ImpactAlpha Podcasts

In the final podcast episode of the year, host Brian Walsh takes up the trends that ImpactAlpha will be following in 2025 with editor David Bank. On our radar: Impact investors lean into economic populism with the ownership economy; climate gets a new narrative for the Trump era; and emerging markets attract local capital for local needs as better data rebuts misperceptions of risk. Check out all of this year's lookaheads on ImpactAlpha.

As president of the Heron Foundation, Clara Miller in 2012 set a goal to invest 100% percent of the foundation’s then-$250 million in assets to fight poverty within five years. Heron beat the deadline by a year to be become one of the first foundations to align its full endowment with its mission.  For the latest episode of the podcast series Finding Alpha, ImpactAlpha contributing editor Rob Brown sat down with Miller for a wide-ranging discussion about the innovations she fostered in impact lending, the value of starting your career at the bottom, and her favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney.  

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How lobbying and advocacy are being used by family offices for “policy enhanced impact investing.” “These investors are raising their lobbying game to enhance their social impact,” by David Bank. How a California community lender is focusing on community ownership models to combat the displacement of small businesses and nonprofits. “Community Vision’s ownership strategy for combating displacement of small businesses and nonprofits in California,” by Roodgally Senatus. “How community ownership benefits investors and communities,” Aisha Benson and Christina Hollenback. And, a look at the rapidly evolving off-grid solar industry in Africa. “Commercial lenders wake up to Africa's fastest-growing solar sector,” by Lucy Ngige.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The tale of two different ownership economy models for increasing employee wealth As private equity firms start to share the wealth, low-income workers get just a little bit by Roody Senatus Meet 22 funds raising capital to finance high-impact transitions to employee ownership by David Bank RSVP for next week's Call where we'll screen our Napoleon Wallace documentary. Lessons learned from 10 years and $1.9 billion of catalytic investments from British International Investment. And, the untapped potential for investment and innovation in the US care economy.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Highlights from this week’s post-election Agents of Impact Call; the news that Donald Trump Jr. is joining a quasi-impact investing fund targeting an underserved market –  conservative consumers; and, how catalytic capital warehousing could help emerging managers finance the sustainable development goals.

For the first in his series of Finding Alpha podcast conversations, ImpactAlpha contributing editor Robert Brown catches up with Sorenson Impact Institute founder Jim Sorenson to talk about the building of an impact investing ecosystem.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Previewing next week's Agents of Impact Call (RSVP NOW!) The search is on for global climate leadership at COP29-- and women are front and center. How hospitals are partnering with community lenders to invest in the social determinants of health Plus, a look at some of our top deals of the week.

Kapadia is heading to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan next week to bring a gender lens to what's being called the 'Finance COP.' Negotiators are hammering out new financial targets for investment and assistance in the climate transition in developing countries and the global south more broadly.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: ⁠Initial reactions from agents of impact⁠ to President Trump's re-election; an update on some of the funding already being distributed from the ⁠Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund⁠; and how a ⁠mutual aid network in Asheville⁠, North Carolina is helping overlooked entrepreneurs rebuild after Hurricane Helene.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The ImpactAlpha team was at the SOCAP conference in SF, where the focus was on systemic change; how private investors are pouring more money into blended finance transactions; and, why global family offices are slowly warming up to climate investments.