Category Archives: Sustainable Investing

Driving Economic Transformation In Africa & Latin America — Part Il with Ladé Araba and Hayley Mundeva (Ep. 91)

May 17, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingAfrica, AlphaMundi Foundation, Commercial Viability, Deep Impact Investing, Economic Development, Economic Transformation, Enterprises, Gender-Inclusivity, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Impact Investing, Innovation, Job Creation, Latin America, Podcast, SMEs, Success Stories, Women, Workforcedeepimpactinvesting

In part one of this conversation, you heard Ladé Araba and Hayley Mundeva talk about the AlphaMundi Foundation’s mission to strengthen the long-term commercial viability of small and middle-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa and Latin America.

This time, Ladé and Hayley are back to uncover fascinating stories while detailing the impact of supporting SMEs in these regions.

From increasing business performance to incorporating more women in the workforce, find out how the AMF is investing in SMEs to increase their commercial viability, which ultimately leads to strengthening African and Latin American communities.

Ladé and Hayley discuss:

The structured blended finance that the AlphaMundi Foundation (AMF) provides to small and middle-sized enterprises (SMEs)
AMF’s approach to gender and climate-smart technical assistance
Success stories of the recipients of their support and the positive impact the foundation is making in emerging African and Latin American markets
Ways the AlphaMundi Foundation is supporting the incorporation of more women into the workforce
The foundation’s long-term vision and how it’s closely related to the growth of SMEs
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Ladé Araba:

Connect with Hayley Mundeva:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Ladé Araba:

Ladé Araba is a highly-skilled, multilingual Development Finance Executive and Board Member experienced in blended finance, infrastructure/energy project finance, and public-private partnerships (PPP) with over 20 years of professional experience.

Well-versed in deal origination, investment appraisal, and advising private investors and government stakeholders, Ladé is a strategic leader who is adept at building strong partnerships with private and public clients.

About Hayley Mundeva:

Hayley Mundeva is a driven professional with a diverse background in Global Health and Development. With an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for storytelling, Hayley is dedicated to helping people and organizations achieve their goals and maximize their impact.

With extensive experience in communication strategy development, project management, and stakeholder engagement, Hayley has worked on a variety of projects and initiatives, ranging from community-based health programs to international development initiatives.

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Driving Economic Transformation In Africa & Latin America — Part I with Ladé Araba and Hayley Mundeva (Ep. 90)

May 10, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingAfrica, AlphaMundi Foundation, Deep Impact Investing, Economic Development, Economic Transformation, Enterprises, Gender-Inclusivity, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Impact Investing, Innovation, Job Creation, Latin America, Podcast, SMEs, Social Justice Investing, The Theory of Change, Womendeepimpactinvesting

Have you heard of the AlphaMundi Foundation?

Also known as AMF, the AlphaMundi Foundation’s mission is to strengthen the long-term commercial viability of small and middle-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa and Latin America to drive economic transformation.

In this week’s episode, Kim Griego-Kiel is joined by Hayley Mundeva, the communications lead, and Ladé Araba, the executive director at the AlphaMundi Foundation, to talk about SMEs and their critical role in female job creation, economic development, and innovation.

Tune in and learn how the AMF supports these enterprises through technical assistance and gender-inclusive policies leading to a positive social and environmental impact.

Ladé and Hayley discuss:

The AlphaMundi Foundation’s vision and mission and how it supports SMEs in Africa and Latin America
Ways the foundation is investing in gender diversity, equity, and inclusion in African and Latin American small and middle-sized enterprises (SMEs)
How investors can contribute to the AMF
What you should know about the AMF’s Theory of Change
Their approach to scaling gender and climate-smart practices
Why companies are not always ‘investable’
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Ladé Araba:

Connect with Hayley Mundeva:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Ladé Araba:

About Hayley Mundeva:

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Ending Poverty and Achieving Economic Growth: Some Must-Know Sustainable Development Goals (Ep. 89)

April 26, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingChild Labor, Consumer Protection, Credit Cards, Deep Impact Investing, Digital Technology, Economic Growth, Finances, Financial Services, Gender Gap, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Inflation, Interest Rates, Loans, Microfinance, Pandemic, Podcast, Poverty, Rewards, SGD, Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Investing, Unemploymentdeepimpactinvesting

Are you interested in learning how to reduce poverty and create sustainable economic growth for everyone?

You are in luck because that’s exactly what Kim Griego-Kiel talks about in this week’s episode of Deep Impact Investing.

Kim explains how poverty, decent work, and economic growth are part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) while detailing the progress made towards achieving these goals and the challenges and setbacks faced.

