ESG – Deep Impact Investing

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

By deepimpactinvesting | June 14, 2023

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

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

By deepimpactinvesting | March 1, 2023

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Banking on Success Or Failure (Ep. 74)

By deepimpactinvesting | August 24, 2022

Not every bank or mutual fund we give our money to has our environmental impact values in mind.

In this episode, Kim Griego-Kiel takes a deep dive into how you can be smarter about where your money is going and who you invest with. She talks about banking and insurance alternatives that share ESG values and prioritize what they invest in to make an impactful difference.

Kim discusses:

How alternate banking like community banks or credit unions can work for you
The steps insurance companies are taking to be stewards of the environment
What 30 of the primary insurers are doing to avoid catastrophic climate change
How to find out if your bank or mutual fund invests in fossil fuels
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Your Environmentally Sustainable Financial Services News Brief (Ep.70)

By deepimpactinvesting | June 29, 2022

A lot is going on in the world today, from climate change to active wars.

But, how does it all affect us?

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel breaks down some of today’s hot topics in the news. In an educational discussion, Kim addresses how these industry-related topics impact financial advisors and investors while unveiling the role of ESG and the markets within these uncertain times.

Kim discusses:

The rapid increase in attacks on the ESG industry
Ways advisors in the ESG arena can respond to the situations happening within the industry
Deloitte’s four key stages of decarbonization
Why investors shouldn’t panic about the bear market
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

A Conversation on Disability Rights & the ESG Community (Ep. 68)

By deepimpactinvesting | May 18, 2022

Over 15% of the world’s population lives with some kind of disability. However, disability issues and rights are often overlooked when we consider Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues.

In this episode, Kim Griego-Kiel sheds light on disability rights and the lack of attention it receives in ESG conversations. She highlights why disability inclusion is critical for approaching ESG holistically and unveils how inclusion contributes to successful business operations.

Kimberly discusses:

How the Disability Equality Index is improving ESG and the impact investing arena
The purchasing power the disability community holds globally
Reasons it’s critical for organizations to be inclusive for their business success
The difference between diversity and inclusion
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Digital Transformations Within the Financial & ESG Industry With David Bennell (Ep. 66)

By deepimpactinvesting | April 20, 2022

Financial services are constantly evolving and becoming increasingly digital.

Trading digital assets — whether it is ESG data, crypto, or other financial products (across centralized and decentralized finance platforms) — is starting to change the overall investment process.

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel sits down with returning guest David Bennell, advisor at Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS). Together, they talk about the standardization of impact investing in the government and industry and the effects of decentralized financial trading. Kim and David also unveil easy things we can do to adjust and be prepared for the newest era of the web.

Kim and David discuss:

Standardizing impact investing on the government and industry level
How crypto impacts the overall investment process
Accepting the new digital era based on trust and time
Understanding the ‘what’ and not the ‘how’ of web 3.0
And more!

Resources:

Connect with David Bennell:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

kim@horizonssfs.com
(505) 982-9661
Horizons Sustainable Financial Services
info@horizonssfs.com
Twitter: @HorizonsSustFin
Facebook: Horizons Sustainable Financial Services

About Our Guest:

David Bannell is a global leader in ESG and Sustainability engagement between corporations, investors, and non-profits. He bridges the ESG gap between investors and companies by creating engagement tools and collaborations like the investor portal Engage The Chain and the six-part global Food Systems Dialogue for Investors series, which had participation from over 75 major corporations and 50+ institutional investors and major banks.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Gender Equality for a Sustainable Future (Ep. 63)

By deepimpactinvesting | March 8, 2022

Supporting women extends beyond bridging the gender inequality gap. It is also critical to support women to create sustainable developments and social change.

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel talks about the importance of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Along with that, Kim highlights the different ways it relates to impact investing.

Kim teaches you how important it is to focus on breaking down female inequality for the sustainable development of the world and discusses several impactful leaders who are driving change in the financial industry.

