SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing Scott Arnell

Traditional timberland investing has historically attracted those with long investment horizons, drawn by its reputation as a solid inflation hedge and ability to deliver cash yields competitive with public equities over the long term.

But imagine investing in forests not just for profit, but as a powerful agent of global sustainability and conservation. It’s a powerful win-win!

This episode is all about impact-driven timberland investments and my guest is Charlotte Kaiser, a visionary leading the charge at BTG Pactual’s Timberland Investment Group (TIG) as the Head of Impact Finance.

After her first job in community development banking in Borneo with a USAID project for the Biodiversity Conservation Network, she moved to The Nature Conservancy, becoming Deputy Managing Director in the creation of NatureVest. Charlotte scaled their impact investment portfolio to over $2.5 billion, focusing on conservation-driven strategies that benefit both people and the planet.

Charlotte now oversees TIG’s $6 billion portfolio, creating impact strategies to hit production objectives, create financial returns, and support water, biodiversity, and climate conservation at scale through their core timberland assets.

We also touch on how Charlotte generates impactful results for ecosystems and communities through key alliances with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, all through real asset impact investing, as well as her thoughts on carbon offsets, reforestation, and biodiversity protection initiatives across the continent.

Tune in to learn how Charlotte and TIG are redefining sustainable forestry with impact-driven strategies.

—
Show Notes
—
About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes. 
—
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.
—
Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Meet Charlotte Kaiser and early interest in conservation (01:02)
Charlotte’s 13-years at The Nature Conservancy/NatureVest (17:29)
Carbon offsets explained & their effectiveness in reducing emissions (23:51)
Strategic partnerships with corporate giants. Is it greenwashing? (33:03)
Charlotte’s transition to BTG Pactual’s Timberland Investment Group (35:45)
The role of traditional forestry in investor portfolios (40:30)
TIG’S impact investing strategy, measuring impact & main risks (45:44)
Sustainable forestry’s role in climate change & biodiversity (56:34)
The competitive advantage of sustainable forestry & tech innovation (01:01:27)
Rapid fire questions (01:03:47)
—
Additional Resources
Learn more about Charlotte Kaiser & Timberland Investment Group:
Charlotte’s Bio
TIG’s Website
TIG’s LinkedIn

Learn more about NatureVest here.
Connect with Charlotte Kaiser on LinkedIn.
Find the book mentioned "Nature's Keepers" here.

The world of finance has proven that it has the power to drive the global decarbonization effort and advance interest in ESG investments. ⁤⁤Learn how this is happening with one of the architects of the Green Bond Principles.

⁤Today's guest is Marilyn Ceci, a titan in the world of sustainable finance. ⁤She started in interest rate sales at JP Morgan, making her way to Head of ESG Debt Capital Market, and is now the Managing Director and Senior Advisor to the Center for Carbon Transition. ⁤

⁤With over three decades of experience, Marilyn spearheaded ESG debt capital market growth and co-authored the Green Bond Principles, a cornerstone in the development of the green bond market worldwide. She also steered JP Morgan to become the #1 Global Sustainable Bond Underwriter multiple years in a row.

⁤Marilyn is a major force in driving the global sustainability agenda forward, earning her several awards and recognitions such as Wall Street's Green Bond Warrior by Reuters and GlobalCapital's Top Most Impressive Green/SRI Investment Banker. ⁤

In this episode, I dig into the origins of the Green Bond Principles and their evolution. ⁤⁤Marilyn also shares how green bonds differ from traditional bonds, the role of bonds and fixed income in driving long-term ESG impact, and more. ⁤

⁤Join me in this powerful discussion on the transformative power of green bonds and how Marilyn’s work is sustainably financing the carbon transition.

—

Show notes

—

About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.

—

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.

—

Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
Meet Marilyn Ceci (02:31)
An overview of JP Morgan and their ESG debt strategy (07:48)
From interest rate sales to kickstarting the green bond market (12:07)
Incentives for issuing a green bond vs. a traditional bond & examples (23:36)
Insights on co-authoring the green bond principles & their evolution (29:50)
The role of bonds and fixed income in driving long-term ESG impact (39:25)
Supporting biodiversity, stakeholder engagement, & greenwashing (45:18)
Marilyn’s take on the new European green bond regulation (51:27)
Marilyn’s role at JP Morgan's Center for Carbon Transition (55:14)
The future of fossil fuel-related projects at JP Morgan (01:03:24)
Experience with teaching at Duke University (01:04:58)
Rapid fire questions (01:06:48)
—

Additional Resources:
JP Morgan's Center for Carbon Transition
JP Morgan's Carbon Compass Overview
JP Morgan's Carbon Compass Methodology
JP Morgan’s 2023 Climate Report
Planet Tracker Green Washing Report 
Connect with Marilyn Ceci on

Emerging and frontier markets are full of opportunities often overlooked by the mainstream investment community.

