Reflecting on 2023 and Embracing the Power of Possible

Throughout 2023, I have been reminded time and again of the power of possible.

I spoke to many people last year who were looking for confirmation that a better future is feasible. I met with those on the front lines of climate change, including women working in India’s Little Rann of Kutch and families living in Kenya’s Kibera slum.

I spoke with leaders in business, government, and philanthropy at our New York headquarters, the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, and during COP28 in Dubai. I spoke with teammates at the Rockefeller Foundation and even some of you.?

Throughout those conversations, it didn’t matter whether I was talking to a farmer, entrepreneur, or prime minister. Everyone was looking for reasons to believe in a brighter future and the potential for reaching our goals. They often asked me how I remained optimistic in times of pessimism and doubt. My answer has remained the same: throughout my career, I’ve seen that people are capable of remarkable things, including big bets that broaden the horizons of possibility.?

To some, that may seem na?ve or overly idealistic. But we have seen repeatedly, throughout The Rockefeller Foundation’s 110 years of operation and human history more broadly, that a belief in our potential for progress is often the first step towards the innovations and alliances that change our world for the better.

?The world urgently needs organizations and leaders who share that belief and will make the big bets necessary to meet this moment. Those who will not only drive the changes our planet needs but inspire others through the scale of their ambition. That is how large-scale change is possible.

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to doing our part. Earlier in the year, we announced our $1 billion, 5-year commitment to help uplift billions of people while reversing the climate crisis. Last month, we announced our aim to target net zero greenhouse gas emissions for our endowment by 2050. And we are pursuing a range of big bets—including helping transition emerging and developing nations off fossil fuels—that will advance people-centered climate solutions in energy, health, food, and finance.?

We know we can’t do it alone. If you want to get more involved, I hope you’ll join The Rockefeller Foundation’s Big Bets Community .

As part of the community, you can access resources to help with your big bets and join a movement of like-minded innovators and problem-solvers.?

Finally, I want to send out a huge thank you to all my LinkedIn followers. 2023 has been a transformative year for The Foundation, and it’s been amazing to connect with so many of you through this newsletter. You—and your engagement here—are one of the reasons I believe in the power of the possible.?

Thank you for your support over the last year. I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish in 2024.