Gideon Maltz

The Case for Investing in Migrants and Refugees

Caroline Fairchild, Kerry Kennedy, Jeff Maggioncalda, Gideon Maltz, Saed Moujtahed, John Kluge

A diverse panel of experts, including representatives from RFK Human Rights, the Tent Foundation, and Coursera, convened to address the global displacement of over 20 million people by analyzing root causes like geopolitical instability and highlighting the economic inefficiencies of current aid models. Speakers detailed how private sector innovations, such as Google's IT certification programs and Starbucks' hiring commitments, are successfully countering credential barriers while proving that refugees yield a two-to-one return on investment within five years. Despite significant administrative hurdles and inadequate government support, the consensus emphasizes a strategic shift toward impact investing, educational access, and sustained political advocacy to integrate refugees into global supply chains and economies.