“Since responsAbility is not focused on philanthropy, subsidies, or donations, we can say we form partnerships with people in emerging markets. When they choose to buy our service, it’s a strong signal that there’s a real benefit – otherwise, they simply wouldn’t use it. ”
— Rochus Mommartz
Last month I had insightful conversations with two leaders in impact investing and sustainability. The first was with Rochus Mommartz, who is the CEO of responsAbility, and the other was with Jonathan Maxwell, who is the founding partner and CEO of Sustainable Development Capital.
This episode is a special one which serves as a recap of the episodes from last month. It features a couple of key clips from each conversation in one place so you can jump around and get a feel for both the episode and the guest. And you can always dig deeper by going to one of those episodes.
So view this episode as a buffet to whet your appetite. Here’s the full list of the guests featured today and the links to their full episode. Please enjoy!
Rochus Mommartz, the CEO of responsAbility
Rochus Mommartz is a pioneer in impact investing who has spent decades creating opportunities for people in emerging markets. He played a key role in developing regulatory frameworks and microfinance models that enable financial inclusion and long-term growth for communities across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
My interview with Rochus was so long and so compelling that I ended up splitting it into two episodes. The first was about the evolution of microfinance because Rochus was in the field and literally had a front-row seat to the evolution of this market in its earliest days. The second episode with Rochus was all about responsAbility, where he is now.
We discussed responsAbility’s strategy for managing $5 billion in investments across 70+ countries, balancing social impact with strong financial returns, and how their focus on sustainable agriculture, climate finance, and essential services supports progress in emerging markets.
Check out the full interview:
Part 1: https://sri360.com/podcast/rochus-mommartz/
Part 2: https://sri360.com/podcast/rochus-mommartz-2/
Jonathan Maxwell, founding partner and CEO of Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL)
In this conversation Jonathan Maxwell presented a bold approach to climate challenges by focusing on reducing waste and maximizing efficiency. His EDGE model (Efficient and Decentralized Generation of Energy) drives resource savings across 50,000 properties worldwide. These projects support sustainability and also bring double-digit returns while cutting energy waste, showing how responsible and profitable investing can go hand in hand.
Check out the full episode here: https://sri360.com/podcast/jonathan-maxwell/
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, 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…
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Connect with Rochus: LinkedIn
- ResponsAbility LinkedIn
- ResponsAbility website
- Connect with Jonathan: LinkedIn
- Jonathan Maxwell on Substack
- SDCL LinkedIn
- SDCL website
- SEEIT LinkedIn
- SEEIT website
SHOW NOTES:
[00:00] Introduction
[03:10] The early days of microfinance and the challenge of sustainability
[08:50] Importance of regulatory frameworks for microfinance institutions
[17:02] Founding responsAbility and rising to CEO
[25:05] Impact investing philosophy
[30:24] ResponsAbility – overview and mission
[33:14] Private market focus (debt and equity)
[36:44]15+ thematic funds impacting 70+ countries
[43:08] Investment process, criteria, and impact measurement
[01:15:01] Jonathan Maxwell on sustainability
[01:21:21] SDCL’s mission, activities, and investment focus
[01:40:39] SDCL’s theory of change
[01:52:58] Project portfolio, impact measurement, and reporting
MORE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW:
“My theory of change is this: we need to improve resource efficiency because we’re using far more than the planet can sustainably produce. The largest, fastest, cheapest, and cleanest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the social conflicts over resource extraction is to do more with less. ”
— Jonathan Maxwell
“ResponsAbility aims to contribute to the development of a more inclusive financial sector where more people have the opportunity to access financial services. Therefore, we finance institutions that contribute positively to this goal. ”
— Rochus Mommartz
