Month: July 2025

Amanda, assistant director of product management

• Work passion: Creating seamless customer experiences
• Volunteer passion: Supporting local teachers
• Leading with appreciation

I manage the teacher appreciation committee for my local elementary school. We plan and execute activities for teachers and staff—from yoga sessions to breakfasts to donation drives for supplies. We also encourage students and families to share their gratitude during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Providing acts of service

As a child of an educator, recognizing the hard work, care, and human-shaping that happens in schools is intrinsic. I can’t think of anything more important than finding ways to support teachers and staff. I enjoy trying to anticipate ways we can surprise and delight the teachers, especially during extra stressful times of the year.

Leaning into flexibility

Principal supports my need for flexibility. I’ve dropped off fruit for a yogurt bar while listening to a trends call and organized a committee meeting between work meetings. It’s also easy to tap into my professional network: Two committee members work with me at Principal.

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4589987-062025

Originally published by The Robert A. Winn Excellence In Clinical Trials Award Program

The Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP), a national program out of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, has officially launched its fourth annual cohort, taking place during the summer of 2025. Through the program, sixty-six outstanding medical students from across the United States have begun externships at clinical research sites around the country, united by a shared commitment to the Winn Awards mission of Better Science For All.

Winn CIPP is a prestigious six-week summer program designed to ignite a passion for community-engaged research among highly talented medical students. The program provides participants with immersive, first-hand exposure to clinical research at top institutions, where they engage in service-learning projects that prioritize real-world impact. The experience culminates in a Symposium in July — held this year in Seattle at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — where students will gather for a weekend of workshops, educational programming, sharing professional experiences, and networking opportunities.

Winn CIPP is one of multiple opportunities offered by the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program, a national initiative implemented under the direction of Dr. Robert A. Winn, Director of VCU Massey that is stewarded by the Medical College of Virginia Foundation (MCV Foundation). The mission: improving participation in clinical trials to drive better health outcomes in all communities and save more lives.

The program is built around a simple but powerful premise that all communities deserve access to clinical trials and the most advanced, evidence-based care. Through Winn CIPP, future physicians learn not only the pathways to becoming clinical investigators but also the critical role of research in ensuring that treatments developed are safe and effective for everyone – and that all patients have access to powerful medical breakthroughs.

Expert Mentors at Top Institutions Across the U.S.

Winn CIPP students learn the power of a community-centered research-based approach by being mentored at leading clinical and translational research sites across the country, including:

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
• LSU Health Sciences Center
• Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio
• The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai
• NYU Langone Health Clinical Research Center
• Rush University Heart Center
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at the Lundquist Institute
• UCLA (CTSI) at the Westwood campus
• University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of Illinois Cancer Center
• University of Louisville
• VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Wake Forest University School of Medicine
• Weill Cornell Clinical and Translational Science Center

A Coalition of Visionary Supporters

At the program’s virtual kickoff event, students heard opening remarks from Dr. Robert A. Winn, Director of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and namesake of the program. He emphasized the urgency and importance of engaging communities in research — not only for maximum generalizability of the results, but also to expand access to new therapies and offer patients from all communities new options – and hope – when the standard of care is no longer enough.

“The world needs researchers who are committed to bringing new treatments to every community, and ensuring those communities are included in clinical trials,” said Dr. Winn. “That’s the only way we can make sure that new treatments work safely for everyone.”

Representatives from some of the program’s funding partners — the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (its establishing partner), as well as Gilead Sciences and Amgen — also shared their support and encouraged students to remain focused and inspired throughout their journeys. The keynote address, delivered by Dr. Brian Rivers, PhD, MPH, Director of the Cancer Health Equity Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, illuminated persistent gaps in healthcare and emphasized the importance of researcher-community partnerships to close those divides.

​​“Ensuring that clinical trials reflect the populations affected by disease is not just a scientific imperative – it is a matter of ensuring all communities benefit from medical progress,” said Catharine Grimes, President of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, an independent charitable organization with a mission to improve global health. “The students joining the Clinical Investigator Pathway Program represent the next generation of physician-scientists who will lead with purpose, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful change in how clinical research is conducted.”

The Winn Awards program is unique in its support by multiple pharmaceutical companies, foundations, and organizations collaborating toward a shared goal that they recognize as an urgent priority.

