Tracy Palandjian

Tracy Pun Palandjian is an American business person who is co-founder and chief executive officer of Social Finance, a national nonprofit organization and registered investment advisor.

Early life and education

Palandjian was born and raised in Hong Kong. She moved to the United States at age 14 to attend Milton Academy. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a B.A. in Economics, and later earned an M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar.

Career

Early career Palandjian held early professional roles at McKinsey & Company and Wellington Management. She later joined the Parthenon Group where she became a managing director.

Social Finance In 2011, Palandjian co-founded Social Finance with Sir Ronald Cohen and David Blood. The organization has been involved in seeding the field of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) and other outcomes-based models as well as impact-first investing approaches in the United States. Pay for Success financing models mobilize private capital to support social programs, with government repayment contingent on measurable improvements in outcomes. Other impact-first investment approaches focus on market-based solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Governance and boards Palandjian was elected in 2022 to the Harvard Corporation. She previously was on the Harvard Board of Overseers (2012–2018) and on several Harvard visiting committees, including those for the Business School, the College, the Division of Continuing Education, and the Kennedy School. 2019: Alumni Achievement Award, Harvard Business School 2022: Fellow, Harvard Corporation 2022: Elected member, American Philosophical Society 2022: Elected member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Personal life Palandjian is married to Leon A. Palandjian, M.D., whom she met at Harvard during their undergraduate studies. They live in Belmont, Massachusetts, and have three daughters.