Building cross-sector partnerships to address a critical public policy need

A global financial services firm sought to create a new internal unit aimed at addressing the affordable housing crisis in the United States. To maximize the potential impact of this initiative, the company needed to identify strategic partners in adjacent sectors such as health, education, energy, and employment. The challenge was to design a scalable solution that could effectively integrate these sectors, drive cross-sector collaboration, and align various stakeholders around a common mission to tackle housing affordability.

• Organized and facilitated a cross-country listening tour, engaging senior leaders from various sectors to identify key areas where the company could have the greatest impact.
• Worked closely with company executives and staff to design the mission, strategy, and structure of the new unit, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader objectives and vision for affordable housing solutions.
• Identified and established strategic partnerships with organizations in the health, education, energy, and employment sectors, creating a collaborative framework to address housing affordability from multiple angles.

The company successfully launched five pilot projects in its first year, with the new unit becoming a core component of the firm’s strategy to address the affordable housing crisis. By building strong cross-sector partnerships, the company not only advanced its mission but also positioned itself as a thought leader in tackling systemic housing challenges. The initiative’s early success demonstrated the potential for scalable, collaborative solutions and laid the foundation for continued expansion and impact in the years to come.