Career Centre
Discover opportunities to grow your career in impact investing. This space features member-shared job postings, inspiring professional development stories, and details on our Mentorship Program. Members are encouraged to post openings and leverage CAFIID to advance their careers and connect with the broader impact investing community.
Building Impact Leaders
Kristina Kuznetsova
Senior Impact Associate at Sarona Asset Management
May 2025
How have you engaged with CAFIID and how has it supported your professional journey and growth?
When I moved to Canada from Ukraine in May 2022 and joined Sarona Asset Management, I wanted to connect with others in the impact investing space. Sarona is a founding member of CAFIID, so that was my entry point. I went to a few events, had a few conversations, and before I knew it, I was part of something. That is the thing about CAFIID—it is not just a place to network, it is a place to belong.
Not long after, someone mentioned a volunteer opportunity with the Thought Leadership Committee.
I like writing and turning ideas into something people can relate to, so I joined. At TLC, I help plan CAFIID’s webinars and contribute to content that reflects what is happening in our industry. I also joined the Communities of Practice on Gender and Climate Finance - spaces where we hear directly from peers who are facing similar challenges and exploring different ways to approach them. Locally, I stay connected with both the Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto chapters. Through these communities, I have found informal mentors, peers, and role models—people I might never have met if not for CAFIID.
Can you share a meaningful connection or key lesson learned through CAFIID?
One thing I have learned is that people are more generous with their knowledge than you think - especially if you approach with curiosity. The world of impact investing is full of people aiming for the same thing - using capital to do good, but there are countless ways to get there. CAFIID helped me make sense of those paths. I have picked up new frameworks and practical examples through webinars and peer discussions, especially in areas like gender-lens investing, impact measurement, and climate finance. These have shaped how I think and helped me contribute more meaningfully to my work at Sarona.I have also started giving back, in small ways. Sometimes through presenting, sometimes just talking one-on-one with someone new to the industry. A few were students or newcomers asking how to get started. I told them what I know - and what I still do not. Sometimes just hearing that your path does not have to be perfect is what someone needs to hear. That might be the bigger lesson: communities like CAFIID get stronger when people make time for each other.
What motivates you to stay involved with CAFIID?
CAFIID is one of the few places where people are influencing the industry together. I have built real friendships and I genuinely enjoy following the work others are doing. I also appreciate the feedback I receive on my own work—it helps me grow and stay grounded.
What advice would you give others to support their professional growth in impact investing?
The advice I give others is the same one I keep giving myself. If you want to contribute, do not wait until you feel completely ready or have everything figured out. Just show up as you are. You do not need a perfect elevator pitch or a five-year plan. You just need to be present and willing to learn.
Imposter syndrome or an inner critic will show up from time to time. So will the fear of public speaking, or the worry that your perspective is not polished enough. That is normal. But in impact investing, most of the real growth happens through feedback and conversation—with peers, with founders, with other investors, with people whose experiences are different from yours. That is where you start to learn what actually matters.
If you are looking to build your skills, especially in areas like impact management, climate finance or gender lens investing, one great way to start is by joining CAFIID’s Communities of Practice.
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