Today’s guest will help us understand these markets and prove how systematic investing in publicly listed equities can unlock their potential for alpha and impact generation.

Meet Asha Mehta, the managing partner & CIO at Global Delta Capital, a US-based equity long-only investment manager focused on harnessing the power of capital to fuel social and economic development in international, emerging, and frontier markets.

With a background that begins with medical and anthropological studies at Stanford and a well-traveled upbringing, Asha developed an interest in microfinance lending in India after witnessing its extreme poverty in the late 90s. This experience led her to pioneering roles in sustainable and quant investing, making a mark on the international investment scene.

Recognized as one of the Top 10 Women in Asset Management and dubbed a "Brilliant Quant" by Forbes, Asha’s career highlights include leading emerging market strategies at Acadian Asset Management, where she launched the first quantitative/systematic frontier fund.

At the core of this episode is Global Delta Capital’s combination of systematic stock selection and a fundamental thematic overlay on the opportunities present in emerging and frontier markets. Asha and her team are not just seeking high returns; they're using their combined expertise to leverage ESG data and make a tangible impact on the world’s financial, environmental, and social landscape.

We also discuss a range of topics, including the importance of financial literacy, quantitative investing, examples of emerging markets that Global Delta Capital has invested in, and Asha’s take on the future of investment in developing economies.

If you’re intrigued by the power of capital to drive global change and want to learn from one of the leading voices in the field, this is an episode you cannot miss.

Tune in and be inspired by this adventure capitalist.

—

Show notes: {link}

—

About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.

—

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.

—

Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Asha Mehta’s background and transition into finance (02:47)
Founding Global Delta Capital (24:43)
Overview of Global Delta Capital's strategy and focus areas (35:06)
Asha explains quantitative investing & strategies for sourcing reliable data (41:07)
The investment process at Global Delta Capital (55:16)
Discovering opportunities in the emerging markets: Saudi Arabia’s case (01:03:52)
Shareholder engagement, risk management, & examples of impact  (01:11:39)
Asha’s book “Power of Capital” & emerging market predictions (01:21:03)
Rapid fire questions (01:32:45)

—

Additional Resources
Find Asha’s book “Power of Capital” here.
Learn more about Global Delta Capital here:
Website
LinkedIn

Connect with Asha Mehta on LinkedIn.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are that of Asha Mehta’s only,

Millennials care much more about how their investments affect the world around them. Since they’re set to inherit the largest wealth transfer in history, we’re seeing a shift toward impact investing.

Today’s episode is proof.

My guest is Liesel Pritzker Simmons, a millennial who’s rewriting the rules of wealth management with her single-family office, Blue Haven Initiative. It’s one of the world’s first family offices to go all-in with impact investing across all asset classes, transforming their wealth into catalysts for social and environmental impact through strategic investments.

We begin the conversation with her transition from Hollywood's silver screens to the forefront of private wealth investing. Born into a lineage renowned for its philanthropic and entrepreneurial ventures, Liesel's journey is not just one of inheriting wealth but of redefining its purpose.

Through her acting work and her time at Columbia University, Liesel developed a diverse background that laid the groundwork for co-founding the Blue Haven Initiative with her husband in 2012.

At BHI, Liesel oversees a diverse portfolio that spans several asset classes, including traditional equities, private equity, and philanthropic programs, all structured to generate financial returns while addressing social and environmental challenges.

Liesel also works closely with organizations that support and advance the field of impact investing, co-founding The ImPact, a network of families committed to the conscientious stewardship of wealth, and serving as a board member of Activate, the IDP Foundation, and ImpactAssets.

Blue Haven Initiative demonstrates that a single-family office can do more than just manage wealth; it can wield it as a force for good through strategic placements in sustainable ventures and innovative startups.

Our conversation also explores topics of social responsibility, investing in fintech in Sub-Saharan Africa, the power of civic engagement, and catalytic and philanthropic capital.

Ready to learn how you can also transform your wealth into a force for positive change? Listen in.

—

Show notes here.

—

About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.

—

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.

—

Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Liesel’s transition from child actor to impact investor (02:37)
A Millennial’s POV on investing (22:11)
What the Blue Haven Initiative is & their investment approach (25:48)
Blue Haven’s impact goals and strategies (40:30)
A few examples of Blue Haven’s investments (56:17)
Investing in the youth vote (01:04:28)
Thoughts on impact washing, catalytic capital, and philanthropic capital (01:10:39)
Rapid fire questions (01:23:14)

—

Additional Resources
Learn more about Liesel’s foundation.
Learn more about the five dimensions of impact here.
Learn more about the Blue Haven Initiative.

Connect with Liesel Pritzker Simmons:
LinkedIn

In the pursuit of social change, every bit of investment can make a difference. Learn how Social Finance is leading the charge through social impact bonds.

