On October 10, 2024, we convened industry experts for the first session of the “Constructing Change Webinar Series,” as part of the lead-up to Building Bridges 2024. This session titled, Impact Lens Investing – Grabbing the Investor’s Attention?, attracted both mainstream and impact investors keen to learn how their capital can advance solutions in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and circular economy initiatives. Karen Hitschke, CEO of Building Bridges, opened the event, underscoring the role of impact-driven finance in tackling global challenges like climate change and inequality. Kostis Tselenis, Managing Partner of the Swiss Impact Office, took the floor as Moderator to lead a revealing dialogue with four influential voices, investing in impact.

Climate Action and Impact in Focus

The discussion delved into how specific asset classes are advancing sustainable finance goals. Jennifer Boscardin-Ching, who leads thematic equity strategies at Pictet Asset Management, discussed how climate-conscious investments are experiencing growing demand, with public markets now a driving force in climate action. Guillaume Chapuis, Senior Investment Manager at Lombard Odier, highlighted how private equity is innovating within the plastics sector, supporting scalable companies that address carbon reduction and advance circular economy solutions. Both speakers underscored how balancing financial returns with sustainability outcomes is not only feasible but increasingly demanded by the market.

Impact Strategies in Emerging Markets

Sandra Halilovic, Head of H2R Development Facility at Acumen, and Krisztina Tora, Chief Market Development Officer at GSG Impact, expanded the discussion to emerging markets, sharing experiences on deploying impact-first finance. Sandra showcased how Acumen’s initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa are advancing access to energy through blended finance, a critical tool for mobilising billions in high-need regions. Krisztina noted that building financial ecosystems and fostering collaboration between governments, NGOs, and the private sector is essential to scale impact and address pressing social and environmental challenges.

Key Takeaways: A Practical Guide for Impact Investors

The session closed with clear, actionable insights for mainstream investors looking to embrace impact strategies:

Impact Doesn’t Mean Lower Returns: Climate-conscious and thematic equity strategies are showing competitive returns, illustrating that impact and profit can go hand in hand.
Active Ownership Drives Change: Large shareholders can engage with companies to improve sustainability practices, creating lasting positive outcomes.
Blended Finance Unlocks Emerging Markets: Leveraging blended finance can mobilise large-scale capital to address critical issues like energy access in underserved regions.
Collaboration Fuels Scale: Partnerships across sectors—government, NGOs, and private investors—are vital for driving systemic impact and broadening financial reach.

What was made evident was that impact investing is no longer a niche pursuit; it’s fast becoming a foundational pillar of the financial system with multiple approaches. From listed equities to private equity, and from the Global North to the Global South, this panel showcased the shift underway in sustainable finance. Impact investing is shaping the future of finance by proving that capital deployed with intention can generate both meaningful outcomes and competitive returns, empowering investors to contribute to a better, more sustainable world.

Learn more about Building Bridges 2024 >