Jessica Jackley
Encyclopedia
Jessica Jackley is an American
businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and CEO of ProFounder, a platform providing tools for small business entrepreneurs in the United States
to access start-up capital through crowdfunding and community involvement.
Prior to ProFounder, Jackley was co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer
of Kiva
, the world's first p2p microlending
website. Jackley and Matt Flannery founded Kiva Microfunds in October 2005. Kiva is an organization that allows people to lend money to small local businesses in developing countries and in the United States. Named as one of the top ideas in 2006 by the New York Times Magazine, Kiva lets internet users lend as little as $25 to individual entrepreneurs, providing affordable capital to help them start or expand a small business. Kiva has been one of the fastest-growing social benefit websites in history, and since its founding in October 2005, Kiva has facilitated hundreds of millions in loans among individuals across 209 countries.
Jackley is a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University
’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society, and has taught Global Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business
at USC
. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a 2011 World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, and serves as an active board member on several organizations championing women, microfinance, tech, and the arts, including Opportunity International, the International Museum of Women, and Allowance for Good.
Jackley has worked in Kenya
, Tanzania
, and Uganda
with Village Enterprise Fund and Project Baobab
. Jackley also spent three years in the Stanford GSB's Center for Social Innovation and Public Management Program, where she helped launch the inaugural Global Philanthropy Forum.
Jackley holds an M.B.A.
from the Stanford Graduate School of Business
, with certificates in Public and Global Management, as well as a B.A.
in philosophy and political science from Bucknell University
.
Jackley is a trained yoga instructor and avid surfer. She lives in Los Angeles
with her husband, author Reza Aslan
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and CEO of ProFounder, a platform providing tools for small business entrepreneurs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to access start-up capital through crowdfunding and community involvement.
Prior to ProFounder, Jackley was co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer
Chief marketing officer
Chief Marketing Officer is a corporate title referring to an executive responsible for various marketing activities in an organization...
of Kiva
Kiva (organization)
Kiva Microfunds is an organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to microfinance institutions in developing countries around the world and in the United States, which in turn lend the money to small businesses and students...
, the world's first p2p microlending
Person-to-person lending
Person-to-person lending is a certain breed of financial transaction which occurs directly between individuals or "peers" without the intermediation of...
website. Jackley and Matt Flannery founded Kiva Microfunds in October 2005. Kiva is an organization that allows people to lend money to small local businesses in developing countries and in the United States. Named as one of the top ideas in 2006 by the New York Times Magazine, Kiva lets internet users lend as little as $25 to individual entrepreneurs, providing affordable capital to help them start or expand a small business. Kiva has been one of the fastest-growing social benefit websites in history, and since its founding in October 2005, Kiva has facilitated hundreds of millions in loans among individuals across 209 countries.
Jackley is a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society, and has taught Global Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business
Marshall School of Business
The USC Marshall School of Business is a private research and academic institution at the University of Southern California. It is the largest of USC's 17 professional schools. The current Dean is James G. Ellis. In 1997 the school was renamed following a US$35 million donation from alumnus Gordon S...
at USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a 2011 World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, and serves as an active board member on several organizations championing women, microfinance, tech, and the arts, including Opportunity International, the International Museum of Women, and Allowance for Good.
Jackley has worked in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
with Village Enterprise Fund and Project Baobab
Project Baobab
Project Baobab provides free education and entrepreneurial grants to youth, especially women, through a specialized life skills and business curriculum in Kenya, a country of 40% unemployment with 58% of the people living below a $2 a day. Upon graduation, students compete for $100 grants to fund...
. Jackley also spent three years in the Stanford GSB's Center for Social Innovation and Public Management Program, where she helped launch the inaugural Global Philanthropy Forum.
Jackley holds an M.B.A.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the professional schools of Stanford University, in Stanford, California and is broadly regarded as one of the best business schools in the world.The Stanford GSB offers a general management Master of Business Administration degree, the Sloan...
, with certificates in Public and Global Management, as well as a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in philosophy and political science from Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
.
Jackley is a trained yoga instructor and avid surfer. She lives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with her husband, author Reza Aslan
Reza Aslan
Reza Aslan is an Iranian-American activist, a nationally acclaimed writer of religions. He is on the faculty at the University of California, Riverside, and is a contributing editor for The Daily Beast...
.
External links
- Podcast Interview with Jessica Flannery Social Innovation Conversations, April 11, 2007
- Speaker Profile at (TED) and Member Profile
- TED lecture