UBS Global Visionaries

Accelerating entrepreneurs towards positive change.

Support visionaries with real solutions

Our Global Visionaries program gets right to the heart of what we do at UBS. It’s about connecting people – with ideas, with likeminded people, with the tools to turn visions into real solutions. And our world is in need of real solutions. Ones that will make businesses more resilient. Ones that will make economies more successful, inclusive and sustainable.

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More about the program

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Who are the UBS Global Visionaries?

UBS Global Visionaries are impactful entrepreneurs tackling some of the world's most challenging social and environmental issues with pioneering solutions. While they cover many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, our focus is on Health & Wellbeing (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4) and Climate Action (SDG 13).

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

They are a set of United Nations' goals, adopted in September 2015 to "end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all" as part of a sustainable development agenda.

Learn more about the goals on the UN's site

What are the criteria to become a Global Visionary?

Global Visionaries are nominated by internal and/or external stakeholders and take part in the UBS internally driven selection process. We will evaluate nominees along the following topics:

Evaluation criteria

Impactful

Is the organization environmentally/ socially impactful?

Growth

How much growth have they demonstrated?
How much potential for growth do they have?

Investable

Does this organization have a strong investment case?

Management

Is there a solid/ complementary management?

Risk

How good were the results of our due diligence?

Market

How attractive is the market of this organization?
How aligned is it with our focus areas / CIO themes?

Organization

What is our overall impression of the organization?

How visionary is this organization and its solution(s)?

Diversity & Inclusion (bonus)

Do they contribute to diversity and inclusion?

Please read the more detailed evaluation criteria (PDF, 115 KB) .

How do we support our Global Visionaries?

At any point in time, we support over 20 Global Visionaries (over 2 years) with:

Network access: we connect our employees and clients to Global Visionaries at event, roundtables and bilateral meetings.
Raising awareness: we amplify Global Visionary’s stories and organizations through our dedicated website, social media, publications and speaking engagements.
Expert advice: we offer Global Visionaries pro-bono advice with our global network of employees acting as advisors on specific challenges and sponsor thematic workshops.

A program going from strength to strength

Tom Hall is Head of Social Impact & Philanthropy Services

We've supported more than 70 Visionaries from all continents in the last five years and the next 18 months will be pivotal in scaling that commitment to supporting many more.

Tom Hall, Global Head of Social Impact and Philanthropy
CEO, UBS Optimus Foundation Network

Joanna Bichsel is Founder & CEO of Kasha Global Inc.

UBS Global Visionaries really is a unique programme, very hands-on and engaging. Kasha was selected because of its focus on women’s health, women’s rights; I think it says a lot that
a global bank is interested in that.

Joanna Bichsel, Kasha Global Inc. Founder & CEO

Chris Kerr & Chad Sarno are Co-Founders of Good Catch

This recognition to join the UBS Global Visionaries program is such a privilege, and we are confident that it will help us to grow as innovators and change-makers in the plant-based industry and beyond.

Chris Kerr & Chad Sarno, Co-Founders, Good Catch

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