SRI360 | Sustainable & Responsible Investing, Impact Investing, ESG, Socially Responsible Investing

Scott Arnell
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Investing
  • Updated Daily

SRI360 explores how professional and institutional investors use impact investing and sustainable finance to shape real-world outcomes. Each episode features an in-depth conversation with a leading investor in public or private equities, public or private debt, venture capital, or real assets. We focus on the mechanics of investing: how strategies are designed, how capital is allocated, how impact is achieved and measured, and where incentives succeed, or fail, within asset-owner systems. If you want clear, honest insight into the future of sustainable & responsible investing from the people shaping it, this show is your competitive edge.    Learn more at SRI360.com.

  1. May 20

    Africa’s Unbanked: Where FinTech Is Finding the Most Resilient Returns | Mohamed Okasha, DisrupTech Ventures

    What does it take to build a billion-dollar fintech company and then walk away from it to start over during a global pandemic?  In this episode, Mohamed Okasha shares the story behind helping to build Fawry into Egypt’s first tech unicorn—and then leaving shortly after its landmark IPO to launch DisrupTech, a first-time venture capital fund during COVID-19.  He breaks down what matters more than big ideas and what is often the ultimate competitive advantage in Africa’s startup ecosystem.  If you're curious about what helps founders grow stronger companies, don’t miss Mohamed’s practical lessons on investing, leadership, and decision-making from both an operator and investor perspective.  Tune in to learn more about: [00:03:30] Why Mohamed decided to leave Fawry after its billion-dollar IPO to start a venture fund during COVID.[00:05:05] The importance of making decisive moves during pivotal moments in life.[00:08:54] The role Mohamed’s parents played in encouraging risk-taking.[00:18:53] How routine and discipline help Mohamed succeed.[00:20:45] What Mohamed saw at Vodafone that no one else could see.[00:25:45] How his team built trust with their clients.[00:31:27] Why Fawry kept “one leg in the physical world and one leg in the digital world” during the transition to digital payments.[00:52:30] What makes a good founder in Africa versus a good founder in the USA.[01:03:00] The importance of advisory rather than relationships.[01:06:40] How Mohamed builds startups that make each other stronger.[01:09:15] How he encourages collaboration between founders without forcing partnerships.[01:15:00] What backseat leadership looks like to Mohamed.[01:21:37] What people should expect as an investor in African companies.[01:30:16] Why many global investors could be overlooking major opportunities in underserved markets. Resources: Mohamed Okasha: LinkedInDisrupTech VenturesFawry Connect with SRI360°: Sign up for the free weekly email update Visit the SRI360° PODCAST Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE Follow SRI360° on X:    Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK    Scott Arnell’s Book: Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360

    1h 40m

  2. May 6

    VC for Learning: How Outcome Funds Are Transforming Education in Emerging Markets with Amel Karboul

    Impact investing is entering a more disciplined, outcomes-driven phase, and it’s more complex than it first appears. In this episode of Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360, I sit down with Amel Karboul, Founder and CEO of the Education Outcomes Fund, to explore how capital can be tied directly to measurable results. Drawing on her experience working with governments, philanthropies, and impact investors, Amel explains why traditional funding models often fail to deliver real impact, and how outcomes-based financing aims to realign incentives across the system. Rather than paying for activities, this model pays for results, introducing both greater accountability and new challenges. We explore the tensions at the heart of this approach, from balancing different stakeholder expectations to addressing concerns around investor returns in low-income markets. We also discuss the risk of narrowing impact to what can be measured, and how thoughtful design can mitigate those trade-offs. Looking ahead, we examine what it will take for outcomes-based models to scale, from simplification and standardization to the potential emergence of more tradable forms of impact. Connect with SRI360°: Sign up for the free weekly email update Visit the SRI360° PODCAST Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE Follow SRI360° on X:    Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK    Scott Arnell’s Book: Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360 Amel Karboul on LinkedIn Amel Karboul: Ted Talk Education Outcome Fund Website

    1h 43m

  3. Apr 24

    Impact Investing in 2026: What Survives, What Scales, and What Changes with Eric Rice

    Impact investing is entering a new phase, and it’s more nuanced than the headlines suggest. In this episode of Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360, I sit down with returning guest Eric Rice for his third appearance to unpack what’s really happening across global markets. Drawing on his experience at Wellington Management and BlackRock, and now in private markets with SEAF (Small Enterprise Assistance Funds), Eric explains why this moment reflects divergence rather than decline. While the US has stepped back from ESG language, Europe, Japan, and other regions are accelerating capital deployment and regulatory support. We explore the limits of impact capital in replacing development aid, especially in the wake of shifts at USAID, and why commercial discipline remains central to the model. We also discuss the growing role of pension funds, the expansion of investable opportunities, and the shift toward financial materiality. Looking ahead, we turn to climate adaptation and resilience as emerging areas of focus, offering opportunity, but still evolving in terms of scale and structure. Connect with SRI360°: Sign up for the free weekly email update Visit the SRI360° PODCAST Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE Follow SRI360° on X:    Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK    Eric Rice Episode 009: https://sri360.com/podcast/eric-rice/  Eric Rice Episode 088: https://sri360.com/podcast/eric-rice-2/  Scott Arnell’s Book: Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360

