Best Ben G Kaiser Podcasts (2025)

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Built from Scratch: How ABC Impact Became Asia’s Largest Impact Fund | Sugandhi Matta (#091) 1:32:19

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5d ago1:32:19

1:32:19

My guest today is Sugandhi Matta, Chief Impact Officer at ABC Impact – the largest Pan-Asian impact-dedicated private equity fund, with nearly $900 million in AUM. Sugandhi began her career focused on growth and returns — first at Temasek, and later at Actis. But after a breast cancer diagnosis in her early thirties, she returned to work with a new…

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Too Big for Microfinance, Too Risky for VC: Bridging the "Missing Middle" Capital Gap in Latin America | Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter (#090) 1:54:03

12d ago1:54:03

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My guest today is Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter, Co-Founder of IMPAQTO and General Partner at IMPAQTO Capital. Michelle is a human rights lawyer by training, a fund builder by calling, and one of the most compelling system-reimaginers I’ve ever had on the show. Michelle’s journey has taken her from a small apartment in Quito to the halls of Oxford and…

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In Case You Missed It: Must-Hear Impact Highlights From April 2025 (#089) 1:56:47

19d ago1:56:47

1:56:47

This spring, I had the chance to talk with four incredible guests, each with a different take on what it really means to put money to work and invest in line with your values. Across late March and April, we explored climate-smart timber, social finance powered by dormant bank accounts, fully impact-focused wealth advising, and how catalytic capita…

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Impact Update: What’s Working, What’s Not, and What’s Next with Eric Rice (#088) 57:47

26d ago57:47

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My guest today is Eric Rice – back for his second appearance on the podcast. When we first spoke, he was running one of the only public equity funds in the impact space available to retail investors. Now, that fund has been shut down, the capital returned, and Eric has moved to private equity – specifically, to SEAF, an investor in emerging market …

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Community Investing Myth Busters: Four Investors Who Go Where Banks Won’t (#087) 2:18:15

1M ago2:18:15

2:18:15

This 4-in-1 compilation episode is about capital that doesn’t flow on its own. It has to be pushed into places with no pitch decks and no polished management teams. The places where spreadsheets say “too risky,” but the need is obvious to anyone paying attention. This is capital for the common good, yes – but it’s also capital that works. These are…

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Breaking the Investor Mold: Inside 4 Women-Led Funds Driving Real Impact & Real Returns (#086) 1:49:30

1M ago1:49:30

1:49:30

This 4-in-1 compilation episode focuses on a persistent disconnect between capital and capability: women are founding businesses at record rates and leading high-performing funds, yet the capital rarely follows. In other words, women are underrepresented both in receiving and managing capital. Today’s episode is about those pushing back against tha…

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From £10M to £2B: Michele Giddens “Bridges” Impact Purpose with Double-Digit Returns (#085) 1:28:07

2M ago1:28:07

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My guest today is Michele Giddens, Co-Founder and CEO of Bridges Fund Management — one of the early architects of impact investing, before the term was even coined. Bridges now has over £2 billion in AUM invested in private equity and property, but back in 2002, it began with little more than a blank sheet of paper and a conviction that capital cou…

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Building the Green Bond Market With No Playbook: Lessons From 500+ Deals in Sustainable Finance | Romina Reversi (#084) 1:27:16

2M ago1:27:16

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My guest is Romina Reversi, Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Investment Banking Americas at Crédit Agricole CIB — one of the banks that helped write the very rules of the green bond market, and has stayed near the center of gravity ever since. Romina’s path into banking didn’t start with a mission to change the world. It started with a lov…

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Fixing Finance: Inside Triodos' €6B Pure-Play, Impact-Only Asset Manager | Hadewych Kuiper (#083) 1:42:56

2M ago1:42:56

1:42:56

My guest today is Hadewych Kuiper, Managing Director at Triodos Investment Management — a pure-play impact investing firm since day one, with a 30-year track record of turning capital into systemic change. However, Hadewych didn’t arrive in finance with a grand plan to change the system. Her journey began in a small town in the north of the Netherl…

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Zeal Breaks the Mold: How Backing Overlooked Founders Delivers 3–4X on Invested Capital | Nasir Qadree (#082) 1:28:40

2M ago1:28:40

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Today's guest is Nasir Qadree, Founder and Managing Partner of Zeal Capital Partners – a venture platform based in Washington, D.C., that’s reimagining how capital flows by focusing on inclusion, economic mobility, and systems change. Nasir was raised in Atlanta between two very different worlds – one shaped by his hardworking mother and the other …

