Tracy Palandjian
Tracy Palandjian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Education | Harvard College (BA) Harvard Business School (MBA) |
| Occupations | Co-founder and CEO of Social Finance |
Tracy Pun Palandjian is an American business person who is co-founder and chief executive officer of Social Finance, a national nonprofit organization and registered investment advisor.[1]
Early life and education
Palandjian was born and raised in Hong Kong. She moved to the United States at age 14 to attend Milton Academy. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a B.A. in Economics, and later earned an M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar.[2]
Career
Early career
Palandjian held early professional roles at McKinsey & Company and Wellington Management. She later joined the Parthenon Group where she became a managing director.[3][1] She founded and led the Nonprofit Practice. Her work focused on advising foundations, NGOs, and other social sector institutions on strategy, social innovation, and organizational effectiveness.[4]
Social Finance
In 2011, Palandjian co-founded Social Finance with Sir Ronald Cohen and David Blood. The organization has been involved in seeding the field of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) and other outcomes-based models as well as impact-first investing approaches in the United States. Pay for Success financing models mobilize private capital to support social programs, with government repayment contingent on measurable improvements in outcomes.[5] Other impact-first investment approaches focus on market-based solutions to social and environmental challenges.[6]
Governance and boards
Palandjian was elected in 2022 to the Harvard Corporation.[7] She previously was on the Harvard Board of Overseers (2012–2018)[8] and on several Harvard visiting committees, including those for the Business School, the College, the Division of Continuing Education, and the Kennedy School.[7]
Honors and recognition
- 2018: Robert F. Kennedy Embracing the Legacy Award[9]
- 2019: Alumni Achievement Award, Harvard Business School[10]
- 2022: Fellow, Harvard Corporation[11][12]
- 2022: Elected member, American Philosophical Society[13]
- 2022: Elected member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences[14]
Personal life
Palandjian is married to Leon A. Palandjian, M.D., whom she met at Harvard during their undergraduate studies.[15] They live in Belmont, Massachusetts, and have three daughters.[7]
References
- 1 2 "Five things you should know about Tracy Palandjian". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "A Woman with a Social Impact: Tracy P. Palandjian '93". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Looking far and wide pays off for this nonprofit". Boston Globe. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ Candid. "People in the News (06/18/2023): appointments, promotions, obituaries". Philanthropy News Digest (PND). Retrieved 2025-12-01.
- ↑ "Tracy Palandjian's push for social impact bonds". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ Kelly, John (30 January 2018). "Social Impact Leader Tracy Palandjian on the State of Pay-For-Success". The Imprint.
- 1 2 3 Parsons, Lian (2022-04-04). "Tracy Palandjian elected to Harvard Corporation". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
- ↑ "Abell, Palandjian to Lead Board of Overseers". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ↑ Writer, Staff. "Belmont woman receives RFK award for social justice initiative". Wicked Local. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ↑ 2019 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
- ↑ Parsons, Lian (4 April 2022). "Tracy Palandjian elected to Harvard Corporation". Harvard Gazette.
- ↑ "Who Are the Members of the Harvard Corporation?". The New York Times.
- ↑ "The American Philosophical Society Welcomes New Members for 2022". American Philosophical Society. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Tracy P. Palandjian". AMACAD. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ Benoit, Cara Lombardo and David (2024-01-07). "Bill Ackman's Friend Inside Harvard's Board". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-08.