Sustainable Intelligence

Hosted by Novata

Business Investing

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 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.

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57 recent

August 4, 2026Episode 5713 min

Responsible AI Starts Here: A Practical Framework for Governance

AI adoption is accelerating, but governance hasn't always kept pace. In this episode, Josh Green sits down with Novata's Adrienne Wong to discuss the Responsible AI Essentials Framework, a practical starting point developed by Novata for organizations looking to govern AI responsibly. They explore why AI governance is becoming a business imperative, the risks and opportunities organizations should be thinking about today, and the simple, actionable steps leaders can take to build trust while preparing for an evolving regulatory landscape.

July 15, 2026Episode 5628 min

Building a Sustainability Startup: The First Five Years

To celebrate Novata's fifth anniversary, this special episode of the Sustainable Intelligence podcast brings together "voicemail"-style reflections from Novatans across the company, alongside a conversation with our Co-CEOs and Co-Founders, Alex Friedman and Josh Green. Through personal stories, memorable moments, and lessons learned, we look back on the milestones that have shaped the past five years, reflect on how far we've come, and share our vision for what's ahead.

July 8, 2026Episode 5527 min

What Good Looks Like: The Growing Role of Benchmarks in Private Markets

What makes sustainability data truly useful? Context. In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence , Josh Green sits down with Caitlin Pentifallo, Novata's Head of Product for AI Data Products, to discuss Novata's largest benchmark release to date, featuring more than 49,000 benchmarks and 1.24 million underlying data points. Together, they explore why benchmarks have become essential for private markets investors, how Novata balances data quality with scale, and what this year's data reveals about the continued maturation of sustainability reporting. Caitlin also shares how AI and automation are transforming benchmark generation, why "best fit" benchmarks help investors make more informed decisions, and what the future holds as sustainability data becomes increasingly standardized.

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.