Pledge 1%'s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Heidi Ridley
Co-Founder and CEO, RadiantESG Global Investors LLC
Danville, CA, USA
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
RadiantESG is a new company in a start-up situation, so roles are less defined and tend to be more broad. In my capacity as CEO, my main focuses are defining the vision and strategy for RadiantESG and to motivate and engage our team to successfully execute on our strategic plan. It’s also important that I lead our discussions with all key constituents, most notably the clients we serve. Finally, there is a strong advocacy role to play as a leader within my industry on key topics such as the role of investments in driving positive change on environmental, social and governance issues, diversity and inclusion.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
The best part of my job is co-creating this new company with a group of incredibly talented people, whom I admire and respect. We worked together on average 15 years and I was truly honored that they decided to join me on this journey. I am really enjoying building something from the ground up, motivating by creating an organization that is really different and inspires others.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years - what motivates you to keep going?
A real sense of purpose and a strong desire to have a lasting positive impact on the financial services industry--both in terms of championing the important role capital markets can play in driving progress on environmental, social and governance issues and in helping to bring about a more inclusive mindset toward women and other underrepresented groups.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and grow your wings on the way down.
What does generosity mean to you?
When you do something for which you are not the beneficiary.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
The world's biggest challenges need focused alignment between governments, businesses, and individuals. Private companies are often at the nexus of these three groups, benefitting from evolving priorities in government spending and acting as a conduit for buy-in from the public generally. In this way, private businesses have a unique role to play in transformational change. A good current example would be the emergence of smaller companies that will be key in driving a transition to a greener energy grid. To be sure, not every one of them will be a good investment, but as a group they help push technology forward, attract capital to where it is needed most, and influence individual preferences.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Determined. If I set my mind to something, I cannot be deterred. I genuinely believe that there is no challenge that can't be overcome. I am willing to put in the work and my resilience knows no bounds.
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
Footprints On The Moon by Gabby Barrett
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
On a professional level, I’m very excited about being able to meet with clients face to face again and look forward to what I hope will be a successful launch year for our firm.
On a personal level, the big development is preparing to be empty nesters. Our two older boys were married last year, our third son will be starting senior year at CU Boulder and our youngest son is graduating high school and will be off to college in the summer.
