In this conversation, Meenu Gupta and Jon Bellish explore the intersection of private capital and peace building, discussing how entrepreneurs and businesses can contribute to peace in fragile contexts. They delve into Jon's formative experiences in Somalia and Colombia, the complexities of defining peace and the importance of trust in building relationships. The discussion also covers the role of philanthropy, the need for integrated solutions and the responsibility of corporations in fostering peace. Jon emphasizes the significance of trust, community and security as foundational elements for a peaceful society, while also addressing the challenges of rebuilding trust after failures.

Keywords

Peace building, impact investing, private capital, Somalia, Colombia, trust, community, governance, entrepreneurship, global citizenship

Takeaways

• Peace can be built through markets and responsible private capital.

• Private companies can play a significant role in peace building.

• Understanding local contexts is crucial for effective peace initiatives.

• Trust is a vital component in building relationships in fragile societies.

• Community and security are essential for a peaceful society.

• Philanthropy should focus on sustainability and local governance.

• Integrated solutions are necessary for addressing complex global issues.

• Conflict sensitivity is key in peace positive finance.

• Rebuilding trust requires transparency and accountability.

• Global citizenship involves recognizing our interconnectedness beyond national identities.

Sound Bites

"Peace isn't built only by diplomats."

Chapters

-John Bellish: A Journey of Identity and Purpose

-The Role of Markets in Peace Building

-Understanding Peace: A Complex Concept

-The Reality of Somalia: Beyond Conflict Headlines

-Trust as a Foundation for Development

-Building Trust in Fragile Contexts

-The Power of Local Networks in Peace Building

-Rebuilding Trust Through Honesty and Hard Work

-The Importance of Community in Trust Rebuilding

-The Loss of Social Fabric in the West

-Integrative Solutions for Global Challenges

-The Role of Philanthropy in Sustainable Development

-Peace Positive Finance: Bridging the Gap

-Building Peace in a Divided Society

-The Value of Community in Global Citizenship

-Navigating Identity and Belonging

-The Human Outcomes of Security and Community

A story of how belief, support and inner strength helped a young Filipina entrepreneur transform her vision — and her local impact — into a model for global sustainability.

In this second part of the conversation with the host Meenu Gupta, Aya Fernandez- the founder of Eco-Uling shares how women lead differently than men and how she maintains equanimity in her life with journaling. She speaks about ethical business norms and about what it means to be truly validated and how different generations can learn from one another.

Keywords

Empowerment, sustainability, belief, validation, gender equality, social innovation, entrepreneurship, metrics, women leaders

Soundbites

“Women leaders are more intuitive”

“We should not be glorifying hustle”

“Data only tells a certain part of the story. It takes a human to complete the story”

Chapters

-Intuitive leadership of women

-Leading with empathy can lead to profit

-Intergenerational learning

-Navigating life´s journey with journaling

-Maintaining equanimity in multiple roles

-Impact of Eco-Uling

-Ethics of business

-Impact of validation

A story of how belief, support and inner strength helped a young Filipina entrepreneur transform her vision — and her local impact — into a model for global sustainability.

Aya Fernandez, the founder of Eco-Uling shares how her path as an eco-entrepreneur, artist and advocate took shape. She speaks openly about what it meant to be truly seen and heard by the Bayer Foundation— not only for her work, but for who she is — and how that recognition boosted her self-worth, reshaping her confidence and leadership.

Keywords

Empowerment, sustainability, belief, validation, gender equality, social innovation, entrepreneurship, metrics, women leaders

Soundbites

“There is no greater empowerment than empowering others”

“Give me droplets & I can transform them into an ocean”

“Sustainability is the only way to go”

Chapters

-”Aha”moments in Aya´s life

-Multitasking vs living with awareness

-Beyond gender to sense of belonging

-Sea turtle and crab mentality compared

-Power of validation

-The journey of Eco-Uling

-Metrics of success of an entrepreneur

-Belief & validation supports dreams and enterprises

-Intergenerational learning