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More Than Timber: How Smart Forestry Beats Market Returns for EFM | Bettina von Hagen (#081) 2:00:35

3M ago2:00:35

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In this episode, I’m talking with Bettina von Hagen, Managing Director & CEO of EFM Investments & Advisory. Since founding Ecotrust Forest Management 20 years ago, she’s been redefining forestry investment – consistently beating traditional market-rate returns while protecting ecosystems, communities, and future generations. Bettina grew up in poli…

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Idle Funds to £10B Market: How Better Society Capital Helped Grow UK Social Impact by 12X | Stephen Muers (#080) 1:35:13

3M ago1:35:13

1:35:13

Today's guest is Stephen Muers, CEO of Better Society Capital – the UK’s leading social impact-led investor. His path to impact started long before his career, shaped by his upbringing in a Quaker family rooted in values of equality, social conscience, and integrity. Before stepping into the world of impact investing, Stephen spent years in the UK …

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Inside the First Impact-Only Wealth Management Firm: Veris Walks The Impact Talk | Stephanie Cohn Rupp (#079) 1:26:14

3M ago1:26:14

1:26:14

My guest today is Stephanie Cohn Rupp, Chief Executive Officer of Veris Wealth Partners — one of the first impact-only wealth management firms in the world, and one of the rare few that has been majority women-owned or led since day one. Stephanie was born in the U.S. and raised just outside Paris by parents who did medical missions in underserved …

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Catalytic Capital Transforming “Risky” to “Investment Grade” Impact | Yasemin Saltuk Lamy (#078) 1:14:54

3M ago1:14:54

1:14:54

My guest today is Yasemin Saltuk Lamy, Head of Investment Strategy at Legal & General (L&G), a London-based multinational financial services and asset management company. And believe it or not, her investment journey started when she was only 18. Back then, she had been dreaming of studying in Senegal to experience a French-speaking African economy…

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A $100 Trillion Opportunity: Empowering Entrepreneurial Households in the 'Unseen Middle' in India | Jyotsna Krishnan, EPIC World (#077) 1:10:20

3M ago1:10:20

1:10:20

My guest today is Jyotsna Krishnan, the CEO and Co-Founder of EPIC World focused on empowering what she has termed "the unseen middle." Jyotsna leads initiatives to change the financial systems for entrepreneurial households in India, creating replicable models for other regions that share similar market dynamics, like Latin America. She recognized…

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IIX Orange Bonds Lifting MILLIONS of Women in Asia & Africa! | Robert Kraybill (#076) 1:14:25

4M ago1:14:25

1:14:25

Robert Kraybill is a well-known name in the impact investment space who has created innovative financial products that channel capital into improving livelihoods across emerging markets, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. But his journey didn’t start there. Robert’s first big career move was at Morgan Stanley. Fresh out of Princeton, he was …

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The Next Evolution of Wealth Management: Jed Emerson on Purpose, Capital, and Delivering Impact (#075) 1:26:24

4M ago1:26:24

1:26:24

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome back Jed Emerson, our first-ever repeat guest on the show. Jed is a true impact pioneer and has spent decades thinking about and exploring how to create impact and value that is in alignment with who you are – your values, your goals, and your purpose. Jed's impact journey began in the gritty Tenderloin district of Sa…

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It's NOT ESG – It's Value Enhancement: Private Equity Giant General Atlantic on Sustainability as a Pillar for Growth (#074) 1:37:09

4M ago1:37:09

1:37:09

Today, I'm talking with Cornelia Gomez, Global Head of Sustainability at General Atlantic. Cornelia is a leader who has uniquely merged corporate social responsibility with real-world business practices. Born and raised in Paris, Cornelia's culturally vibrant yet traditional family shaped her strong sense of justice and commitment to ethical busine…

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Sir Ronald Cohen is Leading a Revolution: Valuing Impact for the $40 Trillion ESG Industry (#073) 1:22:26

5M ago1:22:26

1:22:26

My guest today is Sir Ronald Cohen, often referred to as "the father of British venture capital" and "the father of impact investing." As Co-founder and President of GSG Impact, Sir Ronald is leading a revolution to transform how the financial world measures and reports a company's value by including its net impact on people and our planet. Early i…

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Elevar’s Bold Bet on 50 Million Entrepreneurial Households as Growth Engines in Emerging Markets (#072) 1:27:08

5M ago1:27:08

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In this episode, I speak with Sandeep Farias, Founder and Managing Partner of Elevar Equity. If I wanted to describe Sandeep in one sentence, I'd probably say he’s a nomadic child of India’s landscapes who became an impact investing titan. His early life was shaped by his father’s multiple assignments in the State Bank of India. From spending time …

