Episode 23: Musings with Rena Greifinger

“I was instilled with this idea that I come from a lot of privilege and lot of ease in my own life, and to use that as power to clear the barriers for others to exercise their own privilege and power.” Rena Greifinger has used her power and privilege to help some of the most underrepresented and marginalized people in the world. Director of Individual Philanthropy and Managing Director of the Maverick Collective by Population Services International or PSI, Rena joined PSI twelve years ago with a mission of working for the dignity of people affected by stigmatized issues. Whether that’s HIV/AIDS or helping women get access to contraception and family planning or helping communities upgrade sanitation, Rena puts people at the center. What you’ll hear in this episode: 00:00 Rena's background and passion for social justice 08:00 Introduction to Population Services International (PSI) 13:27 The Maverick Collective: investing in women and girls 18:21 Addressing gender-based violence 23:03 Including men and boys in the conversation for gender equality 24:56 Challenges and rewards of working in different countries and cultures 25:37 The power of individual philanthropy and innovation 28:40 Engaging high-net-worth women donors through Maverick Collective 45:18 The interconnectedness of social issues 49:04 Taking action and recognizing privilege in living a moral life Find out more about the Maverick Collective and PSI on their websites: www.psi.org and maverickcollective.org. Get to know Rena Greifinger on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/renagreifinger. Musings About Ourselves and Other Strangers is the podcast for the non-profit organization The Life You Can Save and is hosted by co-founder Charlie Bresler. Please check out other episodes as well as our website for ideas on how you too can extend your impact for good in the world: www.thelifeyoucansave.org.

Om Podcasten

We are excited to launch a new season for “Musings….” This season we have changed the title to reflect a shift in our focus. The new title is “Musings on Wellbeing.” Why the change? At a time of increased polarization in the United States and Europe, as well as threats to peace in the Middle East and Africa, the time is right to dive deeply into the concept of wellbeing. After all, isn’t that what we all seek for ourselves, our families, our communities, and our planet? Together with host Charlie Bresler, guests will explore a variety of perspectives on the theme of wellbeing. Hopefully, these interviews will provoke listeners to do their own exploration: What is your pathway to personal wellbeing? How, as a society, can we create a pathway that promotes the wellbeing of all our citizens? In a world that too often makes us feel powerless, Charlie and guests are helping us identify steps (quite literally) to take to increase personal and societal wellbeing. Charlie Bresler, Ph.D. is a clinical and social psychologist who, after a career as a graduate professor of psychology, ventured into the world of business and philanthropy. He is the former president of a large international retail company and co-founder of The Life You Can Save.