustain reproductive justice ove...

In this conversation, Joy Anderson and Mara Bolis discuss the intersection of gender lens investing and AI, highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping the future of technology. Mara shares her journey from working at Oxfam to exploring AI at the Kennedy School, and her reflections on addressing gender inequality in emerging technologies. They explore the challenges of navigatin...

In this episode, we share how Criterion approaches systems change—by paying close attention to where leverage actually lives, how power moves through relationships, and why timing matters as much as ideas. You’ll hear how we think about staying close to the people and systems that can shift outcomes, even when it looks like we’re waiting. This perspective reframes strategy as readiness: noticing s...

In this episode of  The Criterion Institute Podcast , Joy Anderson reflects on the often-overlooked power of volunteerism and voluntary association as a foundational force in civic life, democracy, and systems change. Drawing on history, personal experience, and Criterion’s own organizational design, Joy explores how spaces that are not governed by markets, paychecks, or formal permission cre...

In this episode of the Criterion Institute podcast, Joy Anderson explores the concept of search funds as a transformative financial tool for entrepreneurship. The discussion highlights the potential of search funds in different contexts, particularly in Africa and the U.S., emphasizing the importance of power dynamics, governance, and the role of impact investing in business ownership. The convers...

In this episode, Joy Anderson is joined by Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners co-founders Eric Kacou and Charity Kabango to explore what it truly takes to build thriving businesses and markets across Africa. Together, they challenge familiar impact investing narratives and offer a radically different way of thinking that centers entrepreneurs as human beings embedded in complex ecosystems. The con...

In this episode of the Criterion Institute podcast, Joy Anderson reflects on the power of letting go—of beliefs, assumptions, and fixed identities that may no longer serve us. Through a personal story about guided meditation, she explores how releasing long-held ideas can create the conditions for more grounded leadership. As we enter 2026, this reflection becomes an invitation to reassess what we...

In this episode, Joy explores the surprising parallels between funding social movements and financing market formation companies. Joy Anderson, along with guests Katharina Samara-Wickrama and Medina Haeri, dives into what movement funding really requires: patient, long‑term investment; flexible core support instead of short‑term project grants; and a commitment to relationship‑building and co...

In this episode, Joy reflects on the past year and the importance of storytelling in shaping our future. She discusses the common practice of making New Year's resolutions and how they often fall short, advocating instead for a broader perspective that encompasses multiple narratives. Joy introduces the concept of viewing our experiences through a kaleidoscope, allowing for a richer understanding...

In this episode of the Criterion Institute podcast, Joy Anderson begins with a provocation about clarity, questioning how calls for “being clear” often place responsibility on the speaker, rather than asking listeners to stay with complexity and do the work of understanding. The episode then shifts into a conversation with systems change leader Rachel Sinha, where the two explore communication as...

In this episode, Joy Anderson discusses the intersection of finance and gender-based violence, emphasizing the need for transformative systems change. She reflects on the insights gained from Donella Meadows' work on leverage points in systems change and the importance of building infrastructure to support gender-based violence solutions. The conversation highlights the role of data and predictive...

In this episode, Joy sits down with Joanna Levitt Cea, Founder and Principal of Valiente Capital Design and lead of the Gender Funders CoLab report Moving Beyond Grant Capital: Meeting the Moment with Innovative Finance . Together, they unpack what it means to truly design finance for context - not just replicate existing models - and explore how fund design can become a tool for shifting power an...

In this episode, Joy reflects on the deep connections between faith, finance, and imagination - exploring how churches and faith communities can play a transformative role in shaping economic systems that reflect their values. From the wake of 9/11 to the founding of Criterion Institute, Joy traces the journey of learning to “invest as if hope mattered,” challenging listeners to see finance not as...

In this special birthday episode, Joy reflects on the meaning behind her name and what it represents in her life and work. The episode begins with her parents, Herbert and Phyllis Anderson, sharing the touching story of how they met unexpectedly in 1964, fell in love quickly, and decided early on that their first daughter would be named Joy - a name that symbolised their gratitude, faith, and deli...

In this episode, Joy reflects on the crisis in funding for feminist and justice-focused non-profits, where traditional philanthropy has dramatically declined in recent years. She explores the need for organisations to move beyond simply plugging funding gaps and instead build financial power by rethinking how assets are used to generate revenue. Drawing on examples such as the Equality Fund, Joy m...

In this episode, Joy chats with Elizabeth Howard about the transformative potential of finance in the context of African investments. They discuss the challenges faced by women fund managers, the importance of local capital mobilization, and the need to rethink traditional investment models that often exclude innovative approaches. The conversation highlights the significance of trust in financial...

This episode dives into the creation of the new report: “ Reimagining Gender Lens Investing Futures: Possibilities and Perspectives from the Field ” and the pivotal role of the 2025 Convergence event. Joy is joined by some of the authors of the report - Sanjana Chhantyal and Susie Pan - to discuss how the original plans for Convergence shifted, leading to a focus on reimagining the future of the g...

In this episode, Joy reflects on Criterion's ongoing work to leverage finance as a tool to reduce Gender-Based Violence (GBV). She discusses the progress made in building evidence, creating tools, and training thousands of investors and social change leaders worldwide. She emphasizes that reducing GBV is complex and requires deep, collaborative strategies — not quick fixes. The episode outlines th...

In this episode, Joy discusses the often-overlooked potential of conference panels and networking. She reflects on how panels can be transformed from mundane presentations into engaging dialogues that prioritize audience interaction. Joy also recounts some memorable advice she got from Van Jones over 20 years ago about the importance of genuine networking, encouraging attendees to connect with tho...

In this episode, Joy explores the complexities and paradoxes surrounding checklists in the context of gender lens investing and systems change. She highlights their limitations in fostering understanding and meaningful action, but also discusses how checklists can serve as tools for compliance and control. Joy advocates for a shift from traditional checklists to 'trust lists' that prioritize relat...