“Gilead Sciences is honored to be a part of this effort and for our ability to collaborate with other industry partners,” said Bilal Piperdi, MD, FACP, Vice President, Clinical Development Oncology. “Right now, the industry really needs to hold our hands together to get important things done – and the Winn Awards is the right place to be at the right time for this. We are thankful to all who are here with us.”

Osa Eisele, MD, MPH, Executive Director and Head of Representation in Clinical Research at Amgen agreed. “True progress in healthcare comes from partnerships that listen, learn, and uplift communities,” she said. “The Winn CIPP is exactly that — an inspiring program that brings together the next generation of clinical investigators and the people they aim to serve, helping to ensure research reflects all patients. Amgen is honored to stand alongside the Winn Awards in advancing this critical work.”

Meet the 2025 Winn CIPP Cohort 4 Awardees

Introducing this year’s 66 awardees, representing medical schools from across the country, as well as their funders:

• Saimon Acevedo Ortiz – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Mary Aina – University of California, Irvine School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Dana Alcin – University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
• Storm Alexander – University of Virginia School of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
• Eric Alvarado – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Lark Amoa – A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Kawaiola Aoki – Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Briana Armas – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Joshua Avina – A.T. Still University | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Monique Awanyai – University of California, Davis School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Taylor Bailey – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
• Justin Banks – University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences, The Pritzker School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Pedro Bonilla – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Cameron Brown – Meharry Medical College | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Destiny Burnett – University of Illinois College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Jacques Calixte – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Diego Cano – Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Melissa Castillo – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• De’Von Cato – Saint Louis University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Chaz Crosby – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Victor Damptey – The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Maxwell de la Paz – University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Amara Dike – Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Hailey Egans – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
• Ogheneruona Eruvwetere – Meharry Medical College | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Daniel Essien – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Great Falls | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Hayley Estrella – Drexel University College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Mariana Fernandes Gragnani – Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Aileen Flores – William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Astrid Gomez – University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Gabriela Gomez – Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Jacob Goodbar – University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine | Funded by Amgen
• Matthew Gregory – University of California, Irvine School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Tsion Habtamu – Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Ifrah Hassan – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Asma Ibrahim – Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Dylan Jack – Eastern Virginia Medical School | Funded by Amgen
• Ruby Jewell – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Irene Jonathan – University of Louisville School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Sabrina Jones – University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Bethlehem Judah – Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Ethan Kau – Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Ryan Kong – University of Illinois College of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Abdul Afeez Lawal – University of Illinois College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Jose Martinez – Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Esther Masayi – Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Christian Matabang – California University of Science and Medicine – School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Mal Mehari – Rutgers New Jersey Medical School | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Karla Navarro – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Jewel Ng – Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Adewumi Omoniyi – University of Illinois College of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Tony Ong – University of California, Davis School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Alisa Pairmore – Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Alvaro Perez Daisson – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Hiyori Roberts – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Samuel Saintil – William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Ernesha Salcedo – Southern Illinois University School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Alejandra Silva Hernandez – University of Washington School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Andre Smith – New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Nathan Smith – Tulane University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Katelynn Soto – Indiana University School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Katelynn Tran – California University of Science and Medicine – School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Robert Tran – University of California, Irvine School of Medicine | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Tiffany Trieu – University of California, Riverside School of Medicine | Funded by Gilead Sciences
• Kyron Wicker – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Erie | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Bishoy Yacoub – Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation

Poised to become future leaders in clinical research and community health, Winn CIPP students are working to ensure that tomorrow’s treatments are built with, by, and for the communities they serve.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

When Kamelia Hristeva started banking with U.S. Bank more than 20 years ago at age 16, neither she nor her banking team knew what the future had in store for her.

“In my final year of university, I was part of a public art project in Chicago and saw the power that art can have in community,” she said. “At the same time, I was working in some schools teaching art and saw a real need for neighborhood beautification and arts education.”

That’s how the Green Star Movement was born: a non-profit founded by Hristeva, banked by U.S. Bank, and now behind Chicago’s newest mosaic mural – this one covering two sides of the U.S. Bank Lincoln Avenue branch in Chicago.

