In episode 73 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Andrea and Jessica La Mesa, co-CEOs of The Life You Can Save, on their journey into the philanthropic sector and the mission of the organization.

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Since 2013, the organization has catalyzed $100 million in donations to high-impact charities.

In 2018, Jessica and Andrea La Mesa decided to pause their thriving tech careers to reassess their future. They agreed on their goals: to have children, lead more balanced lives, and use their talents to create meaningful change in the world.

Jessica was profoundly impacted by the words of data scientist Jeff Hammerbacher, who, upon leaving Facebook, lamented that "the best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads."

Despite being highly sought-after in the tech and advertising industry, Jessica felt unfulfilled after a decade in the field.

Andrea, meanwhile, had moved to the US as a Fulbright scholar. He had taught himself to code as a teenager and founded one of Italy’s first social media agencies. After selling his second company in 2013, he became one of the first employees at Airbnb, eventually overseeing its entire North American operation.

Several years after meeting in Silicon Valley, Jessica and Andrea relocated to the tranquility of Lugano, Switzerland, ready to embark on the next chapter of their lives.

When Airbnb went public at the end of 2020, Jessica and Andrea found themselves in a position to start impact investing and making charitable donations.

They faced crucial questions: where should they invest and donate, and how could they ensure these investments and donations would achieve the maximum good?

Their research led them to organizations like The Katapult Foundation, Founders Pledge, and The Centre for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth.

The principles of these groups resonated with their analytical minds, revealing that they could be a positive financial force and achieve greater impact by volunteering their skills to meta-charities focused on effective giving.

Instead of focusing on ad clicks or vacation rentals, they would dedicate their efforts to encouraging impactful donations.

Reading Peter Singer’s The Life You Can Save solidified this new perspective on moral responsibility. The book emphasized the opportunities for everyone, not just wealthy philanthropists, to significantly improve lives by making well-directed donations.

In early 2024, Jessica and Andrea officially took over as Co-CEOs of The Life You Can Save. By combining their considerable talents, they plan to significantly expand the charity's reach, spreading its message about the power of personal giving and connecting more donors with the most effective ways to alleviate suffering worldwide.

Podcast Episode Summary

Andrea and Jessica La Mesa, co-CEOs of The Life You Can Save, discuss their journey into the philanthropic sector and the mission of their organization.

They share their backgrounds and how they transitioned from their previous careers to dedicating their time to philanthropy.

The Life You Can Save focuses on connecting donors with effective nonprofits in the global health and development space.

They curate a list of organizations that have been independently verified and offer donors confidence in the impact of their donations.

The La Mesas emphasize the importance of strategic and evidence-based philanthropy and the need for ongoing funding partnerships with nonprofits.

Sound Bites

"The Life You Can Save exists to help connect donors with really impactful giving opportunities."

"Philanthropy is not guaranteed. Expecting outcomes out of donations is complex and requires experience, research, and data."

"The goal is to put a compelling list together that focuses on lifting people out of poverty."

About The Life You Can Save

The Life You Can Save was founded in 2013 by philosopher Peter Singer and former executive Charlie Bresler.

The organization was born out of Charlie Bresler's personal quest for impact, inspired by Peter Singer’s book The Life You Can Save. Charlie, a psychologist and business executive, reached out to Peter, and together they formed an organization dedicated to spreading Peter’s ideas and encouraging effective philanthropy.

Over the past decade, their collaboration has inspired global change, resulting in over $100 million in donations to high-impact charities.

Co-CEOs: Jessica La Mesa and Andrea La Mesa

Jessica La Mesa

Co-CEO

Jessica La Mesa began her career as a leader in advertising technology with the Hearst Corporation and AdRoll. However, she was deeply troubled by the idea that the best minds were focused on optimizing ad-clicks rather than addressing significant global issues.

After a financial windfall from an IPO in 2020, Jessica and her husband Andrea committed to making impactful investments and philanthropic efforts.

Their journey led them to engage with organizations like The Katapult Foundation, Founders Pledge, and The Centre for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth.

Initially joining The Life You Can Save as a strategic advisor, Jessica transitioned to the role of COO and eventually became Co-CEO.

She proposed sharing the CEO responsibilities with Andrea, leveraging their collective expertise to maximize their impact. Both Jessica and Andrea serve in their roles pro bono.

Andrea La Mesa

Co-CEO

Andrea La Mesa, originally from Italy, came to the United States as a Fulbright scholar and became one of the first employees at AirBnB.

He eventually rose to the positions of General Manager for North America and Director of AirBnB Experiences.

Following AirBnB’s IPO, Andrea, alongside Jessica, sought to optimize their philanthropic efforts, collaborating with The Katapult Foundation, Founders Pledge, and The Centre for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth. Andrea also contributed to Innosuisse, enhancing his impact on the global stage.

When Jessica was offered the role of CEO at The Life You Can Save, she suggested that Andrea join her as Co-CEO, combining their strengths and strategies.

Their leadership at The Life You Can Save continues to be driven by a passion for effective philanthropy, and they both serve without compensation.