Durreen Shahnaz
Broadleaf Books, 247 pages | Published June 27, 2023
Durreen Shahnaz had me at the title. From the moment I heard of The Defiant Optimist: Daring to Fight Global Inequality, Reinvent Finance, and Invest in Women, I was intrigued and inspired. Optimism is surely a philosophic way of approaching life that we crave especially right now – but being defiantly optimistic about changing seemingly intractable, global systems that often implicitly oppress vulnerable populations – who has that kind of daring belief? And how might I learn it?
Shahnaz expertly weaves together her personal story of growing up in Dhaka, Bangladesh – in a hard-working family with limited resources, high expectations and a commitment to helping others even as they struggled – with her professional prowess as an impact investor. Her writing is rich with detail — the sounds, smells, sights of a country and people in need, as well as the complexities of global systems that exclude “entire demographics of people.”
Government “social safety nets” have limited capabilities, making the role of mission-driven nonprofits even more critical. Yet nonprofit workers and active members of faith communities struggle with “compassion fatigue.” Many who dedicate our lives to nonprofit work or who volunteer time and resources to this “one wild and precious life,” as Mary Oliver names it, live at the intersection of public policy, civil society and the private sector. It is a place of vast potential and overwhelming challenges, and Shahnaz makes a case for a more inclusive and innovative model “that would value social and environmental effectiveness and stakeholder engagement and voice as highly as efficiency.”
It is not enough to be optimistic. Defiant, active, solution-oriented optimism undergirded by strategy and resources can fuel true change, one impact at a time. Shahnaz’s book offers a game plan that breaks down the complexities of global systems into actionable tactics. From the small business built by her entrepreneurial mother to microloans that lift up women in rural India to determining a bank’s most impactful-yet-smart- investments, Shahnaz has borne witness to the power of defiant optimism her whole life.
Shahnaz’s personal and professional story is inspiring — as well as deeply vulnerable, charming and life-affirming. “Defiant optimism” as a philanthropic approach could be taught in collegiate honors courses in philanthropy and finance, or explored in a committed church book group or faith-based group of investment-minded volunteers. And certainly strong, compassionate, driven women will see so much of themselves in this journey — and see a path forward.
As Shahnaz writes, “(i)t’s one thing to talk about changing the world. But when a foundation director tells you he will support your idea for doing so: well, I was starting to feel dizzy. All my life I had craved respect and longed for people to believe in me … I had heard the word ’no’ so often as a little girl in Dhaka and then again as a woman pitching to Silicon Valley investors. Now, at long last, I had a “yes” — and I didn’t know what to do. Then again, I did know … ”
Presbyterian Outlook supports local bookstores. Join us! Click on the link below to purchase The Defiant Optimist: Daring to Fight Global Inequality, Reinvent Finance, and Invest in Women from BookShop, an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. As an affiliate, Outlook will also earn a commission from your purchase.
Want to receive book-related content in your inbox once a month? Sign up here.