Kim discusses:

The increase in poverty rates and unemployment due to the pandemic and the prevalence of global child labor
The progress made towards ending poverty and sustainable economic growth
The role of inflation, the pandemic, and child labor when it comes to achieving these goals
Digital technology and financial services as tools to improve the lives of people living in poverty
What you should know about microfinance
The truth about consumer protection and credit card reward programs
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

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Tidbits with Kim: Sustainable Investing & Working Towards A Sustainable Economy (Ep. 88)

April 12, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingCalifornia, Climate Action, Climate Change, Corporate Accountability, Deep Impact Investing, Electric Cars, Financial Institutions, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Hybrid Cars, Pandemic, Plant-Based Meat, Podcast, Sustainable Economy, Sustainable Investing, Tidbits With Kim, Wealthdeepimpactinvesting

Welcome to Kim Griego-Kiel’s new segment, ‘Tidbits with Kim!’

Every quarter, Kim will bring you the ins and outs of sustainable investing and handy action items to work towards a more sustainable economy.

In this week’s episode, Kim delves into the world of sustainable impact investing while exploring some exciting new developments in California’s fight against climate change.

Listen in as Kim navigates the latest news on stricter vehicle requirements, proposed emission disclosure bills, and the benefits of hybrid and electric cars.

Kim discusses:

California’s implementation of stricter vehicle requirements to improve fuel efficiency and promote zero emissions
The two new bills being proposed in California aimed at holding corporations accountable for their impact on climate change
What you should know about carbon emissions and their role within different income brackets
The United Nations’ predictions about the likelihood of animal pandemic being the leading cause of the next pandemic
The improvement of plant-based meat options in terms of quality, taste, and texture
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

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Here’s What You Should Know About ESG Mistakes and Real Estate Sustainability with Sam Adams (Ep. 87)

March 29, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingDeep Impact Investing, ESG Mistakes, Financial Advisors, Financial Services, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Podcast, Real Estate, SRI, Sustainability, Sustainable Investing, Sustainable Investment Education, USSIF, Vert Asset Managementdeepimpactinvesting

What do real estate and sustainability have in common?

This week, Sam Adams, the CEO and co-founder of Vert Asset Management, unpacks the ins and outs of sustainable investing and the need for more sustainability in the real estate arena.

Sam shares Vert’s approach to educating and encouraging companies to take the next step in their sustainability journey while highlighting how the firm advocates for more sustainability in the financial services industry.

Sam discusses:

Sustainable investing and the need for more sustainability in the real estate industry
Some eye-opening ESG mistakes advisors might be making
The difference between ESG and SRI
Ways the real estate strategy fits into the sustainable investing model
An overview of the book he’s co-writing, “Your Essential Guide to Sustainable Investing”
What you should know about the Vert Asset Management fund
And more!

Resources:

“The Top 5 ESG Mistakes Advisors Make” by Sam Adams
Ep 57 – Sustainable Shareholder Advocacy with Leslie Samuelrich, Sam Adams, and Sarah Adams – Part 3
USSIF Courses
USSIF: Sustainable Investment Education
“Your Essential Guide to Sustainable Investing” by Larry E. Swedroe and Sam Adams
Ep 35 – 7 Tips For Choosing The Right Financial Advisor

Connect with Sam Adams:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

About Our Guest:

Samuel Adams is the CEO of Vert Asset Management. Sam is an environmentalist and a capitalist passionate about preserving and defending nature and has worked as an investment professional. He has 20 years of experience at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where he learned the power of the markets as an Investment Professional. Sam is passionate about making sustainable investing easier for financial advisors and their clients. He also holds a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an MBA from UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

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Koffee with Kim: Exploring Interesting & Fun Financial Aspects (Ep. 86)

March 15, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingAmerican Financial Reality, Cultures, Deep Impact Investing, Finances, Financial Health, Financial Security, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Households, Money Production, Personal Finance, Podcast, Races, Stats, Stock Exchange, US Debtdeepimpactinvesting

In this episode of Deep Impact Investing, Kimberly Griego-Kiel is all about unveiling the American financial reality.

This week, Kim takes listeners on a journey through the world of finance, from the history of the stock exchange to the current state of personal finances in the US.

Kim covers a range of interesting and surprising areas of finance, providing insights into the world of the markets and even the daily financial reality of ordinary Americans.

Kim discusses:

When was the first stock exchange established
The cost of producing money
The truth about US debt
Ways financial security varies depending on race, culture, and households
What you should know about being financially healthy: Some must-know stats
And more!

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

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Critical Climate and Diversity Stakeholder Resolutions for 2023 with Andy Behar (Ep. 85)

March 1, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable Investing2023, Accountability, As You Sow, Business, Climate, Corporate Resolutions, Corporate Responsibility, Deep Impact Investing, Diversity Stakeholder, Environment, ESG, Food Systems, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Kimberly Griego Kiel, Plastics, Podcast, Portfolio, Social Justice, Stranded Assets, Sustainability, Transparencydeepimpactinvesting

How much do you know about corporate responsibility and sustainability?