“Our Lincoln Avenue branch just underwent a significant remodel, and we were brainstorming ways to connect our location to the community and our neighbors,” said Louise Fernandez, a hub branch manager for U.S. Bank. “Someone mentioned doing some type of artwork, something that will add value and stand the test of time.”

That’s when Fernandez thought of Hristeva, who is now a long-time U.S. Bank client. The pair met almost a decade ago when Fernandez was a personal banker and helped Hristeva with day-to-day needs for her Green Star Movement and personal accounts.

“It’s amazing how we can start with a young adult account with her and, throughout the years as she became a mother and started her nonprofit, Kamelia continued to stay with us because she feels supported on her journey to her financial and career goals,” Fernandez said.

The journey has come full circle for Hristeva, who – with the help of dozens of U.S. Bank and community volunteers – created nearly 300 square feet of tiles on 20 boards that, when put together into a mosaic, tell a story of support and community.

“This artwork is reflective of the community we are serving around our Lincoln Avenue branch, and it took the power of community to make it happen,” said Jen Uhri, the Illinois Branch Banking market leader for U.S. Bank. “We had multiple discussions with the team and with Kamelia to make this artwork something we could all be proud of.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Hristeva.

“To see a company be so thoughtful about clients and community members has been a joy,” she said.

Hristeva, through the Green Star Movement, has helped create more than 250 murals on school buildings, under overpasses and in other locations throughout Chicago in the last 20 years.

“I wanted to build something that helped youth discover their voice and see their potential, while also bringing color, pride, and storytelling to underrepresented neighborhoods,” she said. “The moment that sparked it all for me was watching a young person’s face light up as they saw their artwork displayed on a public wall for the first time. That feeling that art can transform a person just as much as a place can drives everything we do.”

Cummins

Jacob’s Dodge RAM 250 was custom-ordered by his grandfather in 1992. Thirty-three years later, it’s still on the road and helping the family get things done. If you ask Jacob, he’ll call it a workhorse, and for the truck’s first act, that phrase had a deeper meaning. 

Jacob’s grandfather needed a vehicle that would pull horse trailers. In this Dodge RAM powered by a 12-valve Cummins, he found the perfect match of reliability, power and performance that would allow him to transport horses from point A to point B, many times, with the Rockies standing between him and his destination. 

“When you’re hauling horses, you can’t fail,” notes Jacob. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to get home. We relied on Cummins to get us and our horses where we needed to be.”

Jacob moved to Indiana in the 2000s, and after his grandfather passed, the truck sat idle in California for nearly 20 years. Finally, Jacob had the opportunity to bring the truck home and get it back on the road.

Jacob tells it this way. “We didn’t know what to expect, and there was only one way to find out. As a mechanic, I made sure it was in working order. I changed the fluids, but there’s no substitute for turning the key. We dropped in a new battery…and would you believe it fired up after just a handful of cranks. It was almost anti-climactic. It worked. We had to replace some hoses and tires, but the engine was sound.”

Since 2024, Jacob’s been using the truck to haul a different kind of horsepower…drift cars. As a technician and racer, you can find Jacob trailing cars across the Midwest from track to track along the circuit. 

“I’ve always been a guy who could turn a wrench. It started in high school and now it’s my profession. I still love getting under the hood and working on a Cummins diesel, especially the first gen. You can really get in there and work. The simplicity and the powerful, straightforward design mean there’s a purpose behind the engineering. It’s how they’ve built a reputation for million-mile engines. At 312k, I think this truck has a chance. I won’t be behind the wheel, but my 4-year-old son has already fallen in love with this truck.”

Jacob understands the high-mileage fraternity at Cummins. “It’s something else to see these trucks still on the road…and that’s not all, most of them aren’t making runs to the grocery, they’re doing work. Why not celebrate the time you spend with something this special? I’ve still got all the papers from the original sale, the numbers all match, and it’s sort of fun to tell this story. It’s good to see something built to last. It just shows that when you engineer the quality from the beginning, keep up with the general maintenance, you can get an incredible life out of a Cummins-equipped vehicle. Heck, I’m excited about handing this truck down, and I won’t be surprised if it outlives me. I guess it’s just another step in this truck’s legacy.” 

A legacy birthed by Cummins.