    1h 11m

  4. Apr 15

    Storage Enables, VC Proves, Science Validates: The Full Case for Climate Investing

    What does climate investing look like when it actually delivers returns? In this special compilation episode of Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360, I bring together three investors approaching the climate opportunity from very different angles, yet arriving at a similar conclusion. First, Ben Guest of Gresham House explains why battery energy storage is the missing piece of the renewable energy transition. As intermittent power sources like wind and solar scale, storage becomes essential to balancing the grid, and a compelling infrastructure investment with double-digit return potential. Next, Nancy Pfund, founder of DBL Partners, shares over two decades of experience in what she calls “double bottom line” investing. As an early backer of companies like Tesla, she demonstrates that incorporating environmental and social considerations doesn’t dilute returns; it can enhance them by expanding the opportunity set. Finally, Lena Thiede of Planet A Ventures introduces a more rigorous approach to impact. With an in-house science team conducting lifecycle assessments on every investment, her firm ensures that climate impact is not just intended, but measurable, and tied directly to performance. Three perspectives across infrastructure, venture capital, and science. Connect with SRI360°: Sign up for the free weekly email update https://sri360.com/newsletter/ Visit the SRI360° PODCAST https://sri360.com/podcast/ Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE https://sri360.com/ Follow SRI360° on X:   https://x.com/SRI360Growth/ Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK   https://www.facebook.com/SRI360Growth/ Ben Guest full episode: https://sri360.com/podcast/ben-guest/ Nancy Pfund full episode: https://sri360.com/podcast/nancy-pfund/ Lena Thiede full episode: https://sri360.com/podcast/lena-thiede/ Scott Arnell’s Book: Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360

    1h 29m

  5. Apr 7

    The Catalytic Capital Playbook: How £10M Unlocked £2B in Private Investment

    What if the real constraint in impact investing isn’t a lack of capital… but how that capital is structured? This is a compilation episode built from three conversations, each tackling a different part of the same question. What is catalytic capital? How do you create the conditions for it? And what happens when you deploy it at scale? You’ll hear from Yasemin Saltuk Lamy, Head of Investment Strategy at Legal & General, who helped define impact investing during her time at J.P. Morgan and later led the Catalyst portfolio at British International Investment. She breaks down catalytic capital as capital that steps into spaces others won’t, and explains how structuring it as junior or first-loss capital can transform “too risky” opportunities into investment-grade assets for institutional investors. From Stephen Muers, CEO of Better Society Capital, who shares how the UK built the infrastructure to support this kind of investing. Drawing on a unique funding model that includes dormant bank accounts and private bank capital, he explains how catalytic capital can be used to grow entire markets, not just individual portfolios, and why the UK’s social impact investment market has expanded more than 12-fold. And from Michele Giddens, Co-Founder and CEO of Bridges Fund Management, who shows what execution looks like in practice. Starting with a £40 million fund anchored by £10 million of government catalytic capital, Bridges has gone on to mobilize over £2 billion in private investment while delivering competitive, often double-digit returns. If you’re thinking about how capital can be deployed more intentionally, whether as an investor, policymaker, or operator, this episode offers a clear and practical lens into how catalytic capital works, and why it matters. Connect with SRI360°: Sign up for the free weekly email update Visit the SRI360° PODCAST Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE Follow SRI360° on X:    Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK

    1h 6m

  6. Mar 26

    In Case You Missed It: Must-Hear Conversations Shaping Impact in 2026

    Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak with four leaders working at the intersection of capital, climate, and system-level change, each bringing a distinct perspective on what it takes to move from intention to real-world impact.  Across these conversations, we explored everything from outcomes-based financing and government-backed impact models to regenerative finance and ownership structures, to early-stage climate investing in Southeast Asia. What connects them is a shared recognition that the current system, whether ESG frameworks, traditional venture capital, or public spending models, isn’t quite delivering on its promise. Here are the guests featured in the episode: Francisco “Chico” Jardim, General Partner at SP Ventures We talked about how this model has scaled globally, why it works best in complex social challenges like homelessness and criminal justice, and what still needs to happen to move from pilots to true system-wide adoption. Chico also shared his perspective on impact transparency and why better data and accountability are critical to unlocking larger pools of capital. Full episode: https://sri360.com/podcast/francisco-jardim/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCFFg26zo6E&pp=0gcJCdgKAYcqIYzv  Nick Hurd, Chair & Senior Adviser, GSG Impact Nick brings a deeply critical lens to traditional ESG and even parts of the impact investing ecosystem. His core argument is simple but uncomfortable: doing “less harm” isn’t the same as creating meaningful positive change. Full episode: https://sri360.com/podcast/nick-hurd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bagsC5n6sDs  Laura Ortiz Montemayor, Founding Partner at SVX Mexico & Managing Partner, Regenera Venture Fund Laura is focused on one of the most underfunded areas in climate investing: adaptation. While most capital continues to flow toward mitigation, she’s working to back founders building solutions for the climate impacts that are already here. Full episode: https://sri360.com/podcast/laura-ortiz-montemayor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlLOScRChwk  Alina Truhina, Founding and Managing Partner at Utopia Capital Management Throughout these conversations, Alina plays a critical role in connecting the dots, probing where ideas hold up, where they fall short, and how they translate into real-world investment decisions. Alina shares insights about climate adaptation, impact investing, and how venture capital often struggles to understand and engage with regions where climate risk is already part of everyday life. Full episode: https://sri360.com/podcast/alina-truhina/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olIygxJSpMI&t=2s  Taken together, these four perspectives offer a window into a field in transition, one that’s moving beyond labels and frameworks toward deeper questions of structure, accountability, and long-term impact.

    1h 21m

  7. Mar 18

    AgTech Profits Meet Planet: Where Climate Impact and VC Returns Align | Sarah Nolet, Tenacious Ventures (#128)

    In climate investing, credibility is often associated with breakthrough technologies or large-scale energy infrastructure. This episode challenges that assumption by asking a different question: what if some of the most compelling climate investment opportunities lie within the everyday realities of farming? My guest this week is Sarah Nolet, Co-Founder and General Partner at Tenacious Ventures. With a background that spans systems engineering, hands-on farming experience, and venture capital, Sarah now leads an investment firm focused on building climate resilience across global agri-food systems. In our conversation on Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360, Sarah explains why traditional venture capital models often struggle in agriculture, and why solutions must be designed around the physical constraints farmers face every day. We also discuss: Why the “productive middle” of commercial agriculture offers significant climate and investment return potential How organizing investment theses around enduring market needs helps avoid technology hype cyclesWhy measuring real climate outcomes, not just sustainability practices, creates stronger alignment between impact and financial performanceThe conversation reframes climate-smart agriculture as a pragmatic investment opportunity, one where improving farmer economics can drive both measurable climate outcomes and competitive venture returns. Featured Guest  Sarah Nolet, Co-Founder and General Partner, Tenacious Ventures Episode Resources: Sarah Nolet on LinkedInTenacious Ventures WebsiteConnect with SRI360°:  Sign up for the free weekly Email Update Visit the SRI360° PODCAST Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE Follow SRI360° on X:   Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK

    1h 33m

  8. Mar 11

    From Mud Huts to Brick Houses: Venture Capital & Climate Resilience in Africa

    Climate finance conversations often focus on mitigation. However, the question Tamer El-Raghy raises is more structural: what if one of the most compelling climate investment opportunities lies in helping smallholder farmers adapt? In this episode of Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360, I’m joined by Tamer El-Raghy, Managing Director of the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF). Tamer leads one of the first investment vehicles dedicated to climate adaptation in agriculture across Africa, backing early-stage companies that help farmers improve productivity, stability, and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. We discuss why agriculture remains chronically undercapitalised despite its central role in global food systems, and how blended finance structures, including first-loss capital from development institutions, can unlock mainstream investment into frontier markets. Tamer also explains why successful agribusiness models often function as platform businesses, bundling financing, inputs, technical support, and market access to solve multiple farmer constraints at once. What stayed with me is the simplicity of his impact lens: when farmers move from mud huts to brick houses, it signals something deeper than income growth. It reflects stability, dignity, and the foundations of long-term resilience. Featured Guest  Tamer El-Raghy, Managing Director of the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF) Episode Resources: Tamer El-Raghy on LinkedInAcumen Resilient Agricultural Fund Website.Connect with SRI360°:  Sign up for the free weekly Email Update Visit the SRI360° PODCAST Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE Follow SRI360° on XFollow SRI360° on FACEBOOK

    1h 27m
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SRI360 explores how professional and institutional investors use impact investing and sustainable finance to shape real-world outcomes. Each episode features an in-depth conversation with a leading investor in public or private equities, public or private debt, venture capital, or real assets. We focus on the mechanics of investing: how strategies are designed, how capital is allocated, how impact is achieved and measured, and where incentives succeed, or fail, within asset-owner systems. If you want clear, honest insight into the future of sustainable & responsible investing from the people shaping it, this show is your competitive edge.    Learn more at SRI360.com.

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