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Scaling Success for the Underserved: Temasek's Eliza Foo on Impact Investing in Asia and Beyond (#071) 1:20:46

5M ago1:20:46

1:20:46

Impact investing in emerging markets has been viewed as a high-risk proposition fraught with challenges. But my guest today sees these challenges as opportunities for innovation, identifying and investing in solutions that address critical social and environmental needs while building a resilient portfolio with competitive returns. Eliza Foo is a l…

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The Women-Led VC Fund Making Healthcare Profitable, Accessible & Scalable | Tara Bishop, Black Opal Ventures (#070) 1:56:12

5M ago1:56:12

1:56:12

When you think about healthcare innovation, the image of cutting-edge technologies, AI-driven diagnostics, and robotic breakthroughs might come to mind. But is there a way to use these innovations to address the system's biggest challenges – cost, quality, access, and sustainability? My guest today is Dr. Tara Bishop who is the founder and managing…

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Cracking the Code of Circular Economy: 3 Innovators Redefining Waste into Resources and Revenues (#069) 1:51:07

6M ago1:51:07

1:51:07

In this 3-in-1 compilation episode, we're revisiting the world of the circular economy. As our planet faces escalating environmental challenges, these three pioneers are lighting the way for sustainable business practices that promote ecological resilience and economic prosperity. These are the innovators whose approaches are making a real differen…

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SRI360 Revisited: Is Your Portfolio Aligned With Your Values? (#068) 1:10:29

6M ago1:10:29

1:10:29

In this episode, instead of bringing you a long-form interview with a world-class investor, I thought I’d do something different. This time, I’m revisiting the book that inspired this podcast: Sustainable and Responsible Investing 360: Lessons Learned from World-Class Investors. As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the ch…

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4 Changemakers Leveraging Capital to Bridge Profit, Social Justice, and Environmental Impact (#067) 2:04:51

6M ago2:04:51

2:04:51

In this 4-in-1 compilation episode, I’ve brought together the compelling stories of four changemakers who are rethinking how we use capital to create measurable social and environmental impact. Each of these guests takes a unique approach to closing the gap between profit and purpose, showing how financial tools and innovative strategies are drivin…

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The Secret Behind Osmosis’ $17B Success: Using Data to Crush ESG Stereotypes for Scalable Impact | Ben Dear (#066) 1:35:15

6M ago1:35:15

1:35:15

Last week, my guest, Ben Dear, the founder and CEO of Osmosis Investment Management, started sharing his extraordinary journey – a 17-year journey of career pivots that ultimately led him to create one of the most innovative sustainable investment funds. We paused at the pivotal moment when he founded Osmosis, which now manages over $17 billion in …

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No Quick Wins, No Shortcuts: The Grit That Took Ben Dear from Zero to $17bn – A Real-Life Sustainable Fund Raising Odyssey (#065) 1:29:30

6M ago1:29:30

1:29:30

Today, I’m joined by Ben Dear, founder and CEO of Osmosis Investment Management, and this is the first part of a story that is anything but ordinary. It's a true odyssey that began in a small town in England, passed through many entrepreneurial experiments, and ultimately led him to found Osmosis – a $17 billion sustainable investment fund. But Ben…

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Essential Yet Undervalued: Helen Avery on GFI's Mission to Crowd-In Natural Capital Investment (#064) 1:11:49

7M ago1:11:49

1:11:49

Biodiversity loss isn’t just an environmental issue – it’s a financial opportunity hiding in plain sight. But here’s the thing: while it’s just as important as tackling carbon emissions, natural capital is still flying under the radar for most businesses and investors. That’s where today’s guest, Helen Avery, comes in. Helen is the Director of Natu…

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Riding the Next Big Disruption: Tech VC Serena Betting Big on Bold Climate & Water Innovations (#063) 1:35:46

7M ago1:35:46

1:35:46

When you think of venture capital, you might picture fast-paced deals, tech unicorns, and ambitious growth strategies. But what if it could also drive real, measurable change for the planet? That’s exactly the vision behind Serena, whose co-founder Xavier Lorphelin joins me today. Xavier is here to explain, among other things, why the firm integrat…

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In Case You Missed It: October’s Impact Leaders on Revolutionizing Microfinance & Energy Efficiency (#062) 2:06:38

7M ago2:06:38

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Last month I had insightful conversations with two leaders in impact investing and sustainability. The first was with Rochus Mommartz, who is the CEO of responsAbility, and the other was with Jonathan Maxwell, who is the founding partner and CEO of Sustainable Development Capital. This episode is a special one which serves as a recap of the episode…

