ESG Matters with Risk Insights

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Oct 2026

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About the show

ESG Matters with Risk Insights is a groundbreaking podcast that highlights the crucial role of Africa and its diverse communities in shaping the ESG landscape for the continent. By shining a spotlight on ESG issues, we aim to empower Africans to become leaders in sustainable business practices. Through our engaging content, we present global ESG news and issues with a focus on their impact on businesses, economies, and societies, while stressing the unique perspective and potential of Africa. Our podcast brings thought-provoking interviews with African and Global industry leaders, investors, and ESG experts, who share invaluable insights and perspectives on climate change, diversity and inclusion, ethical investing, and other essential ESG-related topics. Join us on this inspiring journey as we drive meaningful change, making ESG a centerpiece of Africa's growth and development.

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30 recent

October 26, 202652 min

BUILT TO LAST | 17 Years of Risk Insights

The People. The Purpose. The Power of African Innovation. What does it really take to build a business that lasts? Seventeen years ago, Risk Insights began with a conviction: Africa has the intellectual capital to develop, own and commercialise world-class innovation. The journey has been anything but linear. There have been breakthroughs, setbacks, difficult decisions, financial sacrifices and moments when resilience was tested. But through it all, one belief remained constant: meaningful businesses are built not simply to succeed, but to create lasting value for all stakeholders. In this special edition of ESG Matters with Risk Insights , I sit down with our CEO, Dr Andrey Bogdanov, and executive and shareholder, Kunaal Kalyan, for a candid conversation about the realities of building an independent African technology business. We reflect on developing ESG GPS™ and A-Cubed™, investing in African-owned intellectual property, navigating adversity, embracing artificial intelligence and building a team that believes in something greater than individual success. Six principles have shaped our journey: People. Purpose. Product. Consistency. Resilience. Evolution. These are not simply business principles. They are lessons learned through 17 years of building, learning, adapting and refusing to give up. And perhaps our most important message to entrepreneurs and SMEs is this: “Don't wait for permission to innovate. Don't allow the size of your business to limit the scale of your ambition. And never underestimate the intellectual capital of this continent.” Because ultimately, the greatest achievement of a founder is not simply creating a successful business. It is building an institution that others can take further than you ever imagined. 🎙️ Join us for Built to Last — a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and the future of African enterprise. Build your tribe. Create value. Stay consistent. Remain resilient. Keep evolving. #ESGMatters #RiskInsights #BuiltToLast #AfricanInnovation #AfricanEntrepreneurship #SMEs #Leadership #SustainableBusiness

October 5, 2026Episode 347 min

From Extraction to Inclusion: Rebuilding South Africa from the Ground up

What does a successful South Africa look like when measured not only by GDP, budgets and infrastructure spend, but by what actually changes in people's lives? In this episode, Dr Anushka Bogdanov speaks with Rali Mampeule , President of MOVE SA , about Africa's transition from extraction to value creation and the choices facing South Africa around economic growth, employment, housing, infrastructure, governance and accountability. We also take the conversation to Nigel, Ekurhuleni and ask a wider question: how can South Africa regenerate small-town economies and bring sustainable economic opportunity closer to where people live? At the heart of our discussion is the relationship between capital, people and governance and a simple principle: Good governance is economic infrastructure. A conversation about implementation, accountability and measurable outcomes for South Africa. 🎧 Watch the full conversation on ESG Matters with Risk Insights. #ESGMatters #RiskInsights #ESG #MoveSA #RaliMampeule #SouthAfrica #Nigel #Ekurhuleni #EconomicDevelopment #InclusiveGrowth #GoodGovernance #Accountability #YouthEmployment #JobCreation #SustainableFinance #CapitalMarkets #JSE #AfricanStockExchanges #ASEA #AfCFTA #Africa #ANC #DA #EFF #MKParty #ActionSA #IFP #BOSA #RiseMzansi #ESGMatters #RiskInsights #ESG #MOVE_SA #MoveSA #RaliMampeule #SouthAfrica #Nigel #Ekurhuleni #Gauteng #EconomicDevelopment #InclusiveGrowth #FinancialInclusion #SustainableFinance #SustainableDevelopment #Governance #GoodGovernance #Accountability #Transparency #YouthEmployment #JobCreation #SMEs #Infrastructure #Housing #CapitalMarkets #ResponsibleInvestment #ImpactInvesting #AfricanCapitalMarkets #JSE #JohannesburgStockExchange #AfricanStockExchanges #ASEA #Africa #AfricanEconomies #ANC #DA #EFF #MKParty #ActionSA #IFP #BOSA #RiseMzansi

October 3, 2026Episode 235 min

Capital, M&A and Africa’s Resilient Future: Why ESG Must Become Part of the Investment Decision

In this episode of ESG Matters with Risk Insights, I am joined by Afsar Ebrahim, Co-Founder of Kick Advisory in Mauritius, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of capital in Africa. Drawing on more than three decades of experience across M&A, corporate finance, fundraising and advisory, Afsar and I explore how ESG considerations are increasingly intersecting with the decisions that determine where capital goes, how businesses are valued and how risk is priced. We discuss Africa’s debt challenge, the case for equity over excessive leverage, M&A and ESG due diligence, governance, physical climate risk, infrastructure resilience, transition finance and the role of capital allocation in building sustainable businesses. We also turn to a particularly important development in Africa’s financial architecture, the emergence of an African Credit Rating Agency and consider what stronger African credit-rating infrastructure and deeper corporate bond markets could mean for the continent’s ability to finance its own development.One theme runs throughout our conversation: ESG should not sit on the sidelines of financial decision-making. Every loan, acquisition, infrastructure investment and allocation of capital helps shape the economy and society we leave behind.🎧 Join Afsar and me for this important conversation on ESG Matters with Risk Insights.Please watch, like, share and subscribe as we continue building conversations that contribute to knowledge and capacity across Africa.#ESGMatters #RiskInsights #KickAdvisory #BDO #ASEA #ESG #Africa #SustainableFinance #CorporateFinance #MergersAndAcquisitions #CapitalMarkets #AfricanCapitalMarkets #CreditRatings #ClimateRisk #TransitionFinance #ClimateFinance #CorporateGovernance #FinancialRegulation #ESGResearch #DevelopmentFinance #Resilience #FutureOfFinance

September 4, 2026Episode 138 min

Banking for the Climate That Is Coming: Punah Moyo on Banking and Resilience Strategy

What does it mean to build a sustainable and resilient bank in Africa?In this episode of ESG Matters with Risk Insights, Dr Anushka Bogdanov speaks with Punah Moyo, Head of Strategy and Business Transformation at BBS Bank Botswana, about the future of African banking.Drawing on more than three decades of banking experience, Punah shares insights from BBS Bank’s transformation from a building society into Botswana’s first indigenous commercial bank.The conversation explores how sustainability is moving beyond ESG reporting to become part of banking strategy, risk management and capital allocation, and why climate risk is increasingly becoming financial and credit risk.They also discuss sustainable finance opportunities for Botswana, renewable energy, financial inclusion and the role African banks can play in financing a more resilient future.The question is no longer whether sustainability belongs in banking strategy, but what happens when we fail to put it there.🎙️ Guest: Punah Moyo🎙️ Host: Dr Anushka Bogdanov🎧 ESG Matters with Risk Insights#SustainableFinance #AfricanBanking #ClimateFinance #ClimateRisk #SustainableBanking #BankingStrategy #Africa #ClimateResilience #FinancialInclusion #RiskInsights

February 18, 2026Episode 27 min

EPSTEIN: Global Elites Look The Other Way

This episode of ESG Matters with Risk Insights is not about scandal or outrage. It is about children’s safety, women’s dignity, and an uncomfortable truth we rarely confront power, when left unchecked, often protects itself before it protects the vulnerable. In this episode, Anushka Bogdanov reflects on power, silence, and the moral responsibility of leadership, governance, and institutions. If this conversation made you uncomfortable, it may be because it matters. #ESGMatters #PowerAndAccountability #HumanDignity #ChildProtection #WomensRights #EthicalLeadership #GovernanceMatters #JusticeWithoutDoubleStandards #ProtectTheVulnerable #RiskInsights

January 31, 2026Episode 19 min

Women, Power & the Architecture of Peace | Davos Reflections

In this episode of ESG Matters with Risk Insights , host Anushka Bogdanov explores why excluding women from global leadership and peace-making structures weakens societies, destabilises governance, and undermines long-term resilience. Inspired by recent leadership announcements at the World Economic Forum... “Board of Peace”, this episode examines the deeper structural consequences of sidelining women — from conflict resolution and economic policy to caregiving, childbirth, and invisible labour. This is not a political argument. It is a civilisation argument. 🎧 In this episode: Why peace cannot be engineered by power alone How motherhood and caregiving remain systemically undervalued Where modern misogyny hides inside leadership and performance cultures A call for leadership rooted in wisdom, empathy, stewardship, and long-term thinking — the foundations of true peace. 👉 Like, share & subscribe for more insights on ESG, leadership, governance, and the future of society. #ESG #WomenInLeadership #Peace #Governance #Sustainability #GlobalLeadership #RiskInsights #AnushkaBogdanov

June 20, 2025Episode 246 min

ESG Truth or Illusion: Who's Protecting Africa's Markets?

In this week’s episode of ESG Matters with Risk Insights, host Anushka Bogdanov challenges the growing trend of performative ESG and regulatory double standards. Shediscusses the dangers of greenwashing, how foreign ratings often ignore jurisdiction-specific risks, and why Africa needs tools like ESG GPS now more than ever. With ESG under attack from both political and corporate forces, Anushka offers a bold yet grounded reflection on how we protect market trust and redefine regulatory responsibility. Topics Covered: Greenwashing in Africa’s capital markets Governance blind spots in foreign ESG ratings The power of ESG GPS to expose regulatory gaps A call for accountability and data-driven oversight Listen. Share. Act. It’s time for truth in ESG.

June 19, 2025Episode 238 min

The ESG Reset – From Rhetoric to Real Accountability

In this thought-provoking episode, host Anushka Bogdanov shares insights on powerful insights on the leadership paradox, regulatory shifts, and the politicisation of sustainability, Anushka dives into why ESG is no longer just a reporting standard, but a pathway to justice, resilience, and capital sovereignty.

June 19, 2025Episode 228 min

The Truth About ESG for 2025 and Beyond: Greenwashing, Geopolitics, and Africa's Rise

This episode dives deep into the evolving global landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and what it really means for Africa, emerging markets, and he world.

June 18, 2025Episode 227 min

Global Leadership in Turmoil: Power, Climate, and Africa’s New Dawn

This episode confronts the leadership breach of trust, climate negligence, economic bullying and Africa's mineral reserves. This episode isn't just about calling out the problem it's about Africa's ability to rise.

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