In this episode of Sustainability Wired, host Lorenzo Saa is joined by Anastasia Guha, Global Head of Sustainable and Impact Investment at Gallagher, to unpack how asset owners translate sustainability ambitions into real-world investment decisions. Drawing on nearly two decades working across journalism, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), and now investment consulting, Anastasia offers a clear, practical lens on the role of indirect asset owners, those who rely on investment managers rather than investing directly, and the complex decisions they face. From belief-setting and governance constraints to asset allocation, manager selection, and stewardship, this conversation goes beyond theory to examine what sustainable investing actually looks like inside pension funds, endowments, foundations, and wealth platforms. Together, Lorenzo and Anastasia explore why asset owners pursue sustainability in the first place, how regulation, risk management, and mission alignment shape strategies, and where the biggest bottlenecks lie, particularly time, governance capacity, and structural limitations. They also draw a sharp distinction between sustainable investing and impact, challenge simplistic narratives around net zero commitments, and argue for far greater nuance as markets enter a more volatile phase. Key topics include:✅ Why asset owners adopt sustainable investment strategies, and why motives differ✅ Translating beliefs into strategy, asset allocation, and manager selection✅ Governance and time constraints as the real limiting factors✅ The role of trustees, consultants, and stewardship in implementation✅ Sustainability vs impact: different objectives, tools, and asset classes✅ Why private markets and impact face structural scaling challenges✅ Defined benefit vs defined contribution: very different realities✅ Net zero targets, market volatility, and unintended consequences✅ Why nuance matters more than initiatives and labels✅ Manager selection, factor exposure, and financial fundamentals✅ Entering markets during dislocation: risks and opportunities Whether you’re an asset owner, trustee, consultant, or sustainability professional, this episode offers a grounded view of how sustainable investing actually works, and where expectations need to be recalibrated. 🎧 Listen now for a candid discussion on why sustainability strategy is as much about governance and realism as it is about ambition. Key Moments00:00 – Why Sustainable Investing Looks Different for Asset Owners02:45 – Anastasia’s Journey into Sustainable Investing and Consulting06:40 – Why Asset Owners Adopt Sustainability Strategies10:30 – Regulation, Risk, and Regional Differences14:20 – From Beliefs to Strategy: Setting Sustainability Objectives19:10 – Governance, Trustees, and the Reality of Implementation24:40 – Stewardship in Practice: Asset Owners and Managers29:50 – Sustainability vs Impact: A Critical Distinction36:10 – Asset Classes, Time Horizons, and Governance Constraints43:30 – What Needs to Change for Sustainable Investing to Scale 📩 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay wired into the thinking shaping sustainable finance.