Social workers are often the unsung heroes in military and veteran care. From the front lines of crisis intervention to shaping policies that impact thousands, their role is critical in ensuring service members, veterans, and their families receive the support they need. As leaders in behavioral health and military social work, we have seen firsthand how these professionals serve as a bridge between individuals in need and the care systems designed to support them.

The challenges facing military populations—combat stress, mental health care access, reintegration struggles—are complex. Addressing them requires not only clinical expertise but also a deep understanding of military culture, policy, and long-term advocacy. Social workers are uniquely positioned to fill this gap, providing both direct care and strategic leadership to drive meaningful change.

The Role of Social Workers in Military Settings

Military social workers play an indispensable role in supporting active-duty service members. Working on military installations, in hospitals, and alongside embedded behavioral health teams, they provide timely, mission-focused mental health care. Their expertise spans several critical areas, including:

• Combat and Operational Stress Control – Helping service members cope with deployment stress, combat trauma, and reintegration challenges.
• Family Support Services – Counseling military families as they navigate frequent relocations, deployments, and the unique stressors of military life.
• Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention – Identifying at-risk service members and implementing evidence-based interventions to save lives.
• Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation – Addressing challenges related to alcohol and drug dependency, often exacerbated by the demands of military service.

Beyond individual care, social workers serve as leaders within the military community, overseeing programs, shaping policies, and embedding mental health services into broader readiness and resilience initiatives.

Additionally, many military social workers transition into nonprofit leadership, where they bridge critical gaps in care. They advocate for policy change, lead community-based programs, and ensure service members and veterans have access to long-term, comprehensive support—both inside and outside the military system.

Supporting Veterans Through Social Work

When service members transition to civilian life, social workers continue to be a lifeline, helping veterans navigate challenges such as PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, unemployment, and homelessness. They work within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), nonprofit organizations, and private institutions, providing:

• Mental Health Care – Therapy, peer support, and specialized care for PTSD, depression, and service-related conditions.
• Housing Assistance – Helping veterans secure stable housing through transitional programs and permanent supportive housing.
• Caregiver Support – Providing resources for family caregivers managing the demands of long-term care.
• Employment Support – Assisting with workforce integration, job training, and career counseling.
• Advocacy and Policy Work – Ensuring veterans receive the benefits and services they have earned.

By addressing these issues holistically, social workers empower veterans to build stable, fulfilling post-service lives.

Learn about our managed health services

Shaping the Future: Social work in Higher Education and Workforce Development

Many military social workers extend their impact by transitioning into higher education and workforce development. As professors, mentors, and researchers, they bring real-world experience into academic settings, ensuring future social workers are well-equipped to serve military-connected populations.

Their expertise strengthens the pipeline of skilled practitioners, providing essential training for service members, veterans, and their families pursuing careers in social work. By integrating behavioral health best practices into military, government, and nonprofit spaces, they help shape a more informed, resilient support system for those who serve.

As the demand for behavioral health support grows, collaboration between social workers, government agencies, and organizations committed to advancing military and veteran wellness will be essential. Public and private sector partnerships, like those at Leidos, play a role in developing innovative solutions that expand access to care and enhance outcomes for those who serve.

A Career of Purpose and Global Impact 

For those passionate about mental health, advocacy, and service, social work within the military and veteran community offers a deeply rewarding career path. Social workers in this field play a vital role in crisis intervention, policy development, program leadership, and direct care, with opportunities to make a meaningful difference every day.

This career also provides global opportunities, allowing professionals to work abroad, supporting service members and their families stationed worldwide. Whether in direct care, research, or policy, military social workers drive life-changing initiatives that strengthen resilience, well-being, and readiness.

Their contributions extend beyond individuals—they shape the future of military and veteran care, ensuring those who serve receive the support they deserve.

Learn about our Military & Family Life Counseling program

This quarterly newsletter showcases how Truist Foundation supports Truist Financial Corporation’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities through strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Click here to sign up to receive the newsletter via email.