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Public Fixed Income Drives 10X More Impact Than PE, VC & Public Equities Combined! - Nuveen's Steve Liberatore Tells Us How (#061) 1:49:45

8M ago1:49:45

1:49:45

When we think of impactful investments, public fixed income probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, it’s driving far more capital into climate finance than we see in private equity, venture capital, and public equities combined. It’s not just statistics – it’s proof of the powerful impact fixed income can achieve. To learn more abou…

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Betting Big on Energy at the Edge: SDCL Finds Double-Digit Returns Off the Grid | Jonathan Maxwell (#060) 1:54:11

8M ago1:54:11

1:54:11

Here's something I learned in this interview: We're wasting three-quarters of the world’s energy, half of its food, and a third of its water. That’s a crazy amount of lost resources! But what if, instead of just seeing this as an environmental problem, we saw it as a huge economic opportunity? The truth is, we don’t need to wait for new technology,…

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COP16 Special: Profitable Nature-Based Investing - 4 Leaders Paving the Way for a Greener, Sustainable Future (#059) 1:45:33

8M ago1:45:33

1:45:33

In honor of COP16, the biodiversity 'Conference of the Parties', which begins next week in Cali, Colombia, I’ve put together a special compilation episode featuring four insightful conversations on nature-focused investment strategies. Each segment explores different approaches to nature-based investing, highlighting the diverse asset classes and s…

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Inside a $5 Billion Mission: How Private Debt & Equity Are Transforming Emerging Markets | Rochus Mommartz, responsAbility (#058) 1:27:02

9M ago1:27:02

1:27:02

Welcome back to the second part of the interview with Rochus Mommartz, the visionary CEO of responsAbility and a true impact warrior. With his specialized impact asset management house, Rochus is on a mission to create accessible opportunities for all, focusing on sectors that touch on the core needs of underserved populations – sustainable agricul…

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Reinventing Microfinance in Emerging Markets: From Subsidies to Sustainable Investment | Rochus Mommartz, responsAbility (#057) 1:01:29

9M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Rochus Mommartz has spent decades creating opportunities for people in emerging markets. ⁤⁤Today, he's with us to share his insights and his experiences from that incredible journey.⁤ Rochus is the CEO of responsAbility, a pioneer in impact investing that has evolved from a leader in microfinance to a prominent force in impact investing across Lati…

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Africa’s Great Doubling: How Vital Capital Seizes PE Profits & Purpose in Overlooked Opportunities Providing Essential Services (#056) 2:02:13

9M ago2:02:13

2:02:13

Today, I'm speaking with Nimrod Gerber, Managing Partner of Vital Capital, a private equity firm that is redefining impact investing in emerging markets, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Vital Capital focuses on providing essential services such as healthcare, food production, water, and sustainable infrastructure, often through "overlooked oppo…

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Nancy Pfund's Secret Sauce: How DBL Partners' Double-Bottom Line Defined Impact Investing (#055) 1:37:30

10M ago1:37:30

1:37:30

My guest today is Nancy Pfund, the visionary founder and managing partner of DBL Partners. She invested in Tesla when others ridiculed the idea of electric cars transforming the auto industry. DBL was among the first to see Tesla's potential, driven by a commitment to decarbonize transportation and create jobs in an industry most believed would nev…

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FinTech & Capital Markets for the Underbanked: Quona Capital Brings the Margins into the Mainstream (#054) 1:58:27

10M ago1:58:27

1:58:27

Today, I'm speaking with Monica Brand Engel, a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quona Capital, an impact pioneer focusing on financial inclusion in emerging and frontier markets. Quona’s mission is to generate impact and returns by investing in micro, small, and medium-sized businesses across South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. T…

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Million-Dollar Missions: A 2-In-1 Episode on How These Investors Are Reshaping the World (#053) 1:12:46

10M ago1:12:46

1:12:46

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its second year anniversary. To celebrate, I’ve been curating special compilation episodes, featuring some of the best segments over the past two years of SRI360. Today, I’m revisiting two extraordinary guests who have harnessed the power of impact investing to create a bett…

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Impact Investing Excellence: A Compilation of Four Leading Minds Working On Social Change (#052) 1:22:43

10M ago1:22:43

1:22:43

In celebration of the SRI360 podcast's second anniversary, I’ve prepared a special four-in-one episode featuring curated segments from four extraordinary leaders in impact investing and social change. These stories highlight their unwavering commitment to using finance as a tool for positive change, showcasing how these pioneers are leading the way…

