Meet the Team-Magali Lamyin

We are proud to be part of the growing Deetken Impact team, and are excited to introduce this diverse and talented group of investment professionals. We regularly feature our colleagues in these interview-style profiles so you can get to know them better!

Meet Erik Wallsten, Managing Partner at Deetken Impact. Originally the Founder and Managing Partner of Adobe Capital, one of Latin America’s leading impact investment fund managers, Erik was instrumental in chartering the joint partnership to create Deetken Impact Alternative Finance. Over the last decade, he has played a catalytic role in the growth of the impact investing sector in Latin America, working at various private equity and venture capital funds in Mexico prior to launching Adobe Capital. Erik received an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with Honors from Universidad Iberoamericana.

Currently based in Deetken Impact’s Vancouver office, Erik is originally from Mexico City, and speaks Spanish, English and Swedish.

As one of the Founders of Adobe Capital, can you tell us about its inception, and your journey up until that point? 

Before establishing Adobe Capital, I had extensive experience in venture capital and private equity, yet I found myself increasingly questioning the “so what?” of traditional finance and wondering how much genuine impact it was creating. As is so often the case, the birth of my first daughter brought this into sharper focus, fueling my desire to help build a better world for the next generation. Impact investing offered a way to align my professional skills with a deeper purpose, blending financial expertise with meaningful social outcomes.

Adobe Capital, which was founded in Mexico City in 2012, represented one of the first impact investment funds in Latin America. Our goal was clear: to channel capital into enterprises with the power to drive meaningful social and environmental change in underserved communities across the region. Around the same time, Deetken Impact was established in Vancouver with a very similar mission, and our paths were eventually set to converge. Adobe Capital successfully raised two funds totaling USD $50 million, allowing us to invest in 17 companies across seven countries and attract major investors committed to impact in Latin America.

Joining Deetken Impact and carrying forward the legacy of Adobe Capital has been a profound journey—one that not only serves communities today, but is driven by a vision for future generations.

What led to the partnership with Deetken Impact?

After nearly a decade of pioneering alternative investment structures for impact-driven enterprises in Latin America, we reached a point where growth and broader impact became the natural next steps. To truly become the leading regional player, we needed to achieve greater scale, a more extensive footprint, and more talent on the ground. The synergies with Deetken Impact were immediately undeniable as we shared a similar mission and offered complementary strengths.

What is your favorite part of the work you do, and why?

What I love most about my work is that no two days are alike. Every day brings something fresh and new—whether that’s exploring fascinating and promising new industries for potential investment, or meeting with inspiring entrepreneurs who are reshaping their communities. Working across such a diverse range of sectors from fintech to sustainable agriculture keeps things refreshing and dynamic.

One company that stands out in this way is Puntored, a Colombian fintech that’s making financial services accessible to underserved communities in Colombia and Mexico. From our initial investment in 2020, to our recent 2024 LAVCA Social Impact Award, being part of their journey has been incredibly rewarding. Helping visionary founders like those behind Puntored is what makes this work both meaningful and endlessly engaging for me.

Ana María Martínez with her family
Erik and his family have fun on the slopes, enjoying one of their favourite family activities – skiing! 

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I like to say that I am an “undercover Mexican” since I am of Swedish descent, but I was born and raised in Mexico City, which has created a fascinating blend of cultures in my life. On one hand, I have deep-rooted ethical traditions from my Swedish side, like accountability and hard work. On the other hand, my Mexican upbringing gives me an appreciation for the more fun aspects of life like Dia de Muertos.  Having grown up with both these cultures often catches people by surprise when they learn about it, and it definitely gives me a unique perspective on life!

 

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, skiing is something I have loved for as long as I can remember, but I’m always especially excited to share it with my girls. Watching them take to the slopes has been so much fun, and it’s one of my favorite ways to spend time together as a family. Recently, I have started backcountry skiing, which is a whole new adventure. It is a bit more challenging, but you connect with the mountains in a different way when you are away from the crowds.

 

What is your favourite city/country you have visited, and which is at the top of your bucket list to visit?

Without question, my favorite place that I have had the privilege of visiting is Botswana, specifically the Okavango Delta. I first went there about 20 years ago, and it left such a lasting impression on me. It is a place that truly feels untouched, and there is this incredible sense of peace that comes with being in such a wild, remote corner of the world.

As for my bucket list, Africa is right back at the top. Now that my daughters are older, I can’t wait to introduce them to the magic of the continent. I would love to return to Botswana and explore even more of it, but I am also excited to discover other parts of Africa, like Kenya. I think it is the kind of trip that would be even more special with my family, and I would love for them to experience the adventure, the wildlife, and the culture like I have. It is a place that keeps calling me back, and I cannot wait to share it with them.

 

You can learn more about Erik by following him on LinkedIn!

Get to know more about the Deetken Impact Team by checking out the other features in our Meet the Team series!

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