Category: Sustainable Investing

The Hidden Truths of Your Recycling Bin with Rose Griego-Kiel (Ep. 99)

The Hidden Truths of Your Recycling Bin with Rose Griego-Kiel (Ep. 99)

You think you’re green, but is your recycling bin lying to you?

In this compelling episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel hosts a special conversation on the complex landscape of recycling with guest expert her wife, Rose Griego-Kiel. Together, they dig into the challenges, statistics, and potential solutions surrounding recycling systems, not just in the U.S. but globally.

Throughout the episode, Kimberly and Rose discuss:

  • A deep dive into alarming recycling statistics
  • A comparison of recycling systems around the world
  • The limitations and inefficiencies of current recycling systems, particularly in handling plastics
  • Consumer versus corporate responsibility in waste management, with an emphasis on sustainable packaging
  • Innovative solutions and educational platforms that creatively repurpose plastic waste
  • And much more!

Resources:

Connect with Rose Griego-Kiel:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Rose Griego-Kiel is a seasoned expert in accounting and financial analysis. Rose brings hands-on experience in both the corporate and non-profit worlds. She serves on multiple non-profit boards and is an advocate for financial transparency and ethical governance.

Your Quarterly Market Update with Johann Klaassen (Ep. 98)

Your Quarterly Market Update with Johann Klaassen (Ep. 98)

What’s new in the market? 

How’s the investment arena doing so far? What if we all started investing like we truly cared?

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen navigate the current markets while providing a snapshot of the economy and all things inflation and investing. They debunk common misconceptions surrounding gold as an investment and shed light on the increasingly popular concept of ‘green gold’ and its actual environmental impact. 

Kim and Johann leave no stone unturned! Listen in as they guide us through the uncharacteristic behaviors of bonds and the implications of investing in precious metals.

Throughout the episode, Kim and Johann discuss:

  • Advice for those concerned about their portfolio or the markets
  • The intriguing phenomenon of uncharacteristic bond behavior and its potential impact
  • The reality behind the allure of gold as an investment and those who stand to gain
  • What you need to know about ‘green gold’ and its environmental consequences
  • The hidden environmental and social costs of investing in precious metals
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Johann A. Klaassen, Ph.D., is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer for Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, where he develops asset allocation strategies and oversees 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.

W.T.F — What The Fahrenheit!? (Ep. 97)

W.T.F — What The Fahrenheit!? (Ep. 97)

Temperatures are rising, and extreme weather events are becoming way more frequent. 

So, what are we waiting to address this pressing issue head-on!?

In this episode, Kim Griego-Kiel explores the alarming rise in global temperatures and the consequences of climate change.

Join in as Kim shares eye-opening statistics about the effects of these rising temperatures on human health and ecosystems while reinforcing the urgency for collective action to combat climate change.

Kim discusses:

  • The correlation between rising temperatures and environmental degradation
  • The consequences of climate change on human health, ecosystems, and global stability
  • The importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting alternative energy sources
  • What you need to know about COP28 and its potential to drive change in the oil and gas industry
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

Here’s How Money Is Emotional with Christine Luken (Ep. 96)

Here’s How Money Is Emotional with Christine Luken (Ep. 96)

Ready to navigate the emotional side of money and how it can significantly impact our financial decisions?

This week, Christine Luken, Financial Dignity® Coach and author of the groundbreaking book “Money Is Emotional,” joins Kim Griego-Kiel to share her personal experiences and expertise as a financial coach to revolutionize your perspective and relationship with money.

Listen in as Kim and Christine delve into the profound connection between emotions and money, exploring how it can significantly shape our choices concerning personal finance and the financial decisions we make.

They discuss:

  • The emotional factors that influence our financial decisions
  • Practical techniques to increase your emotional intelligence around money
  • How to align your financial actions with your long-term goals
  • The impact of mindfulness on your financial well-being and decision-making process
  • The truth about money habits
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Christine Luken:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Christine Luken is your go-to expert for mastering your finances and achieving true financial success. With her unwavering dedication as the Founder of the Financial Dignity® Movement and a Certified Financial Counselor, Christine has spent the last fourteen years empowering hundreds of high-earning professionals to conquer overwhelming debt and skyrocket their net worth.

With a prolific portfolio of three influential books—namely, “Money Is Emotional,” “Manage Money Like a Boss,” and “Financial Dignity® After Divorce”—Christine has garnered recognition through more than 100 appearances on prestigious platforms such as podcasts, TV shows, and radio interviews. Her expertise has solidified her position as the foremost authority on the intricate relationship between money and emotions.

Beyond her coaching endeavors from her esteemed office in Cincinnati, Christine’s passion for her craft extends to her roles as a Certified Divorce Specialist and a valued member of the Financial Therapy Association. When she’s not empowering her clients, you can find her indulging in the company of a captivating book accompanied by her beloved fluffy cat, all while savoring the aroma of a robust cup of coffee. With Christine Luken by your side, financial success and personal fulfillment are well within reach.

The US Forum for Sustainable Investment’s (US SIF) Hill Day Wrap-Up with Rachel Curley (Ep. 95)

The US Forum for Sustainable Investment’s (US SIF) Hill Day Wrap-Up with Rachel Curley (Ep. 95)

Kim Griego-Kiel was recently a part of the US Forum for Sustainable Investment’s (US SIF) Hill Day in Washington, D.C. 

This event was all about educating policymakers about sustainable investing and representing the critical need for sustainable investment advisors and industry professionals to engage with our legislators and voice what truly matters.

