The Purse Podcast

Jana Hlistova
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Investing
  • Updated Monthly

At The Purse: Women and Capital, we explore how women are transforming the architecture of finance. From angel investors to institutional leaders, from fintech founders to capital allocators, this is where women, wealth and power intersect to influence what gets funded — and what gets built next.

  1. Sep 13

    #167: Rebuilding capital for the industrial age with Marianne Abib-Pech

    Marianne Abib-Pech, an international finance executive, investor, and author. Marianne previously led the strategic repositioning and expansion of Shell Aviation, a $30 billion global business, and went on to found LTF Partners and co-found Transitions First.She is now leading the development of a new industrial capital platform targeting $300 million to support the commercialisation and scale-up of industrial deep tech.Marianne is also the author of The FT Guide to Leadership. We cover the following in our conversation: 2:30 – Non-obvious patterns investors miss about industrial vs. software value creation (the "J curve") 5:12 – Why industrial investing requires underwriting an entire system, not just a technology 8:36 – Case study: AgriLoops, going from pilot to physical plant 10:55 – Where traditional VC breaks down for long-cycle, capital-intensive sectors 14:26 – The funding architecture problem and how to redesign it 17:11 – "Bits vs. atoms": the shift back toward industrial/physical investment 22:47 – Geopolitics: US-Iran, Russia, supply chain fragmentation reshaping capital flows 27:30 – Europe's opportunity to lead in industrial deep tech 32:10 – Lessons from Shell Aviation: process discipline, security of supply, collaboration over competition 35:53 – M&A in frontier markets: risk vs. perception of risk, pattern recognition over "intuition" 46:02 – The GE furnace analogy for continuous industrial systems 46:17 – Where AI creates real defensible value in physical industries (and where capital is mis-priced) 50:32 – Leadership in an age of AI and geopolitical uncertainty 51:35 – "It's courage" , one-word definition of leadership today 55:24 – Women in investing and cognitive diversity in deep tech 58:30 – Closing question: what's systematically underestimated — society's capacity to build 60:54 – Final thoughts ***

  2. Aug 12

    #166: Gender smart investing, climate action and systems change in finance with Sana Kapadia

    Sana Kapadia is Chief Catalyst at Heading for Change, investing in solutions that advance climate, nature, biodiversity and gender equality. Her career has spanned gender and climate finance, impact investing and equity research. She is focused on leveraging capital as a tool for social change and to support deep and intersectional systemic shifts.  We cover the following in our conversation: 00:00 Welcome 01:44 Heading for Change mission 04:51 Why gender lens matters 08:41 Suzanne Biegel legacy 12:18 Understanding the 2X Challenge 14:33 From niche to mainstream 18:54 Climate and gender nexus 25:25 Inner work of systems change 29:44 Generational shifts in capital 32:02 Care economy as infrastructure 36:08 Measuring inclusion and impact 38:46 ESG and DEI backlash 41:33 Staying the course together 44:54 Redesigning finance for equity. **** The reports mentioned in this episode are: Heading for Change Insights ReportsInvestment Toolkit & GuidanceOther  climate and gender Tools, ResourcesClimate & gender investing overviewToolsMetricsGender care and climate rubric Project Catalyst & SAGECriterion reportPivotal care economy report***

  3. Aug 5

    #165: Early-stage funds, female founders and healthtech with Triin Linamagi

    Triin Linamagi is the Founding Partner of Arãya Sie Fund, an early-stage venture fund backing the next generation of women-led businesses in the UK and Europe. The fund invests at the pre-seed and seed stage across healthcare, climate, fintech, and deeptech/AI. She is also the Founder and CEO of Sie Ventures, an angel syndicate and capital platform. Sie Ventures improves access to high-quality investment opportunities for angel investors while supporting women founders through dedicated programs to help them fund and scale their ventures. Triin brings over a decade of investment experience across multiple venture capital funds. Prior to her career in VC, she spent several years as a founder and operator building technology companies, giving her a unique dual perspective as both investor and entrepreneur. 00:00 Guest intro 02:07 Smart menstrual cup investment 04:43 Why Emm matters for health 08:18 Founder origin and team 10:20 VC blind spots in femtech 13:46 Co-investing and role models 18:19 Launching Araya Sie Fund 22:29 Fund structure and community 26:12 British Business Bank investment 28:35 AI and deep tech gap 34:40 Fixing the capital system 39:26 Closing thoughts. ****

  4. Jun 16

    #164: From scientist to founder: Building Zonova and raising capital with Dr Georgia Fleet

    Dr Georgia Fleet is a scientist turned entrepreneur on a mission to tackle one of healthcare's most persistent challenges: hospital-acquired infections. She founded Zonova on International Women's Day in 2023 and is as CEO & Co-Founder. A materials scientist by training, Georgia spotted how medical devices drive hospital infections, and how few commercial solutions exist to address it. Three years on, the company's Z-ROS® antimicrobial materials platform is in active commercial discussions with global device manufacturers to make hospital-acquired infections a problem of the past. Georgia is a 2024/25 Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award winner, named Most Disruptive at Women in Tech EU 2025 and was listed #1 in TechRound's Top 50 Women in Startups & Tech in 2026 - recognising her commitment to impact, innovation, and women in STEM. We cover the following in our conversation: 01:59 Why hospital infections persist 04:40 Breakthrough: The "aha" moment 06:50 Pivot to platform model 08:25 Founder market fit 11:05 Fundraising reality check 17:20 Pitching platform and hiring CCO 19:43 Women investors 27:30 Fundraising experience 30:06 IP and impact strategy 31:44 Looking ahead: Ten year vision 33:51 Advice for new women investors 36:38 Final thoughts

