SALT LAKE CITY – After two years as Chief Operating Officer, veteran impact investor and entrepreneur Katie Macc has been named CEO of the Sorenson Impact Institute. David Eccles School of Business Dean Kurt Dirks made the appointment effective July 30, 2024.
“Katie was an outstanding COO for the Institute, effectively directing the Institute’s operations and strategic direction while overseeing multiple practice areas,” said Dean Dirks. “The Institute is already a leader in global impact. Katie is bringing an exciting vision for growing that impact, including how to leverage the University’s students and faculty.”
Macc joined the Institute in 2022. In addition to leading overall operations, Macc has led the Institute’s work connecting capital to social and environmental solutions as head of its impact strategy and impact measurement practice areas. She follows Geoff Davis as CEO, who transitioned to the role of Senior Advisor in June.
“It is an honor to accept this role at an organization that is at the forefront of our field,” said Macc. “The Institute is a leader in our field and our work with our partners is empowering critical systems change all over the world. It’s exciting to take the helm at an organization that is actively doing the work while training the next generation of impact leaders.”
Prior to the Institute, Macc co-founded the fintech company Juntos Global, which served over 5 million customers across three continents before it was acquired in 2021 by Nubank. Macc spent three years at the Dovetail Impact Foundation leading grantmaking and impact investing across Africa and India and seven years in microfinance. Macc currently serves on the board of the Park City Education Foundation.
In order to maximize the organization’s impact on the field and in the world, Macc said her vision for the Institute emphasizes three key areas: (1) advancing innovation and practical research, (2) sharpening the organization’s focus as field-leading practitioners, and (3) leaning into the Institute’s role in mentoring and training students while creating a pipeline of talent for careers in impact.
“To help expand the field of impact, we want to be a home for the kind of innovation and research that needs to incubate and grow independent of market forces,” said Macc. “It’s a huge benefit to us to be at the U where we can leverage the truly incredible resources, deep research and enormous talent that you can really only find at a large university. We are excited to take full advantage of those opportunities.”
Originally founded in 2001 as the first student-run venture fund in the nation and endowed by pioneering impact investor Jim Sorenson in 2013, the Sorenson Impact Institute has grown to become a leading multi-disciplinary impact organization housed at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. In addition to field leading research and innovation, the Institute offers a wide spectrum of services and expertise to help its partners across multiple sectors solve complex social and environmental challenges around the world while training future leaders in impact.
Beginning in the fall of 2024, the Institute will celebrate the grand opening of the Impact and Prosperity Epicenter. Located in the heart of campus, the Epicenter will serve as a living-learning community with a diverse mix of students and professionals. The state-of-the-art building combines residential living — for nearly 800 students — with impact practitioners from the Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity and the Institute.