Meet our Inspire Awards finalists

The Truist Foundation Inspire Awards will take place Nov. 12! Virtual registration details will be shared soon, but in the meantime get to know our six finalists:

• Breaking Barriers Through Deconstruction by Lifecycle Building Center – A training program that equips adults in low-income communities with skills in building material recovery (deconstruction) and the reuse of these materials via home repairs and energy efficient improvements.
• FreeWorld by FreeWorld – A tech-enabled solution that reskills and places formerly incarcerated citizens into the trucking industry.
• ReCastED by the Masonry Foundation – A mentorship-driven model that offers tradespeople a flexible pathway to Career and Technical Education (CTE) teaching positions to bridge industry gaps.
• Safety Net Tool for Economic Mobility by Integrity Transformations Community Development Corporation – A digital platform, BestFit, that serves as a one-stop-shop for organizations looking to assist adult learners with managing basic needs insecurity and nonacademic barriers.
• Seniors R The Answer by Encore Employment Enterprise Inc. – A call-center training program, tailored for older adults seeking employment and supported by wraparound services.
• Veterans Electrical Entry Program (VEEP) by electrical training ALLIANCE – A pre-apprenticeship program for military personnel who want to reenter the civilian workforce in the rewarding, high-demand electrical trade.

Strengthening communities and seizing opportunity

Lynette Bell, president of Truist Foundation, recently spoke at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference.

• Timely insights: Her panel explored how corporate philanthropy and collaborative partnerships are helping communities become more resilient to unexpected shocks and more ready to seize opportunity.

See the recap on LinkedIn here!

Inspiring Conversations Podcast: Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Join Truist Foundation President Lynette Bell for her ongoing series of conversations with our partners and grant recipients. On the Inspiring Conversations podcast, you’ll hear how we support each other and the unique ways we inspire and build better lives and communities.

• Go deeper: In the latest episode, Lynette speaks with Patty McIlreavy, president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, to discuss topics around disaster relief, recovery, preparedness, and so much more.

To hear more Inspiring Conversations, follow the podcast on Spotify.

The latest in Truist Foundation grantmaking

See our new partnership announcements and how we’re working together with innovative nonprofits.

Learn about our partners.
 

July 14, 2025 /3BL/ – Novata, the private markets’ sustainability management partner, announced a collaboration with Microsoft. Novata will leverage Microsoft Azure AI Foundry – including Azure AI Search – and Microsoft Fabric to unlock new efficiencies and capabilities in its sustainability solutions, data management and reporting process for businesses globally, giving small and mid-sized Microsoft customers and supply chain partners access to Novata’s pioneering sustainability technology solutions.

Collaboration Highlights:

• Expand Access to Novata’s Platform: Microsoft will become a key sales partner for Novata across its SME channel, making it easier for businesses to access Novata’s platform and solutions, including the Carbon Navigator.
• Co-Develop AI Technology: Novata and Microsoft will co-develop a range of AI-powered tools to simplify sustainability data collection and reporting for clients, as well as drive value creation.
• Strengthen Supply Chain Reporting: Novata will help Microsoft suppliers meet their climate reporting obligations, providing companies with the tools needed to track, manage, and report sustainability metrics with greater accuracy, efficiency and affordability.

“We are excited to deepen our relationship with Microsoft, a company that has not only revolutionized productivity but has also been a leader in addressing the climate crisis and leveraging AI for good,” said Alex Friedman, CEO and Co-Founder of Novata. “This collaboration expands our global reach and strengthens our commitment to providing trusted technology that simplifies sustainability data management, helping companies unlock growth opportunities and enhance their resilience in a rapidly changing world.”

Since its commercial launch in April 2022, Novata has experienced significant global demand for its all-in-one solution for sustainability data management, carbon accounting, regulatory reporting, and advisory services. Novata’s platform is trusted and used by hundreds of GPs in private equity, growth equity, private credit, and venture capital, and more than 10,000 companies in all major geographies. Novata’s clients manage over $12 trillion in assets.

“We believe that addressing climate change is both a responsibility and an important business opportunity,” said Jeremy Pitman, Director of Partner Development, Digital Natives and ISVs – Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft. “Our collaboration with Novata will enable a key segment of our clients to seamlessly and affordably integrate cutting-edge sustainability technology into their operations, empowering them to reduce their carbon footprints and meet their emissions goals.”

Novata has been a portfolio company of Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund (CIF) since 2023, reinforcing the alignment of Novata’s mission with Microsoft’s commitment to advancing sustainability solutions. CIF is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of new climate innovations through both equity and debt capital.

As a certified B-Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, Novata is on a mission to empower private markets to achieve a more sustainable and inclusive form of capitalism. To learn more about the collaboration, visit Novata’s website and follow Novata on LinkedIn to keep up with the company’s latest news and insights.

About Novata

Novata is the private markets’ sustainability management partner. We empower hundreds of investment firms and over 10,000 companies to achieve their sustainability goals with our trusted data management platform and advisory practice—because it’s good for business and it’s good for the planet. Learn more at www.novata.com.

Contacts

Katie Stueber
press@novata.com

During London Climate Action Week’s official program, Cascale’s executive vice president Andrew Martin spoke on day one of a Project Syndicate event centered on decarbonization.

The two-day programming convened cross-industry thinkers, in a live broadcast-style format meant to enrich dialogue and reach a wide, global audience. Over 2,000 attendees joined online, with in-studio attendees spanning Cascale members such as New Look and Amazon, as well as Lego Group, IKEA, Mills Fabrica, Carbon Trust, and McKinsey, among others. Decades-long “Politics Live” host and BBC journalist Jo Coburn moderated the programming.

The first session focused on “Maintaining the Momentum,” and featured speakers from Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and consultancies Kantar, think tank Doughnut Economics Action Lab, and food and beverage group Asahi.

“Our enthusiasm for the ‘win-wins’ is undermining the investment needed in the corporate world,” said Erinch Sahan, business and enterprise lead at Doughnut Economics Action Lab. Sahan passionately mentioned the need for new ownership models, such as that of Cascale founding member Patagonia’s nature-owned shareholder model or U.K.-based beauty brand Lush’s partially employee-owned model. In these alternative ownership models, companies go against the traditional shareholder-owned model that puts profit above all else.

Companies can’t afford to stick to the status quo according to Jonathan Hall, managing partner of the sustainable transformation practice within Kantar. He referenced the World Economic Forum’s recent Global Risks Report 2025 – which put extreme weather conflicts as second only to armed conflict in the short-term outlook.

In the next session “The Business of Decarbonization,” fashion got its main stage. At the start of the conversation, Coburn played an alarming video tracing the industry’s deep environmental and social injustices across its supply chain. Cascale’s EVP Andrew Martin participated alongside Seb Henbest, group head of climate transition at HSBC; Jodie Keane, senior research fellow with the International Economic Development Group at ODI; Stientje van Veldhoven, global vice president and regional director for Europe at the World Resources Institute.

Martin chastised the “lack of action” on decarbonization but quickly followed it with a data-driven vision which Cascale calls the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR).

“We now have a really good picture. When it comes to the making of garments, [emissions] come from the raw materials –the growing, turning that into fiber, turning that into fabric, and making the garment. With the data we’ve got, we can now identify the 10 percent of facilities that account for 80 percent of emissions. The good news is that we know which factories they are, we know where they are, we know what country they’re in, what their energy mix is, we know what their facilities are like, and we know what brands are buying from them. We know all of this. The challenge is how do you bring the industry together? What we’re not doing is working fast enough – and in a collaborative way – to actually address those [facilities] with solutions.”

Martin also supplemented data from Cascale’s recent forum in Ho Chi Minh City, outlining the other obstacles manufacturers face to decarbonization.

“The number one was alignment amongst brands – at 42 percent. Finance was actually the lowest one [at 4 percent] which I was really surprised at. Technology solutions was second at 22 percent.”

Martin expanded on the global perspective needed. “We tend to have Global North solutions that we think are right. Our conversations with the manufacturing community tell us that suppliers actually have a lot of the solutions. They know their business, they know what to do, and engaging with them is important. What hinders them is the 20 or so customers who have different taxonomies, different audit systems, different decarbonization programs, and different science-based targets. They’re wondering, ‘How can I actually make anything happen?’”

Building on points throughout the session, he emphasized Cascale is doing the listening and activating work to align brands and suppliers on a collective roadmap.

After the session came to a close, Adair Turner, member of the House of Lords and chair of the Energy Transitions Commission gave a closing keynote address rife with statistics on the reality for the climate crisis. In a moment of action, he called for more green innovation, investment, and policy alignment.