This week, Andy Behar, the CEO of As You Sow, joins Kim Griego-Kiel to talk about the nonprofit organization’s role in shaking up the business world with its innovative environmental and social justice approach.

Listen in as Andy details the ins and outs of creating a more sustainable and equitable future for this and the years to come.

Andy discusses:

As You Sow’s vision and mission
The importance of climate action in the corporate resolution filings for 2023
The value of more companies incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion
As You Sow’s role in helping companies minimize the dangers of pesticides in our food system
What you should know about company transparency and accountability
Ways As You Sow is working to reduce plastic demand
What you should know about stranded assets
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Andy Behar:

LinkedIn: Andrew Behar

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

About Our Guest:

Andy Behar is CEO of As You Sow, the nation’s leading non-profit practitioner of shareholder advocacy and engagement. With a 30-year track record of success, the organization advances values-aligned investing and uses shareholder power to compel companies to reduce material risk on issues including climate change; toxins in the food system; ocean plastics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; racial justice; and wage equity.

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2022 Market Overview: Winners and Losers with Johann Klaassen (Ep. 84)

February 1, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable Investing2022, 2023, Assets, Deep Impact Investing, Diversification, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Inflation, Market Performance, Marketplace, Podcast, Portfolio, Predictions, Sustainable Investing, US Dollardeepimpactinvesting

2022 was a year of market turmoil: The S&P 500 and the Russell 3000 were down by almost 19%, and the bond market also suffered a hit.

In this episode, Kim Griego-Kiel brings back one of our favorite guests, Johann Klaassen, the President and Chief Investment Officer at Horizons Sustainable Financial Services. Kim and Johann review the 2022 market performance while detailing the four areas that impacted the markets last year.

Johann discusses:

The Federal Reserve’s efforts to control inflation
The US dollar currency speculation
His market predictions for 2023
What you should know about diversification
The market’s role in sustainable investing
And more!

Connect with Johann Klaassen:

LinkedIn: Johann Klaassen

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

About Our Guest:

Johann A. Klaassen, Ph.D., is Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Horizons Sustainable Financial Services. His role is developing asset allocation strategies and overseeing investment policy for Horizons’ individual and institutional clients. As a passionate advocate for SRI, a skilled navigator of its intricacies, and an enthusiastic early adopter of just about every new communication tool and technology, Johann is informed, informative, and far more accessible than his many commitments might imply. He directly serves clients across the nation, tending to specialize in serving unusual and special circumstances or needs.

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Saving Honey Bees & Ecological Agriculture (Ep. 83)

January 18, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingDeep Impact Investing, Ecological Agriculture, Ecological Farming, Food Crops, Food Systems, Healthy Soil, Honey Bees, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, No Pesticides, Podcast, Pollinator, Research, Soil, Sustainable Agriculturedeepimpactinvesting

Honey bees are well-known and loved, but as the pollinator of 70% of the world’s food crops, their practical extinction is a cause for concern.

In this episode, Kim Griego-Kiel unpacks how optimizing plant and soil health with ecological agriculture can help preserve these essential insects. Kim shares the findings from her research into honey bees and explores the connection between environmental farming and the future of our most important pollinator — the honey bee.

Kim discusses:

Ways honey bees are contributing to our food systems
The truth about pesticides
Tips to protect honey bees and our health
How ecological agriculture helps preserve wild habitats and the soil
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

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What You Should Know About The Conservation Work in Southern Africa — Part 2 (Ep.82)

January 4, 2023Financial, Investing, Sustainable InvestingAdventure, Africa, African Safari, Animals, Conservation, Global Sojourns Giving Circle, Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, Nature, Podcast, Safari, Travel, Wildlife, Zimbabwedeepimpactinvesting

In the first part of this two-parter miniseries, Kim Griego-Kiel detailed her incredible experience traveling to Zimbabwe and Zambia with Priscilla Plummer from Global Sojourns Giving Circle.

Now, in part two, Kim continues unpacking the memorable moments from her journey to Southern Africa. This time she outlines her safari experience and the conservation work happening in this region of the world.

Kim takes listeners on the journey of her game drive and shares the ins and outs of their conservation efforts. Listeners, get ready to get an account of Kim’s experience with prime wildlife viewing and hear about what activists in Zimbabwe are doing to conserve the water and wildlife in Southern Africa.

Kim discusses:

The efforts to preserve African wildlife in Zimbabwe
How her experience with wildlife viewing and being near animals changed her perspective on appreciating nature
The conservation efforts that are going on with water systems in Zimbabwe
How to get the best out of a safari experience
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

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