Sustainable Intelligence

Hosted by Novata

Business Investing

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Novata’s Sustainable Intelligence podcast brings honest, forward-thinking conversations about sustainability in the private markets. From carbon accounting to turning data into impact, each episode explores how investors and business leaders are tackling real challenges, meeting rising regulations, and building long-term value. Join us for expert insights, practical strategies, and authentic dialogue that empower action and progress in the evolving sustainability landscape.

Listen to episodes

54 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 5422 min

ESG in 2026: What the Data Says About Investor Priorities

What does the data tell us about where ESG reporting is heading? In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Aaron Zweig, Senior Metrics and Regulations Associate at Novata, joins the podcast to share key findings from the 2026 ESG Metrics Guide, which he helped produce. He unpacks how investor expectations are shifting across DEI and workforce metrics, environmental reporting beyond carbon, and the emerging focus on AI governance. Listen as Aaron reflects on what it means for the field to move from data collection to action, and shares practical advice for ESG practitioners navigating a complex and more demanding landscape.

May 27, 2026Episode 5333 min

AI, ESG, and the Search for Common Ground

In this episode of the Sustainable Intelligence podcast, Dr. Robert Eccles joins us to explore the shifting sustainability landscape in the private markets. Drawing on decades of experience at the forefront of the field, Bob reflects candidly on what the sustainability community has gotten wrong in its approach to climate change, and what it will take to get it right. He also unpacks how to connect sustainability efforts to real financial impact, why human and AI collaboration holds promise for the ESG data landscape, and what keeps him optimistic about the road ahead.

May 6, 2026Episode 5228 min

The EU Taxonomy, Decoded

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Laura Callaghan, Head of EMEA Advisory at Novata, joins us to dive into the EU Taxonomy and what it means for businesses right now. Laura shares what the Taxonomy was designed to do, who it applies to, and why it’s hard to tackle without the right tools and expertise. Listen to hear how companies can move beyond box-checking to find real business value in doing this work well and what’s ahead for ESG and sustainability reporting.

April 22, 2026Episode 5131 min

Is ESG Just Good Business?

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Evan Greenfield, Managing Director and Head of ESG at BCI Private Equity, joins to discuss his latest whitepaper, ESG Value Creation in Private Equity: From Rhetoric to Returns, developed in collaboration with Stanford University’s Long-Term Investing Initiative. British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is one of Canada’s largest institutional investors, managing a ~C$300 billion portfolio on behalf of 32 public sector and institutional clients. Drawing on real-world case studies, Evan explains how financially material ESG initiatives can drive EBITDA improvements, reduce operational risk, and strengthen exit readiness. He also shares a practical framework for embedding sustainability across the investment lifecycle, from diligence to exit.

April 8, 2026Episode 5030 min

Building Trust at Scale

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Novata Co-Founder and Co-CEO Josh Green shares his path into sustainability and the experiences that have shaped his perspective. As he prepares to step in as interim host, Josh reflects on what it takes to build trust as a founder, how his career in sustainability began, and the critical role data plays in driving meaningful progress.

March 26, 2026Episode 4932 min

The Next Generation of Sustainability Reporting

In this episode, Antler Global Partner Rosalind Bazany details how the VC firm replaced the traditional PDF with an interactive, data-rich experience for its 2026 Sustainability Report. The results were astonishing, with the new report generating more engagement in one month than the previous one did in an entire year. She also unpacks groundbreaking data, including a 37% funding advantage for companies with strong sustainability practices, challenging everything you thought you knew about ESG reporting and framework design. Explore Antler’s 2026 Sustainability report.

March 18, 2026Episode 4827 min

Future-Proofing Capital in an Age of Climate Risk

In this episode, Margot Brandenburg of the Ford Foundation explores how climate risk is reshaping capital allocation, workforce stability, and long-term business resilience. She reframes sustainability as more than compliance, positioning it as a core driver of future performance, from physical climate disruption to human capital and systemic risk.The conversation cuts through the noise of short-term pressures, highlighting why companies that stay focused on long-term value, use data effectively, and lead with authenticity will come out ahead. The takeaway: future-proofing your business isn’t about reacting to headlines, it’s about building resilience into every decision, for today and the decades ahead.

February 20, 2026Episode 4723 min

The Truth About ESG Proxy Data: Benchmarks, Risk & Real-World Use

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, we’re joined by Caitlin Pentifallo, Novata’s Head of Sustainability & Regulatory Strategy, to unpack the truth about ESG proxy data—what it is, when it’s useful, and where it can go wrong. Caitlin explains why emissions remain the biggest data gap, what makes a benchmark credible, and how regulators are becoming more accepting of well-designed proxies as long as methodology and assumptions are transparent.

February 4, 2026Episode 4621 min

From ESG to Risk Intelligence

In this episode, we explore why sustainability is shifting beyond compliance and into a core risk management discipline. Christina Anselm, Advisory Manager at Novata, breaks down how non-financial factors, from climate and cyber to geopolitics, are increasingly material financial risks for investors and banks. The conversation reframes risk as holistic, data-driven, and long-term, emphasizing the importance of starting with imperfect data, building practical insights over time, and using risk intelligence to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

January 22, 2026Episode 4527 min

How to Run Sustainability Like a Business

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, we are joined by Beth Meyer, Novata’s Chief Legal Officer and Head of Risk and Compliance. Beth shares a practical, business-first approach to sustainability, one that goes beyond checkbox compliance and shifting regulations to focus on real risk reduction, stakeholder value, and measurable impact. From treating regulations as the floor (not the ceiling) to proving sustainability’s value in the boardroom, this conversation offers clear guidance for leaders looking to build resilient, credible sustainability programs that drive long-term growth.