In September 2024 in NYC, LEBEC, in partnership with Morgan Stanley and WxL Partners, brought together a select group of philanthropists, investors, and entrepreneurs at the MADE Hotel to explore integrated solutions for tackling the interconnected challenges of food and economic and environmental resiliency.

The evening began with introductory remarks from Joe Flippin (Morgan Stanley), Wendy Wecksell (WxL Partners), and Alix Lebec (LEBEC), setting the stage for a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Alix Lebec. Panelists included:

• Hamzah Sarwar, Global Social Impact & Partnerships Director of Reckitt

• Felix Brooks-Church, Co-founder & CEO of Sanku

• Amy Dornbusch, Founder, AtlasDaughters; Director, Marks Family Foundation

• Shahbano Soomro, Deputy Head of Policy and Public Advocacy, Impax Asset Management

The conversation emphasized the urgency of breaking silos between philanthropy and investment to leverage diverse capital strategies—such as catalytic philanthropy, blended finance, and corporate investments—to scale impactful solutions. Attendees gained insights into actionable approaches for aligning stakeholders and financial tools to drive systems change.

The evening concluded with cocktails and rooftop networking at Bazaar by Chef José Andrés, fostering new connections and collaborations among leaders committed to building a sustainable and inclusive future.