Beyond Positive Sum: A Special Conversation with the Ford Foundation's Roy Swan

What if the zero-sum myth—the idea that for someone to win, someone else must lose—has actually cost the economy trillions? On October 6, 2026, Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) hosted a special conversation between MIE President and CEO Matt Onek and Roy Swan, the Ford Foundation's Director of Mission Investments and author of the newly released book Positive Sum: How Zero-sum Thinking Broke Capitalism ― and How We Can Fix It. They discussed how zero-sum thinking has blinded institutions to their greatest untapped asset: an ethical, positive-sum model of capitalism that delivers stronger returns and shared prosperity. They explored what "positive sum" means in practice—from the Ford Foundation's own investments (including its $1 billion commitment and the thinking behind it) to the clear evidence that impact investing doesn't mean sacrificing financial returns. MIE is the leading network for foundations, family offices, and other mission-driven asset owners who engage in impact investing. Learn more and join our community: https://www.missioninvestors.org