Today, I’m interviewing Adam Swersky, CEO of Social Finance (UK), the non-profit enterprise responsible for creating the world’s first social impact bond. He’s here to talk all about social impact bonds and has been at the forefront of designing solutions that bring together finance with social impact since he joined the organization in 2014. 

After studying economics at Cambridge, Adam became a project leader at the Boston Consulting Group, where he advised private, public, and not-for-profit organizations on strategy and transformation. There, he was seconded to the Clinton Health Access Initiative in West Africa to support Niger in accessing a subsidy for malaria medication.

Now as CEO of Social Finance, Adam shares how this organization, which predates the term "impact investing," leads the effort of designing solutions to solve social challenges beyond mere investment.  He also details how they have broadened beyond investment to involve data collection and analysis, philanthropy, building new ventures, government advisory, and beyond. 

From the mechanics of how social impact bonds function to several real-life examples of social bonds at work, this episode delivers a deep look into social impact financing. 

We also touch on the capabilities and limitations of private capital in addressing social challenges, and Adam’s insights on leading an impact-focused business.

This conversation is a deeper exploration of how social impact bonds serve as a partnership between social investors, governments, and providers to design solutions to social challenges.

Feeling intrigued? Listen now to learn how Adam and Social Finance are pioneering the path for impactful investing. 

—

Show notes: https://sri360.com/podcast/https-sri360-com-podcast-adam-swersky/

—

About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.

—


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://twitter.com/SRI360Growth/
Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SRI360Growth/
—

Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Adam Swersky’s background and start at Boston Consulting Group (03:03)
An overview of Social Finance: How they began & what they do (18:07)
How Social Finance produces transformative social impact (30:11)
A look into the world’s first social impact bond for Peterborough inmates (35:59)
The Mental Health and Employment Partnership Program (45:51)
A detailed look into the workings of social bonds (50:39)
Measuring outcomes and managing risks for social impact bonds (57:58)
The evolution of social impact bonds (01:07:57)
Adam’s thoughts on leadership & rapid fire questions (01:19:54)
—
Additional Resources 
Learn more about Social Finance here.
 
Connect with Adam Swersky:
LinkedIn 
X/Twitter 
Medium

What if your investments could be a force for global change? At BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company, they’re steering capital towards a sustainable future with green bonds and ESG fixed-income investing.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Ashley Schulten, the Head of ESG Investment for Global Fixed Income at BlackRock. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Ashley entered the world of finance as a bond trader at First Union. From there, she evolved in the financial world at institutions like BNP Paribas, J.P. Morgan, and Goldman Sachs, before landing at BlackRock. 

At BlackRock, where over 600 people manage more than $700 billion invested in sustainable strategies, Ashley oversees ESG investing and integration in the active fixed-income asset class.

Besides driving the change toward a sustainable future within finance, her leadership extends beyond BlackRock to influential roles in the TCFD and the Executive Committee of the ICMA Green and Social Bond Principles.

Ashley is also an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow and sits on the board of the Mianus River Gorge, the first land conservancy project for the Nature Conservancy, which showcases her commitment to sustainability.

This episode highlights the power of integrating ESG data into investment analysis and decision-making. Ashley also shares how she saw the birth and development of the green bonds market, explaining how they work, and how BlackRock was an early adopter of this transformative financial instrument.

By leveraging green bonds, impact investing, and ESG data, BlackRock not only achieves its desired risk profiles and outcomes for investors but also drives meaningful change in the real economy.

Ashley and I also discuss BlackRock’s PEXT/NEXT ESG framework that her team uses to evaluate, tag, and categorize investments based on their positive and negative externalities.

Ready to learn the ins and outs of green bonds and ESG fixed-income investing? Tune in.
Show notes:  https://sri360.com/podcast/ashley-schulten/

About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes. 


Connect with SRI360°: 
Sign up for the free weekly email update
Visit the SRI360° PODCAST
Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE
Follow SRI360° on X/Twitter  
Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK


Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
Meet Ashley Schulten and learn about her background (03:00)
Ashley’s evolution from options trader to Head of ESG of Global Fixed Income at BlackRock(13:22)
An overview of BlackRock & its sustainable strategies (21:09)
Green bonds & the role of publicly traded bonds in sustainability (25:50)
ESG criteria in investment analysis & an explanation of PEXT/NEXT (34:31)
ESG-integrated vs. ESG-tilted portfolios & examples of ESG fixed-income funds (46:58)
The evolution of green bonds into a trillion-dollar market & their role in sustainable finance (57:32)
Measuring impact on fixed-income portfolios & issuer engagement (01:05:22)
Final thoughts & rapid fire questions (01:13:50)


Additional Resources: 
Connect with Ashley:
LinkedIn

Connect with BlackRock:
Twitter
Website