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How Science-Based Impact Investments Are Saving Our Planet with Lena Thiede, Co-Founder of Planet A Ventures (#051) 1:15:29

11M ago1:15:29

1:15:29

In a society pushing most planetary boundaries, how can venture capital step in and scale the technologies we need to change the world? That’s the power behind Planet A Ventures, led by environmental advocate and policymaker Lena Thiede. Lena is a co-founding partner of Planet A — a cutting-edge green tech venture capital fund that only invests in …

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Inside TPG’s The Rise Fund: Maya Chorengel on Managing the Largest Global Impact Platform (#050) 1:42:49

11M ago1:42:49

1:42:49

What happens when Bono meets impact investors? They create The Rise Fund! In this episode, I’m speaking with Maya Chorengel, the co-managing partner of The Rise Fund — the world’s largest global impact platform committed to achieving measurable, positive social and environmental outcomes while securing financial returns for its investors. Founded b…

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SRI Investments That Surprisingly Worked: Lessons Learned from World-Class Investors (#049) 27:45

11M ago27:45

27:45

Today’s episode is a follow-up to our first “best of” compilation in celebration of our 2-year anniversary as the SRI360 podcast. I’m highlighting some of my favorite and most interesting responses from one of the most popular questions in my interviews. Tune in to hear what these world-class investors in sustainable and responsible investing had t…

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Federated Hermes' Blueprint for Biodiversity Investing and Quantifying Positive Impact Outcomes | Ingrid Kukuljan, Head of Impact & Sustainable Investing (#048) 1:08:45

12M ago1:08:45

1:08:45

Biodiversity is essential for the survival of humankind, yet we threaten it every day as a society. But what’s most concerning is how it’s vastly overlooked by companies in the investment space, not realizing how their future returns depend on having healthy ecosystems. To help shift this narrative is my guest Ingrid Kukuljan, Head of Impact and Su…

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SRI Investments That Didn't Work: Short Lessons Learned from World-Class Investors — 2 Years of Insights (#047) 27:42

12M ago27:42

27:42

To celebrate the SRI360 podcast's 2nd anniversary, I've created a “best of” episode with some of my favorite responses from one of the most popular questions in my interviews: the lessons learned from investments that didn’t turn out as expected. This episode features: 1. Bram Bos: Green Bonds Investing (02:12) Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Asse…

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The Future of Sustainable Fashion: Enabling the Circular Economy in the Apparel Sector | Karla Mora, Alante Capital (#046) 1:45:44

1y ago1:45:44

1:45:44

Have you ever thought about what happens with the clothes you toss out, or all the unsold items in malls? The apparel industry is a $3 trillion market that mass-produces tons of garments. Yet, a large portion of these items end up as waste without ever being sold. For many brands, it’s more cost-effective to write off unsold items as waste rather t…

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Mainstreaming Natural Capital Investing: How Apple & Partners Invest in Forestry & Carbon Removal To Generate Returns | Martin Berg, Climate Asset Management (#045) 1:42:15

1y ago1:42:15

1:42:15

Have you ever stopped to think how we’re treating biodiversity like it’s free to use? Our planet’s biodiversity does a great service for all humankind, and it's time we give it the financial value it deserves. This is the core of natural capital investing, and today’s guest, Martin Berg, is here to share its inner workings. He is the CEO of Climate…

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Impact Investing: A Win-Win for Health & Wealth | Kieron Boyle, Impact Investing Institute (#044) 1:33:46

1y ago1:33:46

1:33:46

Research shows that 81% of adults would like their investments to do some good as well as provide a financial return. However, the skepticism surrounding impact investing and limited awareness of the tools, standards, and regulations that support it holds many investors back in their impact journey. What the world needs now is greater advocacy for …

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Can Impact Investing Return DOUBLE Digits? | Anish Majmudar, M&G plc. (#043) 1:22:37

1y ago1:22:37

1:22:37

Portfolios looking to make a real-world impact are increasingly considering real assets as part of their investment strategies. With a trillion-dollar investment gap in our global infrastructure, this seems like a smart move. Real asset investing is not only driving progress worldwide, it’s also a smart long-term investment to secure our planet’s f…

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How This Impact VC is Transforming Plastic Waste Management by Investing in the Circular Economy | Lucy Mortimer, Archipelago Ventures (#042) 1:58:42

1y ago1:58:42

1:58:42

When you think of the circular economy, it’s inevitable to also bring up the significant challenges in the transition to this model, such as high transition costs, logistical complexities, inconsistent regulatory support, and low business and consumer participation. Regardless of its complexities, there’s hope in impact venture capital. To share ho…