Kim discusses:

The importance of celebrating women in March — and every day!
The interconnective nature of climate change and female inequality globally
Influential women in the impact investing space
How we can make an impact through different lenses in ESG investing
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Environmental Difference Makers in the Markets with Vicki Benjamin (Ep. 62)

By deepimpactinvesting | February 16, 2022

It’s no secret that we rely on nature to survive.

Hence, putting in measures to save our environment and allow the cycle to continue is extremely important for not only our own future, but also for the future of the generations to come.

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel sits down with Vicki Benjamin, co-founder and CEO of Karner Blue Capital. Vicki explains what her company does for nature and the environment and how they are utilizing data collection and their own ESG process to combat nature and biodiversity loss around the world.

Vicki discusses:

The impact of the palm oil industry on nature, the environment, and the markets
The five drivers of nature and the impact of biodiversity loss
How Karner Blue is utilizing in-depth data collection practices to redefine ESG investing
A new ecosystem service that will value land based on its positive effects in the public markets
And more!

Resources:

Ep 44 – What You Need to Know About the Palm Oil Industry – With Jessye Waxman

Connect with Vicki Benjamin:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

kim@horizonssfs.com
(505) 982-9661
Horizons Sustainable Financial Services
info@horizonssfs.com
Twitter: @HorizonsSustFin
Facebook: Horizons Sustainable Financial Services

About Our Guest:

Vicki Benjamin is the co-founder and CEO of Karner Blue Capital, an SEC-registered investment adviser dedicated to investing in biodiversity protection, environmental stewardship, and animal welfare. Before establishing KBC, Vicki served as President, COO, and CFO for Calvert Investments, an industry leader in socially responsible investing. Vicki was a partner of a “Big 4” accounting firm for more than ten years before joining Calvert.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

ESG vs. Impact Investing — Here’s the Difference (Ep.61)

By deepimpactinvesting | February 2, 2022

2021 was a great year for sustainable and ESG investing and its ability to outperform traditional markets.

However, it is important to understand the difference between ESG and impact investing when creating your portfolio.

In this episode, Kimberly explores the main differences between SRI, ESG, and impact investing. Plus, she explains the importance of understanding their roles in the market when building your portfolio.

Kim discusses:

Differentiating impact and ESG investing and ways they work together
How to measure and evaluate the impact of your investments with both strategies
How to investigate the companies you are supporting in your 401(k) investments
Ways Horizons Sustainable Financial Services can help guide where YOU choose to invest
And more!

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

55. How we can Create a New Economy With Rex Raimond — Part 1

By deepimpactinvesting | November 3, 2021

In October 2021, Kimberly Griego-Kiel took part in the ESG For Impact! conference in Colorado Springs.

During this two-day conference, Kim attended sessions focused on SRI investments, strategies, and concepts while connecting with like-minded professionals and industry leaders.

One of those leaders was Rex Raimond, the director of The Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS) Initiative.

In the first part of the ESG for Impact! miniseries, Rex joins Kim to explain everything around investing in global food systems. They explore how food growth can impact our health and the environment and outline ways we can get into a new sustainable economy.

Kim and Rex discuss:

How food systems fit within the ESG arena
The destructiveness of the agricultural system
The financial component of growing food system operations
Consequences of not managing our land properly
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rex Raimond

LinkedIn: Rex Raimond

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

About Rex Raimond:

Rex Raimond has more than 20 years of experience developing strategies and building effective partnerships for sustainable and equitable food systems. He applies his partnership-building skills to help build a movement among concessional, impact, and commercial investors, companies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to increase investment in principles-aligned food system businesses that are economically viable and deliver sustainable impact. Rex has worked on many aspects of food and agricultural systems transformation, including sustainable finance, crop insurance, and agricultural policy, market incentives for soil health practices, sustainable supply chains, food safety, science and emerging technologies, sustainable landscape planning, and climate change.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed