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The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: A look today at the Republican Primary race for Texas' 19th Congressional District made on open seat with the retirement of Jodey Arrington. We visit with candidate Tom Sell.Candidates, to appear on the show request time here (just as Corley did.)Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.We visit with Anah Menjares, Republican Primary candidate for Lubbock County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2.A Trump appointed federal judge makes an absurd ruling on Texas anti-ESG law, SB13. Albright may get away with hanging his hat on some “overbroad” provision upon appeal but his ruling that the law violates the First Amendment free speech rights of the plaintiffs is ridiculous. The law does not stop anyone from saying anything, or joining the anti-human ESG movement. The law simply sets policy standards regarding the investment of public money by the state and its institutions. Does Albright believe that a legislature cannot set such policies? The leftwing states have policies in place to favor investment in the evil ESG movement.Attorney General Paxton sues the Muslim Brotherhood, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”), and CAIR's Austin, Houston, and DFW chapters to ban the terrorist organizations from operating in Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
Many organizations say they want to invest in people, but their hiring and talent practices often tell a very different story.Degree requirements, limited benefits packages, and poor management practices continue to limit who gets access to opportunity and how teams perform. And the cost shows up everywhere: higher turnover, slower productivity, and missed potential.Fortunately, this week's guest brings clear data and practical strategies that show how companies can do better for both people and performance.Dr. Angela Jackson is a Workplace Futurist and ESG expert, founder of Future Forward Strategies, and a lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She works with entrepreneurs, F100s, and policymakers on the future of work. Dr. Angela holds a doctorate from Harvard University and serves on several boards, including Needham Bancorp. Her book, The Win-Win Workplace, became a New York Times, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times Best SellerIf you want to build stronger teams, reduce turnover, and boost performance inside your organization, this episode offers a practical roadmap.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the week's episode's big idea delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Why “being your best self at work” is a business imperative(02:52) What is a “zero-sum workplace”?(06:05) What happens when workplaces invest in people(06:57) The 9 pillars of a Win-Win Workplace (overview)(12:26) What managers can do (even without company-wide power)(19:03) Distributed leadership and the Ownership mindset(26:57) A great manager story(29:30) How to connect with Angela(30:45) [Extended Interview] Building a deep talent bench(32:30) [Extended Interview] Hiring for skills, not credentials(36:18) [Extended Interview] How to design a skills-based interview
"There is value in being able to articulate the qualitative value of sustainability…And yes, obviously revenues can be attached to that, but obviously just the opportunity to open up new markets more broadly and innovate…There's the risk and compliance component, which tend to be more easy to actually quantify. And then there's the brand reputation…So you can make the case qualitatively in any of those three areas…There's this movement from morality to materiality now that CFOs are involved…We actually take that all the way to the financial statements, to the balance sheet, to the profit and loss statement, and identify those specific line items where there could be savings or synergies or increases." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast Companies have to focus on long-term value and returns, and a recent report by KPMG found that 88% of them say sustainability creates both. They also see it as a competitive advantage. Why? Listen to Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer of global management consulting and accounting firm KPMG in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How companies see sustainability as a competitive advantage. ● How sustainability and ESG initiatives drive return on investment and long-term value. ● Why CFO's are on board with ESG, as both a risk mitigation and revenue driver. ● What companies can do to make progress themselves. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "My experience has been looking for those opportunities of new area growth, innovation. Of course, there's risk. There's going to be risk when you move into those areas…I actually pivoted and started working with venture capital backed life sciences companies…then I got to come back to sustainability after that. …I think keeping your eyes open, keeping your ears open, developing your network, and being willing to make those changes and taking those pivots in your career will pay off….(And) the way that you get ahead is actually sometimes by taking two steps back. And so, it's more of a step up, plateau, then maybe take a step down and then start moving up again. And that's how you kind of break into the next level." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article on Maura's panel at the Workiva conference here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Business Leaders Bridging the Climate Gap – Joan's panel at The Earth Day Women's Summit 2025 with four top business leaders. · Sustainable Business Is Good Business – Tensie Whelan, Founding Director, NYU Stern School of Sustainable Business. · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · 6 Ways Sustainability Can Help Businesses Navigate Tough Times and Drive Growth – From Workiva, KPMG and NYU Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
In this episode of Movie Nights with Matt, Matt Ehret presents and discusses a documentary examining the historical, ideological, and institutional forces shaping Mark Carney's rise and worldview. The episode traces Carney's lineage through British imperial structures, including the Rhodes Scholarship system, the Round Table movement, and the enduring influence of the City of London on Canadian governance. Matt walks viewers through the role of technocracy, green finance, ESG frameworks, and central banking in redefining sovereignty, accountability, and economic control. The film connects Carney's career at Goldman Sachs, the Bank of England, and international financial bodies to broader efforts to shift power away from democratic institutions toward managerial systems governed by metrics, behavior controls, and financial leverage. The discussion also explores historical precedents involving Canada's role in imperial strategy, the dismantling of Glass-Steagall protections, and the use of climate policy as a tool for financial and social restructuring. The episode closes with live audience discussion, historical context, and reflections on why understanding these systems is essential to preserving national sovereignty.
Erica Ocampo, Chief Sustainability Officer at The Metals Company (TMC), to discuss with Mike Nemer their deep-sea mining operations on episode 315 of The Green Insider. TMC is exploring polymetallic nodules in the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, which contain nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese. Overview of TMC's Work TMC is exploring polymetallic nodules in the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, which contain nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese Mining Technology and Process Operations occur at approximately 4,000 meters depth using a collector vehicle connected to a surface vessel via a riser system Nodules are lifted using water jets, separated from sediment onboard, and water and sediment are returned to the ocean at 2,000 meters depth Sustainability and ESG Focus Erica, Chief Sustainability Officer at TMC, leads ESG integration from the ground up Environmental programs study seafloor impacts, water‑column effects, greenhouse gas emissions, and water use Social impact efforts benefit from the remote location, minimizing impacts to local communities Partnerships with countries such as Nauru and Tonga support scholarships and capacity‑building programs U.S. Mineral Processing Expansion TMC plans to process minerals in the United States to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains Potential processing and port locations include Texas, Japan, and Indonesia A research vessel accommodating up to 150 scientists has completed 22 ocean campaigns over 13 years, including pilot tests in 2022 Strategic Pivot to Deep‑Sea Mining TMC shifted from the International Seabed Authority framework to operate under U.S. regulatory oversight, citing clearer processes and communication The transition took more than a decade and positions the company to begin operations in early 2027 Environmental Context and Research Findings Focus is on polymetallic nodules in the NORI‑D area, valued for high quality and location in a low‑productivity ecosystem Research indicates the mid‑water sediment plume dissipates quickly with no significant food‑web impacts observed The region has no tuna fisheries, reducing ecological risk to commercial species Overall Perspective Erica stresses the need for a nuanced, evidence‑based discussion of deep-sea mining rather than black‑and‑white judgments To be an Insider Please subscribe to The Green Insider powered by ERENEWABLE wherever you get your podcast from and remember to leave us a five-star rating. To learn more about our guest or ask about being a sponsor, contact ERENEWABLE and the Green Insider Podcast. The post Strategic Access to Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, and Manganese with TMC's Technology appeared first on eRENEWABLE.
On Friday, the President announced Kevin Warsh as his pick for Fed Chair. Warsh has a track record of hawkishness from his previous stint as Fed governor. He has also annunciated a broad philosophy that the Fed has moved too far from its original mandate by promoting ESG objectives and in enabling excessive federal spending through quantitative easing. That being said, he has argued more recently that the Fed should cut interest rates more aggressively.
This special edition episode of the NAA Apartmentcast features guest hosts Scott Wilkerson, Chief Investment Officer and Chair of the Investment Committee for Ginkgo Residential, and Chris Carter, Regional Vice President for Carter-Haston, both members of NAA's Operations Committee. They are joined by Brad Dockser, CEO and Co-Founder of GreenGen for an intriguing conversation focused on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), which itself sits at a really interesting crossroads in rental housing: Touching asset management, finance, operations, climate strategy, resident experience, and the future of real estate. There is a case to be made that ESG isn't a cost center for rental housing providers, it's a competitive advantage and a driver of value. Housing providers that integrate ESG into their operations can unlock new revenue opportunities, future-proof their assets and deliver better outcomes for residents and investors. For more information and resources on ESG, sustainability, asset management and NAA's Operations Committee, visit https://naahq.org/Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.
This episode was first aired on 29/01/2025How did the banking system evolve from a simple bench—the very origin of the word “bank”—into the sophisticated institutions that drive the global economy?Banks are more than just institutions. With over 4,000 years of history, they have played a pivotal role in powering industrial revolutions, transforming dreams into reality, and adapting to the evolving needs of clients across generations. From economic booms to busts, they have stood the test of time, channeling funding like the lifeblood of the economy and serving as critical cogs in the machinery of society. Banks have turned the alchemy of compound interest—Einstein's “8th wonder of the world”—into a driving force behind economic growth.In this episode of 2050 Investors, Kokou Agbo-Bloua dives into the essential role of banks and the foundations of the global banking system. Through his analysis, he explores the power of compound interest, the history of banking and the evolution of business models and regulatory frameworks. Highlighting their role as financial intermediaries, Kokou unpacks how they contribute to societal and economic progress through fractional reserve banking.Later in the episode, Kokou interviews Slawomir Krupa, as the bank marks its 160th anniversary. Slawomir reflects on how Societe Generale has remained true to its original mission of combining innovation with strength in its business model. He discusses the bank's focus on sustainability and responsibility, emphasizing its vital role in financing the economy, supporting transformational projects, and offering strategic advice to clients to drive these developments. He also shares insights on how climate change and AI are driving institutions to reinvent themselves.This episode is a compelling exploration of the past, present, and future of banking, offering fresh insights into how this age-old institution continues to influence our lives and economies.About this showWelcome to 2050 Investors, your monthly guide to understanding the intricate connections between finance, globalisation, and ESG. Join host Kokou Agbo-Bloua, Head of Economics, Cross-Asset & Quant Research at Societe Generale, for an exploration of the economic and market megatrends shaping the present and future, and how these trends might influence our progress to meeting 2050's challenging global sustainability targets. If you like 2050 Investors, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support will help us spread the word and reach new audiences. If you're seeking a brief and entertaining overview of market-related topics and their business and societal implications, subscribe now to stay informed! Previous episodes of 2050 Investors have explored ESG, climate change, AI, greenflation, globalization, plastic pollution, food, healthcare, biodiversity and more. CreditsPresenter & Writer: Kokou Agbo-BlouaProducers & Editors: Jovaney Ashman, Jennifer Krumm, Louis TrouslardSound Director: La Vilaine, Pierre-Emmanuel Lurton. Music: Cézame Music AgencyGraphic Design: Cédric Cazaly Whilst the following podcast discusses the financial markets, it does not recommend any particular investment decision. If you are unsure of the merits of any investment decision, please seek professional advice.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
如何避免淨灘淪為「公關秀」?年年帶員工去淨灘,為什麼垃圾永遠撿不完? 當全球永續目光從氣候行動轉向「生物多樣性」,許多企業開始號召員工淨灘、種樹, 但若缺乏長期規劃,這些行動往往淪為一次性的「公關秀」或「員工出公差」。 甚至有些看似環保的舉動(如:在錯誤地點種植紅樹林),反而可能導致原棲地物種滅絕,造成不可逆的生態浩劫! 本集《永續會》邀請到荒野保護協會副理事長、資深環境律師陳憲政,他將從第一線參與 11 年的經驗出發,解析企業如何避開 ESG 盲點,將科技專業轉化為真實的環境影響力。 針對環境行動,陳憲政副理事長特別提醒企業應避開「綠洗腦」陷阱,避免因追求單一碳匯指標而破壞原有棲地與生物多樣性 。 同時,企業應轉向更專業的參與模式,運用 ICT 監測技術、AI 物種辨識及資料庫建立來支援 NGO ;在法規層面,則可善用「農域權」或「地域權」等法律工具達成長期的土地保育 。 呼籲企業主管「親自下水」參與棲地營造,透過建立對自然的「共感」,讓公司治理決策能引發正向的蝴蝶效應 。 主持人:天下永續會總監 高宜凡 來賓:荒野協會副理事長 陳憲政 製作團隊:樂祈、張雅媛、邱宇豪、林羿心 *訂閱天下全閱讀:https://bit.ly/3STpEpV *「聽天下」清楚分類更好聽,下載天下雜誌App:https://bit.ly/3ELcwhX *意見信箱:bill@cw.com.tw -- Hosting provided by SoundOn
As CEO of financial services giant Legal & General, António Simões plays a huge role in the UK economy, not to mention in the financial wellbeing of tens of millions of people. From managing pension funds to massive infrastructure spending around the country, he oversees well over a trillion dollars' worth of UK assets. Simões took the top job at the beginning of 2024, and he tells Will Bain how from the start he has been dedicated to maintaining a corporate culture with a healthy work-life balance.Bullish on the UK economy, Simões says the country sometimes spends too much time ‘talking itself down' and that with its fundamental strengths the UK is one of the most stable economies in the world. But, he says, there are still big worries for young Britons' futures. He tells Will he's concerned about the low levels of pension enrolment around the country and says more financial education is needed for people to understand the “eighth wonder of the world”: compound interest.He also tells Will about L&G's massive investments around the country, from digital infrastructure and energy storage to affordable homes. And he says that despite a backlash against ESG and diversity programmes in recent years, he believes those are essential to ensuring returns for investors, and the country, far into the future. Presenter: Will BainProducer: Olie D'AlbertansonEditor: Henry Jones00:00 Sean Farrington and Will Bain introduce the episode02:00 António Simões interview begins02:21 Maintaining work-life balance and corporate culture05:30 Britons not saving enough into their pensions and the need for more financial literacy 08:40 Addressing low pensions auto-enrollment, challenges for employees and SMEs alike20:30 UK Growth - how to get there? 24:30 AI investments and 'bubble' fears 26:30 Government and private investments in new infrastructure around the UK40:00 The continued value of diversity schemes and ESG amid backlash 41:30 The politicisation of the economy 42:30 Low gender and LGBT representation in the C-suite
In this episode, Cambria Allen-Ratzlaff, Interim CEO at the PRI, is joined by Mark Anson, Chair of the Investment Committee, and Hershel Harper, Chief Investment Officer at the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust. A PRI signatory since 2010, the Trust has long been recognised for its leadership in responsible investment, stewardship and manager engagement.Together, they explore how a large, closed pension plan integrates responsible investment into fiduciary decision-making, covering human capital management, energy transition risks, data centres, manager selection and the role of ESG data.OverviewDrawing on decades of experience across public pensions, endowments and foundations, Mark and Hershel reflect on how responsible investment has evolved from a niche concern to a core part of managing long-term risk and return.The conversation highlights how the Trust approaches stewardship not as a values exercise, but as a practical way to strengthen governance, resilience and performance, always grounded in its obligation to deliver healthcare benefits for retirees.Detailed CoverageHuman capital as a core assetThe guests discuss why workforce practices, board quality and leadership development are material investment issues. From employee training and compensation to board diversity and skills, effective human capital management is framed as fundamental to long-term value creation.Collective engagement and investor leadershipMark and Hershel explain why large asset owners must collaborate to drive change. Initiatives such as the Midwest Investors Diversity Initiative demonstrate how coordinated engagement can improve board diversity and corporate sustainability while supporting better business outcomes.Energy, water and data-centre riskThe discussion turns to energy policy and the growing demand driven by AI and data centres. The guests outline how the Trust evaluates resource efficiency, water use, worker safety and community impact, recognising the need for “all-of-the-above” energy solutions delivered responsibly.Manager selection and Capital ConnectHershel introduces Capital Connect, the Trust's forum designed to broaden access to diverse and emerging managers. Both guests stress that expanding the opportunity set improves risk-adjusted returns, and that investing with diverse managers is not concessionary, but disciplined and performance-driven.ESG data, fiduciary duty and decision-makingMark and Hershel reflect on their recent research into fiduciary responsibility and inconsistent ESG data. They explain why ESG ratings vary so widely, and why asset owners must first define their objectives, regulatory constraints and risk priorities before selecting data tools.Context mattersA recurring theme is that responsible investment is contextual. Different investors (pension funds, endowments, foundations) face different liabilities, regulations and time horizons, shaping how ESG considerations are applied in practice.For more information about making the case for responsible investment, check out our database: https://public.unpri.org/investment-tools/investment-case-databaseChapters00:00 - Introduction & Backgrounds03:29 - Human Capital Management & Board Diversity08:55 - Midwest Investor Diversity Initiative11:41 - Energy Policy & Data Centers18:17 - Water Resources & Community Impact19:39 - Capital Connect & Diverse Managers26:40 - Fiduciary Dilemma & ESG...
In this episode, Heidi Friedman, a partner in our Environmental and Product Liability Litigation groups and co-chair of our Corporate Sustainability practice, hosts a one-on-one conversation with Marna McDermott, Director of Sustainability at Exelon, one of the nation's largest utility companies. Marna leads Exelon's sustainability strategy, advancing its mission to power a cleaner and brighter future for the communities it serves. Marna was the founding leader of the Conservation Litigation Project and previously served as Deputy General Counsel for the White House Council on Environmental Quality. This discussion originally took place as part of our Power Huddle: Inside the Minds of ESG Gurus series. These conversations examine how company executives from various industries are actively paving the way as ESG trendsetters and championing pragmatic ESG strategies to align with business values while building a sustainability framework to advance their company's ESG goals and practices.
What happens when you challenge the World Economic Forum from the inside? Desiree Fixler was a senior executive at Deutsche Bank's $1 trillion asset manager. She believed in ESG, sustainability, and “profit with purpose” — until she saw how it actually worked behind closed doors. SPONSORS: Organise your life: https://akiflow.pro/Heretics Earn up to 4 per cent on gold, paid in gold: https://www.monetary-metals.com/heretics/ Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at https://mintmobile.com/heretics Desiree Fixler was a senior executive at Deutsche Bank's $1 trillion asset manager. She believed in ESG, sustainability, and “profit with purpose” — until she saw how it actually worked behind closed doors. Follow Desiree Fixler: https://x.com/desireefixler Go to her website: https://www.desireefixler.com Interact with her: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiree-fixler-3787653/ In this conversation, Desiree explains what the World Economic Forum is, how “stakeholder capitalism” replaced shareholder capitalism, why net zero, ESG, and DEI became mandatory, and what happened when she refused to sign off on what she says were false public disclosures. After raising concerns internally, Desiree says she was suddenly locked out of the system, publicly smeared, and forced out of Germany — triggering investigations by US and German authorities. This is not theory. This is a firsthand account. Join the 30k heretics on my mailing list: https://andrewgoldheretics.com Check out my new documentary channel: https://youtube.com/@andrewgoldinvestigates Andrew on X: https://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok Insta: https://www.instagram.com/andrewgold_ok Heretics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewgoldheretics Chapters 00:00 Explain the WEF Like I'm a Sausage Dog 03:00 Why the Davos Crowd Is an Echo Chamber 06:00 From Capitalism to Warm Collectivism 09:00 Net Zero Means the State Controls Energy 12:00 Why Fear Sells Better Than Facts 15:00 I Thought ESG Was Doing Good 18:00 My Dream Job at a Trillion Dollar Asset Manager 21:00 Just Say Anything No One Will Check 24:00 The Day I Was Locked Out 27:00 Publicly Smeared Overnight 30:00 Why I Went to the Wall Street Journal 33:00 When the SEC DOJ and FBI Called 36:00 ESG as a Trillion Dollar Marketing Scheme 39:00 Why Pension Funds Lost Money 42:00 The WEF Rulebook 45:00 Why Censorship Entered the Agenda 48:00 Who Actually Benefits From This 51:00 They Don't Live in the Real World 54:00 Why Net Zero Raised Energy Prices 57:00 Why DEI Created Groupthink 1:00:00 Ideology or Self Interest 1:03:00 What the End Point Looks Like 1:06:00 What Ordinary People Can Do #WEF #GreatReset #Whistleblower Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The infrastructure fund industry has become one of the most powerful engines behind the rise of renewables and datacenters. With Zak Bentley, Americas Editor, Infrastructure Investor (part of the PEI Group), Laurent and Gerard cut through the noise to deliver a clear-eyed view of where the infrastructure market really stands today. 2025 smashed fundraising records, with c.USD300bn raised, but it also laid bare an uncomfortable truth: this is a market in consolidation mode. Capital is concentrating fast, and the biggest platforms are pulling further ahead. Global Infrastructure Partners set a new benchmark with its USD25.2bn Fund V, the largest infrastructure fund ever raised. Macquarie closed more than USD8bn for Infrastructure Partners VI, including co-investments, while Blackstone raised USD5.5bn for Strategic Partners Infrastructure IV, the largest infrastructure secondaries fund to date. Brookfield, KKR, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and Ardian were also among the clear winners. Scale matters, and the leaders are taking an ever-larger share of the pie. Fundraising may look healthier on the surface, but the process has become longer and harder. Time on the road has stretched to around 25 months, meaning a large portion of the capital “raised” in 2025 was secured across 2023 and 2024. This is not a detail; it is the clearest symptom of the barbell dynamic now dominating infrastructure fundraising, where capital flows either to the very largest platforms or to highly differentiated specialists. Sector trends are also evolving. Airports and toll roads, written off after COVID, are back in favour. Social infrastructure is fading. ESG has been reset, not abandoned, and gas infrastructure is once again being embraced, often relabelled as energy transition to make it palatable. Datacenters sit at the centre of everything, hoovering up capital and pulling renewables and grid infrastructure along with them. The discussion goes straight at the hard questions: are genuinely new sectors emerging, can today's giants realistically keep getting bigger, and is there still room for ultra-specialised strategies? The answer is increasingly clear. Bigger is not automatically better. Investors are becoming far more selective, and many are shifting capital toward focused, mid-market funds that offer expertise rather than sheer scale. -----Berlin Infrastructure Conference – 24 to 27/3https://www.peievents.com/en/checkout/?peievcc-event-id=113021 Link to Nat Bullard – 200 pages yearly deck https://www.nathanielbullard.com/presentations
Episode 209 with Dara Adekunle, Managing Partner and CEO of FARMTIES Capital, an investment firm financing export oriented African agribusinesses and strengthening Africa's role in global trade.Dara brings deep experience in impact investing, innovative finance, and international trade to this conversation on one of the most critical and under examined constraints to Africa's economic growth the trade finance gap facing agricultural SMEs.In this episode, we explore why Africa's challenge is not agricultural production, but the lack of working capital, trade infrastructure, and risk appropriate financing needed to move goods from farms to global markets. Dara explains how FARMTIES Fund I, a 50 million dollar profit sharing trade finance fund, is unlocking capital for export ready agribusinesses across West and East Africa, with strong market linkages to North America and Europe.From blended finance and technical assistance to compliance, traceability, and ESG standards, this conversation breaks down how African SMEs can become bankable, competitive, and scalable in global food markets. Dara also unpacks why gender inclusive and climate resilient value chains are not only good for impact, but essential for long term commercial success.What We Discuss With DaraWhy Africa's biggest constraint to agribusiness growth is the trade finance gap rather than production capacityHow profit sharing trade finance and blended capital structures can de risk African agricultureTurning compliance, traceability, and ESG requirements into competitive advantages for African exportersThe commercial case for gender inclusive and climate resilient agricultural value chainsWhat founders, investors, and policymakers must change to unlock Africa's export led growthDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Financial Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, and How to Build Markets That Work in Africa? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Dara:LinkedIn - Oluwadara (Dara) Adekunle and Farmties Capital LimitedMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don't do it alone. If you'd like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: www.etkgroup.co.ukinfo@etkgroup.co.uk
Find out how governance and sustainability are evolving, including what's next for ESG. Change is coming for governance leaders, whether it's the evolution of ESG, the risks around AI, or an increased focus on strategic execution. How can these executives adapt in this rapidly changing and uncertain environment? Join Steve Odland and guest Brian Campbell, leader of the US Governance & Sustainability Center and general counsel at The Conference Board, to find out why ESG is becoming more disciplined, why AI presents both opportunities and risks, and why revenue growth is increasingly part of the governance team's remit. For more from The Conference Board: C-Suite Outlook 2026 CEO and C-Suite ESG Priorities for 2026 2026: A Year in Preview
Wondering what's on the horizon for UK commercial lawyers in 2026? Find out in our latest Commercially Connected Bitesize podcast, where Angela and Sara from our Commercial PSL team discuss key regulatory developments that we're expecting to impact on commercial contracting and supply chains this year, including in the fields of ESG, consumer law, cyber law, UK-EU relations and payment practices.
For years, the big spenders in Congress—and the Biden administration—worked together to drive the nation deeper into debt as they wasted taxpayer money on their crazy ESG, DEI far Left agenda. Between the Democrats who just wanna see Trump fail, and the big spender Republicans who want to see any budget cuts fail, Trump has an uphill battle against the “uniparty” when it comes to further progress in the spending fight. Federal finance is the executive branch's job, but it really comes down to Congress which “passes spending and tax legislation,” explains Chief Heritage Foundation Economist E.J. Antoni, PhD., on today's special video commentary. “It's high time those legislators actually do something to fix the problem that they themselves helped cause.”
Roraj Pradhananga, CIMA, CPA, Chief Investment Officer at Veris Wealth Partners, shares the firm's origins and its long-standing commitment to impact-focused investing. He discusses how Veris evaluates authentic ESG strategies, what themes are shaping the future of impact investing, and how client portfolios are being positioned amid today's political and economic landscape.
DAMIONMLK Day:Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner:Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy reminds us blahblahblah. During our annual MLK Day Celebration, we reflected on blahblahblah. We care for people. Blahblahblah We strive to be honest, fair, and courageous. And we put others first in the work we do to help people live better.When we lead with care, show respect and do what's right, we honor Dr. King's legacy through action and continue building a Walmart that reflects our purpose and values.Walmart: $27,408,854, the fiscal 2025 annual total compensation of our median associate was $29,469, and the ratio of these amounts was 930:1.By 11:14 AM: He has earned $29,469 (the median worker's entire year of labor).Total Earnings by MLK Day: ~$1,425,000That $1.4 million is equivalent to the lifetime earnings of 48 median Walmart associates (assuming each works for one year at $29,469)As of January 20, 2026, the combined net worth of the Walton family has reached a historic $513.4 billion, according to the latest Bloomberg and Forbes data.As of January 2026, the Walton family collectively receives approximately $3.4 billion per year in dividends from Walmart.Per Day: The family earns roughly $9.27 million every day just by owning the stock.Per Hour: They earn about $386,000 per hour, 24 hours a day.King was literally campaigning for a living wage in Memphis when he was shot by the FBI. your move, walmart CEO John Furner WHO DO YOU BLAME?WestJet reverses cramped seating layout after viral videos show passengers' knees pressed against seats.In the reconfigured layout, which rolled out in late October on select Boeing 737s, space between rows was reduced to 28 inches to accommodate an extra row of seats. WestJet also made economy class seats non-reclinable, offering passengers the option to pay extra for adjustable seats.In a news statement, the company said it will reverse what it called the "densified seating" by removing the additional row of seats.WHO DO YOU BLAME?Samantha (Sam) Taylor was appointed WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Experience Officer March 2025. Sam joined Sunwing in March 2020 as Chief Marketing Officer. Sam's portfolio is accountable for critical touch points in the guest journey and includes leading all Marketing, Guest Experience and Contact Centres for WestJet and Sunwing Vacations. MMStakeholders!Customers: WestJet's rollout of the reconfigured seats has sparked widespread outrage among travelers and even crew members.Employees: Reuters reported that pilots and flight attendants have raised concerns over the new configuration's comfort and safety, specifically whether passengers could safely evacuate the plane in an emergency due to the confined seating.Journalists: Reuters reported that pilots and flight attendants have raised concerns over the new configuration's comfort and safety, specifically whether passengers could safely evacuate the plane in an emergency due to the confined seating.Labor Unions: Alia Hussain, president of the union local representing WestJet cabin personnel, said: "It created a hostile working environment for us as cabin personnel."Onex Corporation, WestJet's publicly traded ownersWhich is really founder and board Chair Gerry Schwartz (annual Chair fee of $1 million), who maintains 100% control of the Multiple Voting Shares (MVS) of Onex Corporation, which effectively grants him 60% of the total voting power in the company.This control allows him to elect 60% of the members of Onex's Board of Directors. While he also personally holds a significant portion of the Subordinate Voting Shares (SVS)—roughly 11.3% as of late 2024—the primary mechanism of his control is the MVS class.All stupid U.S. dual class dictatorships who do not do this!!The "Sunset" Provision: In May 2023, Onex shareholders approved a plan to implement a "sunset" on these special voting rights. Under this agreement, Schwartz's multiple voting rights are scheduled to expire three years after the effective date of the amendment (roughly May 2026).Current Status: As we are currently in early 2026, Schwartz remains the controlling shareholder. Upon the "Event of Change" later this year, the Multiple Voting Shares will convert into Subordinate Voting Shares, and he will lose his absolute control, shifting the company toward a more traditional governance structure.Matt Damon says Netflix wants to make action movies differently to account for shorter attention spansHow the art of filmmaking is being subvertedThe "Say What You Do" Rule: Writers are frequently being told to eliminate subtext. In traditional filmmaking, if a character is sad, you show them staring at a cold cup of coffee. Now, streamers often request that the character explicitly say, "I'm just so sad right now," or have another character ask, "Why are you so sad?"The Reason: If you are looking at your phone during a silent, emotional shot, you miss the story. If the character says it out loud, you can follow the plot without looking at the screen.Heightened Audio Cues: If you've noticed that modern movies have very aggressive sound design—sudden loud bangs, dramatic musical stings, or high-pitched notification-like sounds—it's often intentional.The "Audio Hook": These sounds act like a "ping" to pull your eyes back from your phone to the TV. It's a literal alarm clock for your attention.The "First 10 Minutes" Mandate: In the past, a movie could have a "slow burn" opening (think 2001: A Space Odyssey). Today, Netflix and other streamers use data that shows exactly when a user hits the "Back" button.The Note: Writers are told that a "major event" (an explosion, a death, or a massive hook) must happen within the first 2 to 5 minutes. If the "inciting incident" happens at the 20-minute mark, the data shows they will lose 30% of the audience to TikTok.Centered Framing: Cinematographers are increasingly being told to keep the "important" action in the center of the frame.The Reason: This makes the content easier to view on a mobile device if the user decides to switch from the TV to their phone, or if they are watching a cropped "clip" of the movie on social media later.Increased "Recapping": Have you noticed characters summarizing what just happened more often?The "TikTok Brain" Fix: Because people are multitasking, they often lose the thread of the plot. Streamers now encourage dialogue like, "So, let me get this straight, we have to get the key from the vault before the guard returns in five minutes?" It's a recap for someone who tuned out for the last three minutes.WHO DO YOU BLAME?Netflix: Ted Sarandos & Greg Peters (Co-CEOs of Netflix), Reed Hastings, Jay HoagDrug CEOs (re: The Algorithm): Passive Viewing: Data shows that up to 94% of people use a phone while watching TV.TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew: TikTok is widely considered the pioneer of the "Short-Form Video" era. Its algorithm is specifically designed to provide "intermittent reinforcement" (like a slot machine), which studies suggest can reduce the ability to focus on long-term tasks.Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg: Zuckerberg pivoted Facebook and Instagram (Reels) to aggressively compete with TikTok. Critics argue this transition turned a platform for connection into one of "passive scrolling" that further erodes focus.YouTube CEO Neal Mohan: Under his leadership, YouTube Shorts was launched to capture the short-attention-span market. Even YouTube co-founder Steve Chen has recently warned that these short videos are "shrinking kids' attention spans."Smartphones: Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs MMStanford: The "Father of Persuasive Tech": B.J. FoggStanford's Persuasive Technology Lab, run by B.J. Fogg, taught many of the founders and early employees of Instagram and Facebook.The "Fogg Behavior Model" taught engineers how to use "triggers" and "rewards" to change human behavior through software. He provided the scientific framework that allowed tech companies to treat the human brain like hardware that could be "hacked" for maximum engagement.Trump calls NYSE Dallas expansion plans 'unbelievably bad' for New York: Trump says move poses 'big test' for newly inaugurated Mayor Zohran Mamdani. WHICH HYPOCRISY DO YOU BLAME?The Free Market BullshitTrump and Texas leaders have long championed the freedom of businesses to flee blue-state regulations. However, now that a prestigious icon like the NYSE is actually expanding to Dallas, Trump has pivoted to calling it "unbelievably bad" for New York.The Anti-Woke /Anti-ESG scaremongeringTexas frames itself as a "Sanctuary from Socialism," yet the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) is being used to bypass ESG transparency. While railing against woke mandates, these leaders are creating their own ideological silos—demanding a protected market where management isn't held accountable by shareholders for social or environmental impacts.Texas AG Ken Paxton described BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard as an "investment cartel" that was "illegally controlling national energy markets" and "squeezing more money out of hardworking Americans."Paxton sent a formal warning to Larry Fink and other CEOs, stating that their "radical environmental policies" and "race-based quotas" (DEI) would face severe enforcement actions if they prioritized "politics over consumers."Lead by example: Trump quits NYC and Musk's Dexit to Y'all StreetThroughout his 2024 campaign, Trump consistently compared New York unfavorably to states like Florida and Texas: as an example, he pointed to the lack of state income tax in Florida as a reason why "everyone is leaving New York." Elon Musk's Dexit from Delaware/California is sold as a strike for freedom, yet his empire is built on nearly $40 billion in government subsidies and contracts. He moved to Texas to escape over-regulation (re: his pay package and people being mad about nooses in his factories) while simultaneously heading the most over-regulatory body ever: Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).Leader name calling and scaremongeringTrump's pre-bromance attacks on New York's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani (communist lunatic" and a "Marxist"). Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson (UPenn, Harvard, Princeton): "un-American socialist impulse" and explicitly marketed Dallas as a "sanctuary from socialism" for businesses looking to Dexit New York. The Elite vs. Common Man NonsenseDespite bullshit Y'all Street populist framing, the Texas Stock Exchange is backed by the world's most powerful financial titans. There is no common man victory here; it is the CEO class moving the financial capital to a jurisdiction with fewer labor protections and less oversight.The Big Four Anchor InvestorsBlackRock: (managing ~$14 trillion), despite being the primary target of "anti-woke" and anti-ESG rhetoric from the same politicians who support the TXSE.Citadel Securities: Led by Ken Griffin, this firm executes roughly 1 in 4 of all stock trades in the U.S. Left Chicago for Miami.J.P. Morgan Chase: Jamie Dimon. Joined in 2025 during a $90 million funding round and holds an observer seat on the board.Charles Schwab: handles over 50% of U.S. retail stock orders.MATTWalmart International CEO Kath McLay to step down - WHO DO YOU BLAME?Half exiting CEO Doug McMillonMcLay was under McMillon her entire tenure at WalMart, raised to CEO of the international divisionClearly a protege - passed over for the new CEO?Incoming CEO John FurnerThe white guy who became CEO is such an interesting new story, but Furner started as a sales clerk and has been with the WALTONS a long time through Sam's Club as CEO, another Walton jointFurner/McMillon/Walton family named David Guggina CEO of Walmart US (passing McLay), Chris Nicholas replace McLay, Seth Dallaire was made chief growth officer… rounding out an all male promotion cycle of new execs - no women in major positionsMaybe McLay read the tea leaves - women got chief legal and chief of people, like everywhere else, but leave the big jobs to the swinging dicks.The compensation and management development committee, who according to the company charter, ir responsible to “periodically review and recommend to the full Board succession planning practices for the Company's CEO and other executive officers.”Carla Harris (chair) - black woman with “multicultural” in her job description at Morgan Stanley who apparently didn't apply “multiculturalism” to Walmart executive search?Marissa Mayer - yes, THAT Marissa Mayer, who is on the board of Starbucks with Brian Niccol and AT&T where Randall Stephenson was CEOBrian Niccol - CEO of Starbucks, with no conflict by having Marissa Mayer on the same boardRandall Stephenson - ex CEO of AT&T, with no conflict of interest by having Marissa Mayer on the board. Also on the board - Tom Horton, ex CEO of American Airlines who was… CFO of AT&T under StephensonShishir Mehrotra - who worked at Google via YouTube when… Marissa Mayer worked there (she was in search/maps)Kath McLay, who just couldn't cut it at Walmart anymoreAn SEC official has said (implied) you don't HAVE to vote your proxies as an investor - WHO DO YOU BLAME?Brian Daly, who gave a speech titled (Re)Empowering Fiduciaries in Proxy Voting on Jan 8 in which he argued that not voting doesn't necessarily violate fiduciary dutyGamblers: “Not voting makes sense in many situations. Look, for example, at quantitative and systematic managers, who often operate models that merely seek exposures to identified sources of alpha.”Index investors: “But it may be appropriate for these categories of investment advisers (and the Boards that exercise oversight over this function) to consider whether taking positions on fundamental corporate matters, or on precatory proposals, is consistent with their investment mandates.”Hedging himself: “So, there is no stock answer to the “Must I vote?” question... Instead, it is important that advisers and clients have a fair amount of latitude to decide what works in their individual cases.”Threatening using proxy advisors: “And if we are raising issues for consideration, I will also mention, because the President did, that there is real concern out there that habitual adherence to a proxy consultant's recommendations could pull an adviser into a Section 13(d) group.”Investors, because no matter what Brian Daly suggests, investors almost never vote against management and neither do proxy advisors, so what the fuck are we talking about?Cost, because Daly points out, “And in assessing proposed votes, investment advisers might utilize the Fiduciary Interpretation's concept of a “reasonable inquiry into the client's objectives.” If an investment adviser routinely follows a proxy advisor's stock recommendations without a tailored engagement or independent analysis, is this “reasonable inquiry?” Maybe, but it is certainly worth thinking about. And, to go back to the first question, if the voting process is so burdensome that it requires extensive external resources, why is the adviser voting at all?”John Chevedden, along with Jim McRitchie, without whom we have maybe half the shareholder rights as SP500 companies, and who the no-action data is now showing is disproportionately getting responses for exclusion from the SEC (as if to double down on the idea that we can ignore those commie socialists entirely, but we want to tell you explicitly you're totally legally cool and there's no threat if you exclude Chevedden). Chevedden might be the reason investors were voting at all - maybe now they won't have to?
Eric Gassaway, a globally recognized sustainability and ESG leader, joins The Manufacturing Employer to explore how sustainability drives workplace culture. With experience shaping strategies for Fortune 100 companies and building enterprise-level sustainability initiatives, Eric shares why sustainability is more than a box-checking exercise — it's a culture engine that improves morale and aligns employees around a shared purpose.
In this episode, Erika Schiller talks with Andre de Fontaine, Managing Director at the Center for Green Market Activation (GMA), and David Prieto, ClimeCo's VP of Sustainability Advisory, about how market mechanisms are accelerating decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors. Andre explains how book-and-claim systems and demand aggregation are enabling companies to access low-carbon fuels and materials, especially when direct procurement isn't available. David adds insights on the strategic benefits and risk considerations of these systems.During this episode, you will learn: • Why book-and-claim models are critical for scaling green markets • How procurement signals drive new technology investment • Where additionality and registries fit in emerging climate solutions • What sectors are most impacted—and what's next for 2026Don't miss an episode—subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social for the latest updates!Episode Resources: Center for Green Market Activation (GMA) - https://gmacenter.org/ Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance (SCoBA) - https://gmacenter.org/program/cement-concrete/ GMA | Chemicals - https://gmacenter.org/program/chemicals/ Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) - https://flysaba.org/ SABA | Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance Launches Advanced, Next-Generation SAF Procurement - https://flysaba.org/2025/05/06/sustainable-aviation-buyers-alliance-launches-advanced-next-generation-saf-procurement/ SABA | Sustainability Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) - https://flysaba.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SABA-SAF-Sustainability-Framework-V3-3-25.pdf SABA | Atmospheric Benefit Principle Evaluation Tool - https://flysaba.org/atmospheric-benefit-principle-evaluation-tool/ Zero Emissions Maritime Buyers Alliance - https://www.shipzemba.org/ -About ESG Decoded ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Join Emma Cox, Erika Schiller, and Anna Stablum for thoughtful, nuanced conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts that explore the complexities about the risks and opportunities connected to (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance. We like to say that “ESG is everything that's not on your balance sheet.” This leaves room for misunderstanding and oversimplification – two things that we'll bust on this podcast.ESG Decoded | Resource Links Site: https://www.climeco.com/podcast-series/Apple Podcasts: https://go.climeco.com/ApplePodcastsSpotify: https://go.climeco.com/SpotifyYouTube Music: https://go.climeco.com/YouTube-MusicLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esg-decoded/IG: https://www.instagram.com/esgdecoded/*This episode was produced by Singing Land Studio About ClimeCoClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization, empowering global organizations with customized sustainability pathways. Our respected scientists and industry experts collaborate with companies, governments, and capital markets to develop tailored ESG and decarbonization solutions. Recognized for creating high-quality, impactful projects, ClimeCo is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, maximize environmental assets, and enhance their brand.ClimeCo | Resource LinksSite: https://climeco.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climeco/IG: https://www.instagram.com/climeco/
Scaling Climate Tech Solutions with Noah Miller - Measuring Impact Through Avoided Emissions Chris Ito goes one on one with Noah Miller, Co-Founder of Rho Impact, to discuss the state of developing decarbonization technologies and Rho's approach to measuring the impact of thousands of climate tech solutions across all stages of maturity. separating the “Leaders” from the “Laggards”, analyze early performance insights, and discuss the current state of clean energy technologies. Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the evolving energy landscape. Guest Noah Miller – CAO & Founder, Rho Impact Background Noah Miller is the Co-Founder and Chief Advisory Officer at Rho Impact, a North-American Based climate advisory and software company. He has been the Corporate Finance Institute's ESG subject matter expert since 2020. Noah has held a variety of roles in the ESG space, ranging from consulting practice leader to fractional director for multiple public and private companies to a board advisor. Conversation What really counts as a climate solution? Why many impactful technologies don't look like “climate tech” at first glance. From carbon accounting to climate impact How avoided emissions (often called Scope 4) are changing the way investors evaluate decarbonization. Measuring what scales, not just what exists Using counterfactuals and lifecycle analysis to assess impact in a future where solutions reach real adoption. Connecting climate impact to commercial value How per-unit avoided emissions link sales, market growth, and investment performance. Why demand is rising despite political noise Global regulation, LP pressure, and market forces are pushing climate solutions forward. A new lens for investors and operators alike Moving beyond ESG compliance toward scalable, investable climate outcomes.
In this episode, Director of IFMA EMEA, Lara Paemen, interviews one of IFMA's Global Board of Directors and CEO of EFS Group, Tariq Chauhan, about the rapidly evolving facility management landscape in the Middle East. They discuss major trends reshaping the GCC region — from accelerated market growth and large-scale investment in the built environment to the rise of technology, ESG frameworks and the shift from O&M to strategic FM. Tariq also highlights the region's skills gap, the need for upskilling, and what international FM professionals should understand when entering this dynamic, fast-growing market.00:00 Introduction00:43 Discussion with Tariq Chauhan01:35 Tariq Chauhan's Role and Experience02:25 Current State of Facility Management in GCC03:04 Technological Advancements and ESG in Middle East03:46 Global Comparisons and Skill Deficit06:26 Challenges and Opportunities in GCC14:36 Future of Facility Management in GCC15:42 Advice for International FM Professionals17:45 Conclusion Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org
On this Ropes & Gray podcast, asset management partners Jason Kolman and Eric Requenez are joined by tax partner Chris Roman to discuss the rise of data center investments within private funds. The episode highlights how market trends are shaping fund terms and addresses the ESG, compliance, and tax challenges unique to data center investments, including the use of REITs. Listeners will come away with practical guidance on navigating the complexities and opportunities in this rapidly expanding asset class.
Send me a messageIs ESG really about sustainability, or is it quietly becoming a hard economic filter for who gets to trade, raise capital, and survive?In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Nisha Kohli, Founder and CEO of CorpStage, to unpack why ESG has shifted from glossy reporting to something far more consequential for supply chain resilience, risk, and competitiveness. Nisha has spent over two decades working across corporate governance, sustainability, and finance, and she's seen first-hand where most organisations are still getting this badly wrong.We talk about why ESG reporting remains broken for so many companies, and why ratings and rankings often mislead investors rather than inform them. You'll hear how credible, auditable data is becoming a prerequisite for access to markets, tenders, and green finance, especially as tariffs, carbon taxes, and mechanisms like CBAM start reshaping global trade.We also break down why ESG isn't just a cost centre. Nisha shares real examples where relatively simple greening measures delivered 50–60% IRR with short payback periods, reduced operational risk, and opened doors to new markets. You might be surprised by how often the biggest barrier isn't technology or regulation, but confusion, fragmented data, and treating ESG as a PDF rather than infrastructure.We explore the growing role of data, AI, and system integration in making sustainability usable at scale, why carbon pricing is about to become a core input into supply chain decision-making, and the mindset shift leaders need to make as sustainability moves from “business as usual” to business critical.
Are investors adding sustainable ETFs to their portfolio?This week on The Greener Way podcast, host Michelle Baltazar chats in the studio with Chris Brycki, founder and CEO of Stockpot, about the returns of sustainable ETFs and market trends that are driving fund inflows.They delve into the growth and divergence in the ESG market, how sustainable ETFs compare with traditional ETFs, and how investors can align their personal values with their investment goals.00:46 State of sustainable ETFs02:07 Performance and comparison03:54 Choosing the right sustainable ETF05:34 Fees, transparency and ESG ratings08:43 Challenges and considerations14:08 Future outlook for sustainable ETFs17:35 About StockSpotThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
In this episode, we chat with Michael Rawlinson, one of the most experienced and well-known figures in mining finance and our industry. Michael's career spans multiple decades and cycles, from growing up in a mining family to early roles in investment banking and equity research, co-founding Liberum, senior roles at Barclays, and now a portfolio career as a non-executive director across the mining sector. Few people have seen the industry from as many angles: advisor, analyst, investor, and board member and in this conversation, we'll reflect on how mining, capital markets, and leadership have evolved, what's genuinely different about the current cycle, and what still hasn't changed at all. KEY TAKEAWAYS Michael's extensive career was heavily influenced by growing up in a mining family and witnessing the inherent volatility of the industry firsthand across Africa. The mining industry has undergone a massive shift from a "Wild West" mentality to a highly regulated environment where ESG and safety standards are fundamental to operations. Modern mining finance has transitioned from a reliance on traditional London equity markets to more sophisticated private equity firms and the robust superannuation system in Australia. Despite technological advancements and new ESG requirements, the industry remains governed by 20-30 year "metronomic" cycles of supply and demand BEST MOMENTS "The world of mining is the oldest, most boring, most basic of industries, and in a sense, it never changes. It is the most volatile sector there ever was... the cycles are brutal, they are relentless." "We've gone from a Wild West to having better safety, environmental, better governance, and regulation. It's overall a better place, a smaller industry in terms of people and share of GDP, but the tons grow for most commodities." “The globalisation of Britain has actually just meant that money's gone elsewhere." "The next 20 years, for the people who've learned the skills in these technical industries, they're going to do well... This is revenge of the high-viz vest land." GUEST RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rawlinson-244750101/ VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people's experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
00:00:00 – Sick-day kickoff and show housekeeping 00:04:57 – Elon Musk pitches "Starfleet Academy" as real life 00:09:41 – Billy Corgan claims government "recruitment" in music 00:14:24 – Howard Stern's shapeshifter guest goes off the rails 00:18:57 – Acid-trip telepathy story turns into UFO obsession 00:26:31 – Lemmy's rumored UFO encounter gets replayed 00:29:27 – Sammy Hagar recounts an alien abduction 00:33:49 – "Crack in the World" frames a coming societal split 00:36:34 – China's "quantum warfare" hype reel lands with a thud 00:41:28 – U.S. electromagnetic plasma weapon fearbait escalates 00:46:22 – Breakfast foods exposed as hidden sugar bombs 00:51:04 – Mark Carney "new world order" clip sparks side-eye 00:55:35 – ABC broadcast glitches into "satanic ritual" footage 00:59:19 – Hasidic upstate village welfare deep-dive 01:04:16 – Yiddish warning letter to a YouTuber gets decoded 01:19:02 – Charlie Kirk shooting chatter spills into call-ins 01:24:03 – "Ditch Day" declares New Year's resolutions dead 01:28:52 – Weight-loss pills pitched as airline fuel savings 01:33:25 – ESG rebrand makes nukes "compliant" 01:38:03 – China's delivery robots go full demolition derby 01:43:03 – AI regulation debate turns into a race-to-the-bottom rant 01:47:19 – Armed Pokémon card heists hit NYC 01:52:17 – Potato suppressor gets legally registered 01:56:19 – Banana-and-hotdog suppressor jokes and show plugs 02:00:05 – Post-signoff audio oddity and fade-out Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research ▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Website: http://obdmpod.com ► Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/obdmpod ► Full Videos at Odysee: https://odysee.com/@obdm:0 ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/obdmpod ► Instagram: obdmpod ► Email: ourbigdumbmouth at gmail ► RSS: http://ourbigdumbmouth.libsyn.com/rss ► iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-big-dumb-mouth/id261189509?mt=2
Quality, Consequences and the Construction Industrial Complex (part 464)Our guest this episode is Asit Kumar Mishra talking about built environment research, ASHRAE 55 and IEQ.If you enjoy this episode, share it with friends and give us a review, it helps more than you know.In this episode, we discuss:IEQ & Human centric design“Battling the forces of evil”ASHRAE 55IEQ & building CodeAnd much more…….More on AsitAsit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asitk/BioAsit is a research fellow at University College Cork, Ireland. He specializes in occupant-centric design for building indoor climates, integrating human factors and actions with behavioral interventions to create healthier, more sustainable buildings. Asit's research focuses on understanding human-building interactions and developing evidence-based solutions that optimize both occupant well-being and building performance.#edificecomplexpodcast #bluerithm #BPV #ProjectManagement #podcast #CxM #Cx #RICS #PMI #PMP #smartbuildings #ESG #training #systems #resiliance #builtenvironment #LEED #netzero #MEP #ASHRAE #CIBSE #buildingservices #BECx #facades #BPVGlobal #bluerithm #environment #LEED #netzero #MEP #ASHRAE #CIBSE #sustainability #IEQ #ASHRAE55 #AESG
AI is reshaping the data center industry faster than any prior wave of demand. Power needs are rising, communities are paying closer attention, and grid timelines are stretching. On the latest episode of The Data Center Frontier Show, Page Haun of Cologix explains what sustainability really looks like in the AI era, and why it has become a core design requirement, not a side initiative. Haun describes today's moment as a “perfect storm,” where AI-driven growth meets grid constraints, community scrutiny, and regulatory pressure. The industry is responding through closer collaboration among operators, utilities, and governments, sharing long-term load forecasts and infrastructure plans. But one challenge remains: communication. Data centers still struggle to explain their essential role in the digital economy, from healthcare and education to entertainment and AI services. Cologix's Montreal 8 facility, which recently achieved LEED Gold certification, shows how sustainable design is becoming standard practice. The project focused on energy efficiency, water conservation, responsible materials, and reduced waste, lowering both environmental impact and operating costs. Those lessons now shape how Cologix approaches future builds. High-density AI changes everything inside the building. Liquid cooling is becoming central because it delivers tighter thermal control with better efficiency, but flexibility is the real priority. Facilities must support multiple cooling approaches so they don't become obsolete as hardware evolves. Water stewardship is just as critical. Cologix uses closed-loop systems that dramatically reduce consumption, achieving an average WUE of 0.203, far below the industry norm. Sustainability also starts with where you build. In Canada, Cologix leverages hydropower in Montreal and deep lake water cooling in Toronto. In California, natural air cooling cuts energy use. Where geography doesn't help, partnerships do. In Ohio, Cologix is deploying onsite fuel cells to operate while new transmission lines are built, covering the full cost so other utility customers aren't burdened. Community relationships now shape whether projects move forward. Cologix treats communities as long-term partners, not transactions, by holding town meetings, working with local leaders, and supporting programs like STEM education, food drives, and disaster relief. Transparency ties it all together. In its 2024 ESG report, Cologix reported 65% carbon-free energy use, strong PUE and WUE performance, and expanded environmental certifications. As AI scales, openness about impact is becoming a competitive advantage. Haun closed with three non-negotiables for AI-era data centers: flexible power and cooling design, holistic resource management, and a real plan for renewable energy, backed by strong community engagement. In the age of AI, sustainability isn't a differentiator anymore. It's the baseline.
This Week In Startups is made possible by:Every.io - http://every.io/LinkedIn Jobs - https://www.linkedin.com/twistZite - http://zite.com/twistToday's show: Why do 40% of Japanese students want to build a company rather than join the corporate workforce?On TWiST, Jason considers this question along with special guest Kathy Matsui, general partner of the global VC fund MPower Partners.Their wide-ranging discussion also features a look inside one of Jason's favorite international companies, Japan's own fashion retailer Uniqlo, where Kathy is a board member. (While in town, he took the opportunity to check out their flagship store in Ginza.)They also take a look back at Japan's economic crisis in the ‘90s, and why recovery took such a very long time… MPower's philosophy while raising their second fund, and why they're so focused on what they call “Japan Dynamism”… the key question of whether Japanese startups should focus on the domestic market first BEFORE chasing global customers… why an ESG (environment, social, governance) focus in Japan is so different from DEI in the US… and much more.Timestamps:(00:00) Kathy Matsui is on the board of one of Jason's favorite companies, Uniqlo (and its parent, Fast Retailing)(10:52) Why deflation in the ‘90s was “poison” for Japanese businesses and workers(13:41) Every.io - For all of your incorporation, banking, payroll, benefits, accounting, taxes or other back-office administration needs, visit http://every.io/(15:05) Why do American entrepreneurs keep falling in love with Japan?(18:17) How the Japanese government is encouraging more founders to start tech companies(20:05) LinkedIn Jobs - post your job for free at http://linkedIn.com/twist then promote it to get access to LinkedIn Jobs' new AI assistant.(21:15) Why more Japanese grads are becoming entrepreneurs(23:46) What MPower means by “Japan Dynamism” and why they're focused on it for Fund 2(24:26) The various reasons so few female founders are getting funded in Japan(27:38) The differences between MPower's approach and corporate DEI in the US(30:03) Zite - Zite is the fastest way to build business software with AI. Go to https:/zite.com/twist to get started.(31:48) Is the “first Japan, then the WORLD” approach a waste?(35:34) In Japan, you don't build trust in just one meeting…(39:19) Kathy's take on the complex relationship between Japan and the MENA region(42:13) Why the UAE and Saudi Arabia aren't “dumb money,” as some in Silicon Valley assume(43:49) Can Japan still rely on the United States as a strong geopolitical partner? There are question marks…(48:16) Regarding China: “When you move up the stack… be careful what you wish for!”(49:06) Q: Aladdin is developing smart trash cans… Kathy and Jason's tips on founder Yuki Kanai's pitch(54:31) Q: Maya Hojnacki from AltSource Capital asks about how MPower helps startups facing regulatory or policy obstacles(57:17) Q: Hiroki from Goi wants Jason and Kathy's take on Japan's point-based immigration policies(1:06:38) Why Japan desperately needs AI to start taking more jobs*Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com/Check out the TWIST500: https://twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpThank you to our partners:(13:41) Every.io - For all of your incorporation, banking, payroll, benefits, accounting, taxes or other back-office administration needs, visit http://every.io/(20:05) LinkedIn Jobs - post your job for free at http://linkedIn.com/twist then promote it to get access to LinkedIn Jobs' new AI assistant.(30:03) Zite - Zite is the fastest way to build business software with AI. Go to https://zite.com/twist to get started.Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/
In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Isaac Willour, an analyst at Bowyer Research, America's leading pro-fiduciary proxy consulting firm, about all things ESG, an investing principle that prioritizes environmental issues, social issues, and corporate governance. What is ESG and how does it influence corporate governance and investment? What moral responsibilities do shareholders have in […]
2025 was a pivotal year for finance. In this episode, we review OneStream Software's biggest 2025 advancements, from AI-driven analytics and ESG reporting to Modern Financial Close and Version 9 enhancements. We also unpack what OneStream's $6.4B acquisition means for AI innovation and long-term strategy, and why these changes matter for CFOs seeking speed, insight, and predictability in a rapidly evolving finance landscape.
1️⃣ Guardiola, Busquets y el “alquiler asequible”: cuando el dinero inteligente ya ha elegido bando. Mientras el discurso político promete abaratar la vivienda, el capital patrimonial hace justo lo contrario: entra con fuerza en el alquiler residencial “asequible” vía SOCIMI. Que inversores de primer nivel como Guardiola y Busquets apuesten por este segmento no es altruismo, es lectura fría del tablero: demanda estructural, ingresos recurrentes y protección frente a inflación y ciclos. En este bloque desmontamos el relato buenista y explicamos por qué el alquiler regulado, bien empaquetado y con sello ESG, se ha convertido en el nuevo activo defensivo del inmobiliario español. 2️⃣ Barcelona regula el alquiler de temporada y habitaciones: menos oferta, más mercado negro. Desde enero de 2026, Catalunya mete casi todo el alquiler temporal bajo control de precios en zonas tensionadas como Barcelona. ¿El resultado real? El sector lo tiene claro: pisos que salen del alquiler y se van a la venta, colectivos expulsados (estudiantes, enfermos, profesionales desplazados) y crecimiento de subarriendos en negro. Analizamos por qué esta regulación no corrige abusos, sino que destruye vivienda profesionalizada, castiga al propietario prudente y empuja la demanda a soluciones más precarias y opacas. 3️⃣ El Estado como casero indirecto: ayudas públicas para reconvertir vivienda privada. Mientras se hunde la oferta privada, las administraciones avanzan otro frente: dinero público para rehabilitar vivienda vacía y meterla en “alquiler asequible” bajo condiciones. Lo que se presenta como revitalización rural y cohesión social es, en la práctica, una entrada progresiva del Estado en la gestión del parque inmobiliario, usando al propietario como ejecutor y al contribuyente como financiador. Aquí ponemos números, incentivos reales y riesgos ocultos para inversores y pequeños propietarios. ✅¿Necesitas un PSI (Personal Shopper Inmobiliario) para acompañarte a invertir en bienes raíces en la Com.Madrid?: magnatesladrillo@gmail.com✅Si vas en serio «La Biblia del Magnate del Ladrillo» está AQUÍ✅
Environmental sustainability is the “mega of all megatrends,” says Nino Tronchetti Provera, founder and managing partner of Ambienta, one of Europe’s largest sustainability-focused asset managers. In this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence’s Eric Kane and Melanie Rua speak with him about how Ambienta’s engineering-led approach identifies real-economy environmental champions, and why scaling proven industrial solutions can drive both returns and measurable impact. The conversation covers biostimulants, industrial electrification, gaps between Green Deal ambition and reality and the shift from ESG slogans to science-based, financially material investing — a theme central to Bloomberg Intelligence’s ESG 2.0 2026 Outlook. This episode was recorded on Dec. 15.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Let's start with the Bad News?The ICE game3 UnitedHealth Group Minnetonka41 Target Minneapolis105 U.S. Bancorp; IR site not working: Minneapolis108 Best Buy Richfield115 CHS Inver Grove Heights174 3M Maplewood216 General Mills Golden Valley230 Ameriprise Financial MinneapolisAnthony Saglimbene, Chief Market Strategist, Ameriprise Financial: Is Corporate America Up For Its First Big Test Of 2026? 1/12/2026“geopolitical and Washington headlines have increased risk, from developments in Venezuela to broader policy noise, including the pending International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) decision which didn't occur last week, affordability proposals in Washington, and unexpected policies and executive orders that could impact housing and defense companies”233 C.H. Robinson Eden Prairie262 Land O'Lakes Arden Hills274 Ecolab St. Paul319 Xcel Energy Minneapolis352 Hormel Foods Austin388 Thrivent Financial MinneapolisThe Good GameThe oil CEO who stood up to Trump is a follower of the disciplined ‘Exxon way' with a history of blunt statementsBig Oil executives met at the White House to discuss investing billions to revive Venezuela's oil industry.Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods pushed back, calling Venezuela “uninvestable” without long-term reforms.President Trump reacted angrily, calling Exxon “too cute” and signaling he may exclude the company from Venezuela.Woods declined to appease Trump at the expense of Exxon shareholders.Analysts said Exxon stock would likely have fallen if it committed billions to Venezuela's uneconomic, high-risk environment.Veteran analyst Jim Wicklund said Woods was the only executive willing to speak plainly.Industry has little urgency to return to Venezuela, and no deal can offset the extreme political risk.Even sweeter terms wouldn't change the math: political risk outweighs potential rewards by “a factor of 10.”Microsoft Pledges to Pay More for Electricity, Drawing Praise From Trump A senior Microsoft executive on Tuesday addressed the impact data centers have on the electrical costs for home consumers, an increasingly touchy subject that became a political hot button in November's elections.In a blog post ahead of a speech on artificial intelligence, Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, reiterated that Microsoft wants to pay for the electricity its data center use and avoid affecting everyday customers. “We'll ask utilities and public commissions to set our rates high enough to cover the electricity costs for our data centers,” Mr. Smith wrote.US Judge Allows Orsted to Resume $5 Billion Rhode Island Offshore Wind Project Halted by TrumpRevolution Wind is a $5 billion development co-owned by Orsted that aims to deliver renewable power to Rhode Island and Connecticut. It is the first of five offshore wind projects paused by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in late December over what officials described as radar interference risks identified by the Department of Defense.Trump tries to reduce CEO pay and halt billions in stock buybacks at defense contractorsThe executive order is creating a “new, government-mandated form of ESG,” referring to the environmental, social, and governance framework that grew prominent in recent years and prodded CEOs to focus on their companies' broader stakeholder impact and not just shareholders.Ironically, the prioritization of ESG was derided as “woke” by critics and the administration has been generally hostile toward ESG. The defense contractor order is conceptually similar in that it prods companies to prioritize a customer over maximizing value for shareholders.President Donald Trump signed an executive order zeroing in on pay packages for executives at large defense contractors deemed to have underperformed on existing government contracts while chasing newer, bigger deals, according to the White House. At the same time, the order claims, these companies have bought back billions in stock, enriching both shareholders and executives.“Effective immediately, they are not permitted in any way, shape, or form to pay dividends or buy back stock, until such time as they are able to produce a superior product, on time and on budget,” the order, titled “Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting,” states.The order further directs the Secretary of War to identify contractors that have underperformed the terms of their deals with the government and hatch a plan to resolve delays and production issues. If the resolution plan is insufficient, according to the secretary, future contracts will include provisions banning stock buybacks and dividends and will prohibit tying pay to “short-term financial metrics” such as free cash flow or earnings per share.Trump elaborated in a post on his messaging platform Truth Social last week, railing against pay packages in the defense industry, claiming they are “exorbitant and unjustifiable” given the delays in delivering military equipment. Until those issues are remediated, “no Executive should be allowed to make in excess of $5 Million Dollars which, as high as it sounds, is a mere fraction of what they are making now,” the president wrote.US oil lobby group backs repeal of climate rule for vehicles, not power plantsThe American Petroleum Institute supports the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to repeal the foundation of greenhouse gas regulations for vehicles but not for power plants and other stationary industrial facilities."We would not support repealing the endangerment finding for stationary sources," API President Mike Sommers told reporters, adding that the trade group believes it has "the greatest standing" from a regulatory perspective and it is clear the EPA has authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from those sources.Judge: Trump violated Fifth Amendment by ending energy grants in only blue statesCourt Rules Trump DOE Violated the Constitution When It Cancelled Clean Energy Funding in Specific StatesAdministration Action Violated Constitutional Guarantee to Equal Protection Under the LawNorway Pushes Electric Vehicles to Nearly All New Car Sales in 2025Electric vehicles accounted for 95.9 percent of all new car registrations in Norway in 2025, rising to almost 98 percent in December, placing the country far ahead of global peers.A mix of targeted tax relief for low cost electric vehicles and rising charges on petrol and diesel cars has reshaped consumer demand and manufacturer strategy.Norway's approach contrasts with the wider European Union, where weaker demand has prompted a rollback of the planned 2035 ban on internal combustion engine vehicles.Meet autistic Barbie: the newest Mattel doll launched in line intended to celebrate diversityMattel said it developed the autistic doll over more than 18 months in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights and better media representation of people with autismThe eyes of the new Barbie shift slightly to the side to represent how some people with autism sometimes avoid direct eye contact, he said. The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.The development team debated whether to dress the doll in a tight or a loose-fitting outfit, Pervez said. Some autistic people wear loose clothes because they are sensitive to the feel of fabric seams, while others wear figure-hugging garments to give them a sense of where their bodies are, he said. The team ended up choosing an A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt that provides less fabric-to-skin contact.The doll also wears flat shoes to promote stability and ease of movement, according to Mattel.Each doll comes with a pink finger clip fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones and a pink tablet modeled after the devices some autistic people who struggle to speak use to communicate.Elon Musk's X Under UK Investigation Over Grok's Sexualized A.I. ImagesA British regulator said it had started a formal investigation into Mr. Musk's chatbot over the spread of illegal images.Malaysia and Indonesia block Musk's Grok over sexually explicit deepfakes Meta removes nearly 550,000 social media accounts under Australian age ban This new crash test dummy could keep women safer in car accidentsWhile regulators have been testing crash impacts for decades, there's a dearth of data on women, who face a higher risk of death in auto accidents. In November, regulators unveiled THOR-05F — short for “Test device for Human Occupant Restraint, 5th-percentile Female” — the first crash test dummy specifically based on a woman's body.Elon Musk's Lawsuit Accusing ChatGPT-Maker OpenAI Of Betraying Its Nonprofit Mission Can Go To Trial, Judge Rules Trump calls for 1-year 10% cap on credit card interest ratesThis is a mistake President': Bill Ackman responds to Trump's call for a one-year 10% cap on credit card interestActivist investors set record number of campaigns in 2025Last year's number of attacks marked a nearly 5% increase over 2024 and eclipsed the previous record of 249 made in 2018, the data showed.
As part of our official DealFlow Discovery Conference Interview Series, produced by Mission Matters, along with our partner DealFlow Events, we're showcasing the innovative companies presenting at the upcoming DealFlow Discovery Conference (January 28-29, at the Borgata in Atlantic City) and the executives behind them. In this episode, Adam Torres interviews Stephen Mullowney, CEO of TRX Gold, about scaling the Buck Reef Gold Project in Tanzania. Stephen discusses operational expansion, a cash flow-driven approach to growth, and TRX Gold's mission to create long-term value for shareholders while supporting local communities. About Stephen Mullowney Mr. Mullowney was appointed CEO in December 2020. He is a former Partner and Managing Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), where he led PwC Canada's Deals Mining Group for more than ten years. Mr. Mullowney has an extensive mining background, working with miners, Governments, and institutional investors across the world and supporting them in making key strategic business, financing, and policy decisions. Mr. Mullowney is a CA, CPA, CFA and holds a BBA from Acadia University. About TRX Gold TRX Gold is a high margin and growing gold company advancing the Buckreef Gold Project in Tanzania. Buckreef Gold includes an established open pit operation and 2,000 tonnes per day process plant with upside potential demonstrated in the May 2025 PEA. The PEA outlines average gold production of 62,000 oz per annum over 17.6 years, and $1.9 billion pre-tax NPV5% at average life of mine gold price of $4,000/oz. The Buckreef Gold Project hosts a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 10.8 million tonnes (“MT”) at 2.57 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold containing 893,000 ounces (“oz”) of gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 9.1 MT at 2.47 g/t gold for 726,000 oz of gold. The leadership team is focused on creating both near-term and long-term shareholder value by increasing gold production to generate positive cash flow to fund the expansion as outlined in the PEA and grow Mineral Resources through exploration. TRX Gold's actions are led by the highest environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) standards, evidenced by the relationships and programs that the Company has developed during its nearly two decades of presence in the Geita Region, Tanzania. This interview is part of our effort to help investors discover compelling companies ahead of the event — and to help CEOs introduce their story to the 1500+ conference attendees. Learn more about the event and presenting companies:https://dealflowdiscoveryconference.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Heidi Friedman, a partner in our Environmental and Product Liability Litigation groups and co-chair of our Corporate Sustainability practice, hosts a one-on-one conversation with Kristina Beifus, Director of Compliance and Sustainability at American Greetings. She leads the organizations' compliance strategy and sustainability initiatives, ensuring regulatory consistency, mitigating risk and integrating ESG principles across her company's business practices. This discussion originally took place as part of our Power Huddle: Inside the Minds of ESG Gurus series. These conversations examine how company executives from various industries are actively paving the way as ESG trendsetters and championing pragmatic ESG strategies to align with business values while building a sustainability framework to advance their company's ESG goals and practices.
Innovation comes in many forms, and compliance professionals need not only to be ready for it but also to embrace it. Join Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance, as he visits with top innovative minds, thinkers, and creators in the award-winning #InnovationinCompliance podcast. In this episode, host Tom Fox welcomes Angie McPhail to discuss the transformation of compliance from a regulatory function to a strategic business imperative. Angie shares her professional background, having led the Integrity and Compliance group for the Americas at Juniper Networks before its acquisition by HPE. Key discussions include the evolving role of compliance as a strategic influencer within organizations, the intersection of ethics and integrity with ESG, and the importance of trust in building effective compliance programs. Angie emphasizes the need for compliance professionals to understand business strategy, leverage technology, and build trust to drive sustainable growth. The talk also covers the future outlook for compliance leaders and provides advice on preparing the next generation of compliance professionals. Key highlights: Compliance as a Strategic Business Function Influence and Trust in Compliance Compliance as a Driver of Business Success Managing Reputational Risk Future of Compliance Leadership Resources: Angie McPhail on LinkedIn Innovation in Compliance was recently ranked 4th among Risk Management podcasts by 1,000,000 Podcasts.
Dr. Ashby Monk is the Executive & Research Director of the Stanford Research Initiative on Long-Term Investing. Ashby has studied and advised the largest asset owners in the world for more than twenty years with a particular interest in how to improve outcomes for their beneficiaries and the world. Ash also serves as the Head of Research at Addepar, a fintech company that helps investors make smarter decisions. He has twice appeared on the show – as the 29th guest back in 2017 and again two years ago – and those conversations are replayed in the feed. Our conversation starts with a recent paper Ashby published called Investor Identity: The Ultimate Driver of Returns. We discuss the descriptors of identity and enabling factors that determine each investor's fingerprint. From there, we dive into technology as an enabler and how technological innovation can improve returns. We then turn to ESG investing and another of Ashby's recent papers, Submergence = Drawdown + Recovery, that discusses the importance of considering the combined drawdown and recovery period in making investment decisions. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Send me a messageAI won't fix broken decisions. Capital markets are driving sustainability. And climate risk is already a safety issue.So why are EHS and sustainability still treated as separate systems?In this episode of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, I'm joined by Catryna Jackson, Global Environmental Health and Safety and Sustainability Advisor at Evotix, and Monique Parker, Chief Sustainability Officer at Elevra Lithium. Between them, they bring decades of frontline experience across EHS, sustainability, data, and operations. This matters now because climate disruption, regulatory pressure, and supply chain shocks are collapsing the gap between “operational risk” and “sustainability risk” whether companies are ready or not.In our conversation, you'll hear how sustainability momentum in the US has been driven less by regulation and more by investors and insurers. We break down why climate impacts like heat stress, flooding, and wildfires are no longer future scenarios but immediate safety and continuity risks. And you might be surprised to learn why throwing AI at messy ESG data only makes bad decisions faster.We also get practical. We talk about why EHS teams sit on a goldmine of data, how integrating safety and sustainability changes risk visibility at board level, and where most organisations go wrong when they try to “just start reporting”. From CSRD data overload to supply chain engagement failures, this episode cuts through the noise and focuses on decision architecture, not hype.