This week, Rachel Curley, the director of policy and programs at US SIF, joins Kim to share her valuable insights and experiences from this significant gathering. Kim and Rachel reveal the takeaways from the meetings they attended while emphasizing the value of ongoing dialogue when it comes to policy decisions designed to shape the future of ESG and sustainable investing.

They cover:

  • The purpose of Hill Day and its significance in shaping ESG and sustainable investment policies 
  • The role of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus in providing vital support for sustainable investing initiatives
  • The importance of educating policymakers about sustainable investing 
  • Why it’s important to dispel misconceptions surrounding anti-ESG campaigns
  • The ongoing efforts to promote climate risk disclosures 
  • The value of participating in US SIF efforts 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rachel Curley:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Rachel Curley leads US SIF’s policy and programming work to advance the interests and perspective of the sustainable investment community with policymakers and stakeholders. Rachel brings significant organizing, coalition-building, and public policy experience to the role.

Before joining US SIF, Rachel worked for seven years as a democracy advocate for Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division, where she supported Public Citizen’s work on democracy and investor protection issues. In this role, she led advocacy coalitions supporting corporate political spending and ESG disclosure.

Rachel started her career as the program coordinator for Doctors for America, where she led the charge on several of the organization’s major campaigns. Rachel graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy.

Emotional Finance: Advisors & Investors, Here’s How To Deal With Market Volatility (Ep. 94)

Emotional Finance: Advisors & Investors, Here’s How To Deal With Market Volatility (Ep. 94)

Understanding the practical and emotional aspects of investing is essential for every investor. 

Whether you lean towards practical thinking or find yourself more aligned with emotional thinking, this episode will provide valuable guidance to help you thrive in this ever-changing market.

This week, Kim Griego-Kiel explores the fascinating world of emotional finance while uncovering tips and tricks you can use to tackle fear and anxiety when it comes to market volatility. 

We all know that investing in the markets can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but understanding how to manage volatility is key to achieving long-term financial success.

Kim discusses:

  • Practical strategies for capitalizing on market downturns and finding investment opportunities during times of volatility
  • The importance of creating a well-defined investment plan and sticking with it for long-term financial growth
  •  How to analyze your current portfolio and make informed investment decisions
  • Ways to manage emotions in response to market fluctuations
  • And more!

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

Achieving Climate Targets: Here’s Why Failure Leads to Lessons & Changes with Pooja Khosla — Part II (Ep. 93)

Achieving Climate Targets: Here’s Why Failure Leads to Lessons & Changes with Pooja Khosla — Part II (Ep. 93)

Climate change is not a fantasy. It is an undeniable reality, impacting us in ways we cannot ignore. 

In fact, it’s believed that we will likely not make it to our goal of limiting the planet’s warming by 1.5 degrees in the next six years.

This week,  Pooja Khosla, the Chief Innovation Officer at Entelligent, is back to chat with Kim Griego-Kiel about climate change and strategies chief operating officers (COO) of companies can implement to facilitate climate change-related improvements within their own practices. 

Together, they unpack the importance of setting achievable goals and making small, incremental changes to various systems, processes, and policies.

Pooja discusses:

  • Reasons businesses need to focus on green policies while transitioning to renewable energy sources to make the planet more sustainable
  • The value of achieving climate targets and the relevancy of the situation
  • The possibility of achieving climate targets in less than 80 years
  • Five principle-based initiatives chief operating officers (COO) should consider when it comes to supporting climate change and ESG strategies
  • How to avoid greenwashing
  • The role of banks and financial professionals when it comes to sustainability and supply chain initiatives 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Pooja Khosla:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Dr. Pooja Khosla is the Chief Innovation Officer at Entelligent. Dr. Khosla is an econometrician and data scientist with extensive experience in data analysis, predictive modeling, econometrics, statistics, microfinance, and mutual fund analysis. 

Dr. Khosla is one of the inventors of the patented Smart Climate® technology. She brings her international background in finance, academia, predictive modeling, and statistical software platforms to the company, leading product and client development. 

She has published articles and papers in trade journals, including Pensions & Investments, CFA NYC, and Morning Consult.

Learn How To Take Advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act — Part I with Pooja Khosla (Ep. 92)

Learn How To Take Advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act — Part I with Pooja Khosla (Ep. 92)

If you’re a small business owner looking to contribute towards combating climate change while also strengthening your business, make sure to stream this week’s episode of Deep Impact Investing with Pooja Khosla, the Chief Innovation Officer at Entelligent.

This week, Pooja shares five ways small businesses can utilize government incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act to go green. Through her discussion on ‘greenflation’ and why it matters for our economy, Pooja emphasizes the value of proactively protecting our planet (as individuals and as businesses).

By providing practical suggestions, such as switching to renewable energy and investing in green technology, learn the strategies you need to take advantage of tax breaks while making positive environmental changes.

Pooja discusses:

  • Ways her article covers the Inflation Reduction Act and its benefits for small businesses
  • The government incentives for going green
  • What’s ‘greenflation’ and how it’s impacting our economy
  •  Five changes small businesses can make to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Pooja Khosla:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Dr. Pooja Khosla is the Chief Innovation Officer at Entelligent. Dr. Khosla is an econometrician and data scientist with extensive experience in data analysis, predictive modeling, econometrics, statistics, microfinance, and mutual fund analysis. 

Dr. Khosla is one of the inventors of the patented Smart Climate® technology. She brings her international background in finance, academia, predictive modeling, and statistical software platforms to the company, leading product and client development. 

She has published articles and papers in trade journals, including Pensions & Investments, CFA NYC, and Morning Consult.

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

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

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.

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

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

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:

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.