“Financial markets aren’t perfect, but they work well, efficiently allocating capital and benefiting society. While there’s room for improvement, a healthy respect for their function is crucial. ”
— Harald Walkate
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. He advocates for not just financially sound solutions but also creating lasting positive change for people and the planet.
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.
From his roles at Natixis Investment Managers and Aegon Asset Management to his role as a Senior Fellow at the University of Zurich Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth, Harald has delved deep into sustainable finance, impact investment, and blended finance.
In this enlightening conversation, we explore Harald’s insights on ESG, impact investing, and the often misunderstood realm of blended finance.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:
- Connect with Harald Walkate : LinkedIn
- Aegon Asset Management
- Allen and Overy
- Bally Total Fitness
- Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth
- Financial Conduct Authority
- Finding Ways Ahead
- Natixis
- Route17
- University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- 10 things every investor should know about Net Zero
- How Investors Can Be Science-Based
PEOPLE MENTIONED:
SHOW NOTES:
[00:00] Episode introduction
[02:17] Harald Walkate’s career journey
[14:54] How impact investing can make a difference
[21:43] Appreciation of the global financial markets
[26:27] Topics most misunderstood in ESG and impact investing
[30:24] ESG investing in the US
[34:35] The best evidence that the ESG toolkit enhances return
[40:14] Measuring the real-world impact of ESG investing
[43:38] Sustainable finance vs. financing sustainability
[01:04:51] Blended finance for sustainable investing
MORE HARALD WALKATE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW:
“Large investors seldom allocate capital solely on the grounds of ‘green’ or ‘sustainable.’ While environmental considerations may play a role, they primarily base their decisions on the principles of risk and return. ”
— Harald Walkate
“The single most effective strategy to harness the power of impact investing for real-world outcomes is to elevate nuclear energy to a recognized impact investing category. ”
— Harald Walkate