  5. May 16

    #163: (Repost) Money and love: how to make important life decisions with Abby Davisson

    Abby Davisson is an award-winning Fortune 200 leader-turned-author and entrepreneur. Prior to founding the Money and Love Institute, her social impact career included nearly a decade at global retailer Gap Inc., where she served as president of the Gap Foundation and co-founded the company’s employee resource group for working parents. Abby’s prior professional experience includes strategy-focused roles across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as a stint (alongside her day job) as an alumni career advisor and coach at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Abby holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University. We cover the following in our conversation: 02:37 Why focus on money and love? 08:09 A lesson learned the hard way 10:46 Why decisions feel zero sum 12:57 Clarity and the "Five Cs" 16:41 Scenario 1: choosing a mate 23:09 Scenario 2: family and career 34:54 Scenario 3: breakup or divorce 39:02 Courage and better communication 44:46 Final advice. ****

  6. Apr 24

    #162: Empowering women, financial planning, cash ISAs, economic shifts, and inclusive advice with Shaz Bishop

    Shaz Bishop is a wealth manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin. With over 21 years of expertise in financial services, Shaz advises private clients on comprehensive wealth strategies, including tax-efficient investments, pension planning, inheritance tax mitigation, trusts, and international investments. Her holistic approach empowers individuals and families to navigate complex financial landscapes with confidence. Beyond her advisory role, Shaz is a dedicated advocate for financial literacy and women’s empowerment in wealth management. As a mother to two young daughters, she champions diversity and inclusion in the industry, striving to create a future where equitable representation is the norm. She’s passionate about educating underserved communities and breaking down barriers to financial access, ensuring the next generation inherits a more inclusive financial ecosystem. We cover the following in our conversation: 02:22 Money origins story 03:24 Cash ISA changes explained 05:04 Women and investing shift 08:05 Retirement barriers for women 10:37 Choosing the right adviser 11:45 One size policy limits 13:50 Cashflow planning tool 15:18 Risk and advice framing 17:57 Reviews and life events 18:59 Family planning and pensions 22:37 Measuring success beyond markets 24:02 Industry gaps and wealth transfer 26:54 Closing ***

  7. Apr 12

    #161: Why culture matters in growth, AI's market impact, and US growth investing with Kirsty Gibson

    Kirsty Gibson is an Investment Manager in the US Equity Growth Team and has been a portfolio decision maker since 2016. She joined Baillie Gifford in 2012 and became a partner in 2025. Prior to joining the US Equity Growth Team, Kirsty also spent several years in the small and large-cap global equities departments. She graduated MA (Hons) in Economics in 2011 and MSc in Carbon Management in 2012, both from the University of Edinburgh. We cover the following in our conversation: 01:57 Kirsty’s path to investing 04:49 Why culture matters in growth 06:52 Foundational vs created culture 09:27 When founders return 11:47 Architecting culture on purpose 14:49 Shopify’s AI pivot 19:06 Stripe’s culture in execution 20:47 Acquiring Bridge and the opportunity in stablecoins 22:38 AI shockwaves and market panic 29:31 What winners look like by 2030 31:34 Final takeaways. See: "The cultural architects: how great founders shape exceptional companies in changing times", written by Kirsty Gibson. ***

  8. Mar 16

    #160: (Repost) Navigating gender bias: insights and strategies with Dr Amy Diehl

    Amy Diehl, PhD, is an award-winning information technology leader, currently serving as Chief Information Officer at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. She is also a gender equity researcher and author of the new book Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work. Her writing has appeared in numerous scholarly journal articles and book chapters as well as in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Ms. Magazine. She is also a sought-after speaker, consultant, and lawsuit expert witness. Her passion is universal gender equality so that society and organisations can thrive and women can succeed. We cover the following: 01:50 Defining gender bias 02:52 How gender bias affects money and power 05:15 Six barriers overview 06:11 Male privilege and constraints 07:20 Support and devaluation 08:36 Hostility (including female hostility) 13:35 Acquiescence and opting out 16:19 Business case and examples 21:00 Leadership accountability and ERGs 22:44 Measuring bias 24:44 Gender bias incident example 26:55 Don’t internalise gender bias 29:13 Build support networks 30:06 Toxic workplaces 33:15 Leaders must own change 34:03 Stories that wake up leaders 36:59 Male norms and work design 39:24 Allies taking action 40:45 LinkedIn as safe space 43:29 Kamala Harris double standards 48:21 Progress and hope. ***

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At The Purse: Women and Capital, we explore how women are transforming the architecture of finance. From angel investors to institutional leaders, from fintech founders to capital allocators, this is where women, wealth and power intersect to influence what gets funded — and what gets built next.

Information

  • Creator
    Jana Hlistova
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    166
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 483001
  • Show Website
    The Purse Podcast