In this episode of Connected with Latham, complementing Latham's "10 Key Focus Areas for UK-Regulated Financial Services Firms in 2026" report, London partners Rob Moulton and Nicola Higgs and counsel Becky Critchley discuss the key trends for financial services firms in 2026. Amongst other topics, they discuss the Leeds Reforms, the ESG landscape, and enforcement trends. This podcast is provided as a service of Latham & Watkins LLP. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Latham & Watkins LLP, and you should not send confidential information to Latham & Watkins LLP. While we make every effort to assure that the content of this podcast is accurate, comprehensive, and current, we do not warrant or guarantee any of those things and you may not rely on this podcast as a substitute for legal research and/or consulting a qualified attorney. Listening to this podcast is not a substitute for engaging a lawyer to advise on your individual needs. Should you require legal advice on the issues covered in this podcast, please consult a qualified attorney. Under New York's Code of Professional Responsibility, portions of this communication contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each representation. Please direct all inquiries regarding the conduct of Latham and Watkins attorneys under New York's Disciplinary Rules to Latham & Watkins LLP, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Phone: 1.212.906.1200
Damion 2026 PredictionsThe "Ghost Board" MovementFollowing the 2025 retreat from ESG, a major S&P 500 company (likely in the energy or defense sector) will successfully petition to keep its director bios private for "national security” or “personal safety reasons"Trend starts at a Big Data company using China as an excuse with a single, government-connected director whose identity is kept secret for “national security reasons”By mid-2026, "blind governance" becomes a trend where investors vote for directors identified only by a serial number and a list of "alpha-generating achievements"The “Ghost Board” movement ultimately backfires as shareholders start to vote against subpar achievementsBlackRock and State Street scrap public stewardship for private, encrypted channels with board chairs—Welcome to Dark GovernanceThe 100% Variable Pay CEOCEO Pay routinely targets $1B+ packages, using 100% “at-risk” pay as an excuseThe Rise of "Corporate Sovereignty" ZonesThink the SpaceX "Starbase" model: a major tech or manufacturing firm will strike a deal with a poor red state (like West Virginia or Mississippi, et al) to create a "Special Innovation District" or some other made up name likeAdvanced Innovation ZoneStrategic Innovation CorridorFreedom Technology DistrictAnti-DEI, Pro-ROI Innovation ParkInside these zones, the company provides the police, the utilities, and the "credits/scrip" used at the grocery storeThis revival of the 19th-century company town uses the excuse of "infrastructure efficiency" or “ESG-free zone”The Death of the “Public” Annual MeetingAfter the 2025 proxy season proved shareholders could still be annoying, companies codify mandatory virtual-onlyAI moderators pre-screen questions for “civility” and “relevance,” eliminating most investor dissentShareholders wishing to speak must demonstrate ownership of $1M+—because democracy is not for impoverished nunsElon Musk formally steps back from day-to-day operations at Tesla but calls it an “AI-enabled leadership leverage” and not a full resignation and thus keeps his pay package, with full board approval.Multiple large companies stop using the word “independent” in director bios, replacing it with “objective” or “experienced” or “industry-aligned” or “deeply informed.”Like Europe, board chairs increasingly become the primary public voice on operational and governance issues instead of CEOs, leading to a significant increase in chair pay.A sharp increase in director pay follows due to “heightened complexity and security issues.”The Jay Hoag effect: companies start to exclude attendance data from proxy statements.A company ties massive NEO bonuses to “AI adoption speed,” which becomes completely discretionary and unmeasurable. Starts in Big Data and then happens everywhereMatt 2026 PredictionsWill happen:Sam Altman is caught lying to investors (and no one cares)30% of the S&P 500 will seek to implement a “retail voting” program by the fallHighest retail vote companies: Tesla (~30%), Intel (~30%), AT&T (~30%), Exxon (~30%), Apple (~30%), Pfizer (~30%), Verizon (~25%) - real paragons of board independenceCompanies where executives are suggesting college degrees or elite college degrees are “stupid” do not stop hiring largely from pools of people who have college degrees and/or went to elite colleges25% of CEO pay packages in the US move to “3 year vesting, pretend moonshot, billion plus, no clawback, no strings”Jay Hoag will not be voted off the Netflix boardIn the absence of engagement, precatory proposals, or other shareholder rights, there is one thing for shareholders left: vote no on director campaigns from NON ACTIVISTS (by which I mean institutional investors / pension funds with less than 5% or 13G filers)Specifically - there will be a 150% increase in exempt solicitationsAt least 10% of US large cap companies will have AI “board advisors” - bots that advise boards on legal and governance issuesCould happen:Mass labor movementThe 2025 “badge of honor” that was layoffs, the absolute bonanza of CEO pay, the explosion of “AI billionaires” and “AI took your job” stories, and the attempt to crush labor rights will escalate into the first violent confrontation between employees and their corporate overlordsWidespread strikes will hit, but in the least likely of places: tech and finance, where employees are replaced with AI faster than in other sectorsNatural outgrowth of the “it's someone else's fault” movement - everything is someone else's fault, not management's fault, with the primary culprit of lazy employees - we fired you and it's your fault, not oursThe anti-woke go woke and realize how much data they don't have, but need, to be anti-wokeAt least 1 large company announces it will no longer produce any employee metrics at all, not the count of employees, the names of executives (except where demanded by regulation), or any information that people work thereWith Oracle pioneering the co-Vice Chair and co-CEO roles on the board, and Target pioneering the underperforming executive chair, we see the first round of “Co-Executive Chairs” where the new ex-CEO stays on the board just under the old ex-CEOSeems absurd, but entirely possible:The first billion dollar option pay package for a non-executive director (7 year vest, zero at risk for performance)JPMorgan's new AI proxy voting robot starts an activist campaign seeking to vote out the Tesla boardA US board pays a “retention bonus” worth $20m in options due to the threat of Trump administration intervention and the CEO is close with the administrationExxon will add “shareholder demands” as a risk in their annual report
One of the greatest lessons I've been gifted as host of Chatter That Matters is seeing how much impact one individual can have when they choose purpose over comfort. This episode is a powerful reminder of that truth. At the centre is Tim Cormode, whose life changed during a moment of stillness alone on a glacier. That clarity led him to build Power to Be, using nature as a pathway to dignity, confidence, and possibility for people told their limits were fixed. Tim shares what two decades in the charitable sector taught him, not just about impact but about what is broken in how we give, from fear of risk to a scarcity mindset that holds good organizations back. That experience sparked his next chapter, Power to Give, a bold rethinking of philanthropy rooted in trust, shared resources, and treating generosity as the investment it truly is. From a kayak on the water to a small-town skate park that drew an unexpected visit from Tony Hawk, Tim's story shows what becomes possible when imagination meets action. The conversation then widens with Andrea Barrack, Senior Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and ESG at RBC. Andrea shares how RBC's new Purpose Framework is turning values into action. With a $2 billion commitment by 2035, RBC is focused on skills for a changing world and more equitable prosperity. If you believe impact is built by people, not slogans, and that purpose is found by doing, not saying, you will love this episode as much as I did making it.
Thank you to our sponsor, Uniswap! In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins are joined by macro strategist Peter Tchir to unpack one of the most consequential geopolitical events in years: the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The conversation explores why Bitcoin surged past $94,000, what the operation signals about U.S. power and strategy, and how investors should think about energy, supply chains, and national security in a shifting global order. The group also debates whether crypto's 24/7 markets are revealing a structural weakness in traditional finance, whether Latin America is poised for an investment renaissance, and why “production for security” may replace ESG as the dominant investment framework. Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Peter Tchir, Head of Macro Strategy at Academy Securities Links: Bitcoin Rallies to $93,000 After U.S. Attack on Venezuela The Venezuelan Oil Narative is PURE THEATRE Venezuela: The $60B+ Bitcoin "Shadow Reserve" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this essential Alternative Allocations podcast episode, Tony and guests dissect the 2026 outlook, offering crucial insights for financial advisors navigating commercial real estate, private equity secondaries, and private credit. Discover the macro themes shaping these dynamic sectors, from new cycles in real estate to the growing need for liquidity in private equity. Tune in to equip yourself with the knowledge to identify opportunities in the evolving private markets landscape. *********** Anant Kumar is a managing director and head of research with Benefit Street Partners, based in our West Palm Beach office. Prior to joining BSP in 2015, Mr. Kumar worked in the capital markets advisory group at Lazard Frères and the leveraged finance group at Deutsche Bank. Mr. Kumar received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, a Master of Science from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in India. Taylor Robinson is a Partner of Lexington Partners, primarily focused on sourcing, negotiating, and executing secondary transactions. Taylor joined Lexington Partners in 2008 from JPMorgan, where he was in investment banking and leveraged finance. Aside from his investment focus and other Firm responsibilities, he is a member of Lexington's ESG steering committee and Franklin Templeton's global Stewardship & Sustainability Council. Jeb Belford, equity owner and Managing Director, is the Chief Investment Officer of Clarion Partners. He is chairman of the Firm's Investment Committee, and a member of the Executive Board. From 2013-2021, Jeb was the lead Portfolio Manager of the Firm's open-end core fund, with overall responsibility for fund management and portfolio strategy. From 2005-2012, Jeb was the Portfolio Manager for the Firm's value-add investment platform. Prior to becoming a portfolio manager, Jeb was a senior member of the Firm's Acquisitions Group, completing investments across a broad range of strategies. His background includes all key aspects of portfolio management, including acquisitions, financing and sales totaling over $20 billion in all property types and risk strategies, in markets across the U.S., Brazil and Mexico. Jeb joined Clarion Partners in 1995 and began working in the real estate industry in 1984. ************ Resources: 2026 Private Market Outlook Executive Summary Anant Kumar | LinkedIn Taylor Robinson | LinkedIn Rick Schaupp | LinkedIn Alternatives by Franklin Templeton Tony Davidow, CIMA® | LinkedIn
Happy New Year energy nerdsAs tradition demands (and lawyers insist), the first episode of the year is the annual ritual where Gerard, Laurent, and Michael boldly predict the future of the energy transition… and then publicly roast themselves for last year's bad calls.Before unleashing our 2026 Predictions, we do a mandatory rewind to the crystal-ball disasters of 2025: The 2025 prophecy graveyard:US oil production down in 2025 (MB — bold, brave… wrong)Oil at $40/bbl in 2025 (GR — oof)Geopolitics + broken supply chains + energy chaos = a better, more innovative world (LS — still hoping)A bloodbath for hydrogen in transportation (MB — disturbingly accurate)Record installs: Solar 700GW, EVs 20m, Batteries 200GWh (spot on)The death of all things labelled ESG, Climate, and Carbon (LS — prematurely optimistic)Scorecard: Gerard absolutely nailed Silver: from $30/oz to $60/oz in 18 months. BP technically survived 2025… but welcomed a new CEO, so partial credit at best.Michael wins overall, which he will remind us of repeatedly. After heroic levels of co-host sabotage, Laurent loses again, as is now canon.Our 2026 Predictions:
THE ORIGINS OF CORPORATE RADICALIZATION AND STAKEHOLDER CAPITALISM Colleague Charles Gasparino, Fox Business correspondent and author of Go Woke, Go Broke. Gasparino discusses his book Go Woke, Go Broke, tracing the origins of corporate radicalization to the 2008 financial crisis and the rise of ESG and DEIinitiatives. He explains how asset managers like BlackRock's Larry Fink embraced "stakeholder capitalism" to enforce progressive changes while seeking profit and social adulation. NUMBER 1
The good news is that we are more than halfway through this insane decade. The bad news is that things appear to be trending in the wrong direction, and one has to consider the question: “what will even be left when 2030 arrives?”From the crimes of COVID, to the creation of ESG, to the forced introduction of up to 20 million illegals through the southern border, things in America have changed drastically since the decade began. The intentional destruction of the West started in 2020 and will be completed by the end of the decade, just in time for Agenda 2030 by the United Nations.—Watch the video version on one of the Macroaggressions Channels:Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/Macroaggressions YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MacroaggressionsPodcast—MACRO & Charlie Robinson LinksHypocrazy Audiobook: https://amzn.to/4aogwmsThe Octopus of Global Control Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3xu0rMmWebsite: www.Macroaggressions.io Merch Store: https://macroaggressions.dashery.com/ Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/macroaggressionspodcast—Activist Post FamilyActivist Post: www.ActivistPost.com Natural Blaze: www.NaturalBlaze.com —Support Our SponsorsAnarchapulco: https://anarchapulco.com/ | Promo Code: MACROC60 Power: https://go.shopc60.com/PBGRT/KMKS9/ | Promo Code: MACROChemical Free Body: https://chemicalfreebody.com/macro/ | Promo Code: MACROWise Wolf Gold & Silver: https://macroaggressions.gold/ | (800) 426-1836LegalShield: www.DontGetPushedAround.com EMP Shield: www.EMPShield.com | Promo Code: MACROGround Luxe Grounding Mats: https://groundluxe.com/MACRO Christian Yordanov's Health Program: www.LiveLongerFormula.com/macro Above Phone: https://abovephone.com/macro/Van Man: https://vanman.shop/?ref=MACRO | Promo Code: MACROThe Dollar Vigilante: https://dollarvigilante.spiffy.co/a/O3wCWenlXN/4471 Nesa's Hemp: www.NesasHemp.com | Promo Code: MACROAugason Farms: https://augasonfarms.com/MACRO —