Demystifying ESG & Impact Investing: How To Create Measurable Change w/ Harald Walkate (#030)

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

In this episode, I am joined by Harald Walkate. Harald isn't just another voice in the sustainability space. He's a seasoned navigator, guiding us across the complex landscape of ESG and impact investing.
With 25 years of experience, he's seen both sides of the table, working with major asset managers and corporations. This unique perspective fuels his passion for bridging the gap between good intentions and real-world impact. He's a champion of blended finance, a powerful tool that blends public and private resources to tackle urgent challenges like climate change and poverty.
Born in Leiden, Netherlands, Harald Walkate studied law at Leiden University, later venturing into corporate law at Allen & Overy. After obtaining an MBA from the University of Chicago, Harald moved into business development at Bally Total Fitness, then shifted to Aegon, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.
At Aegon, he became the Global Head of Responsible Investment, leading to a move to Natixis in 2019 as the Head of ESG. In 2022, he founded Finding Ways Ahead, and in 2023, he initiated Route 17, an SDG funding & blended finance advisory firm.
In this enlightening conversation, we explore Harald's insights on ESG, impact investing, and the often misunderstood realm of blended finance.
Show notes: https://sri360.com/podcast/harald-walkate/
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.
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Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Harald Walkate’s career journey (02:17)
How impact investing can make a difference (14:54)
Appreciation of the global financial markets (21:43)
Topics most misunderstood in ESG and impact investing (26:27)
ESG investing in the US (30:24)
The best evidence that the EGS toolkit enhances return (34:35)
Measuring the real-world impact of ESG investing (40:14)
Sustainable finance vs financing sustainability (43:38)
Blended finance for sustainable investing (01:04:51)
Additional Resources
Harald Walkate’s LinkedIn
Route17 Website
Finding Ways Ahead
Other Links Mentioned
Allen and Overy
Bally Total Fitness
Aegon Asset Management
Natixis
Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Financial Conduct Authority
Marc Andreessen
Robert W. van Zwieten
Jean Raby
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