Alumni Spotlight: Maddie Altshuler
Name: Maddie Ulanow Altshuler
School: Harvard Kennedy School (’22)
Degree: Master of Public Policy
Current Role & Organization:
Associate Director, Research, Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
Bio: Maddie Altshuler is the Associate Director on the GIIN research team, where she works with investors on collecting, analyzing, and managing impact data. Prior to joining the GIIN, Maddie advised clients on due diligence and impact strategy with Deloitte and Arabella Advisors. She has also worked on a variety of humanitarian aid and evaluation projects in the Middle East/North Africa region. Maddie holds an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she also worked with the Harvard Initiative for Responsible Investment, and a BA in political science from Carleton College.
Q: How did Turner MIINT shape your understanding of impact investing?
A: Turner MIINT was my first real exposure to impact investing, so much of what I know and use in my job today traces back to the MIINT learning modules. I’m also someone who learns best by doing, so the opportunity to speak directly with founders and receive feedback on my investment memo and pitch deck was invaluable.
Q: Looking back, what part of the Turner MIINT program was most valuable for your professional growth?
A: Honestly, the alumni network. Turner MIINT itself was such a whirlwind, and now I find myself learning something new every time I revisit the materials, talk with current students, or connect with other alumni. The alumni network, which is now over 5,000 individuals, has helped me stay engaged with others applying their Turner MIINT experience in different ways across the impact investing field.
Q: Are there skills or perspectives you gained through Turner MIINT that you still use in your work today?
A: The most challenging parts of Turner MIINT turned out to be the most useful. By that, I mean company sourcing, which mirrors what investors face every day, and Turner MIINT gave me a real appreciation for that reality. I also learned strategies to better build consensus with my team, divide up complex work while learning new skills, and ask for help when we didn’t even know what kind of help we needed—all skills that matter not just in impact investing, but in any workplace. Those experiences have made me a more empathetic coworker and a more effective team player.
Q: What is your advice for current or prospective Turner MIINT students?
A: Try as best you can to focus on the companies, themes, and strategies that are most interesting to you, not necessarily that you think will win the Turner MIINT competition (if you’re lucky, they will be one in the same, but they aren’t always!) Your genuine interest in the material will shine not just in the competition, but also in future job interviews and real-world conversations (where it matters most!)