Money Meets Mission

Investors are increasingly drawn to the untapped potential of frontier markets across Asia, recognizing the profound impact these opportunities can have on low and lower-middle-income populations. These regions, often characterized by unique challenges and opportunities, present a promising landscape for impact investors seeking meaningful returns and societal impact.

In this latest episode of Impact Investing Musings, Bradley Kopsick, Myanmar/Cambodia Country Director, Insitor, explores the dynamic potential of impact investing in frontier markets across Asia, along with our host Teymoor Nabili.

To learn more about AVPN, visit: https://avpn.asia/
To connect with the AVPN Impact Investing team, please contact: [email protected]

With a funding gap in meeting the SDGs by 2030, which all of Asia is currently projected to miss, there is a clear imperative to leverage and mainstream blended finance.

In this episode Nandini Chaudhury, Principal, Head of South and Southeast Asia, CrossBoundary Group, will explore what blended finance means in today’s markets and how it can be implemented at scale to attract commercial capital along with our host Teymoor Nabili.

To learn more about AVPN, visit: https://avpn.asia/
To connect with the AVPN Impact Investing team, please contact: [email protected]

With significant amounts of capital being directed towards impact investing, the locus of attention is on impact measurement and management (IMM). Effective IMM is hampered by challenges such as the lack of a universal framework, inconsistent use of metrics, and impact washing.

In this episode, Prof. Hao Liang, Associate Professor of Finance at Singapore Management University will speak on the industry progress in standard-setting, establishing benchmarks and much more along with our host Teymoor Nabili.

To learn more about AVPN, visit: https://avpn.asia/
To connect with the AVPN Impact Investing team, please contact: [email protected]

The impact investing landscape is experiencing unprecedented growth in both depth and sophistication, reflecting a dynamic evolution over the last couple of years. As the industry grows, impact investors find themselves at the intersection of profound challenges, regulatory shifts, and transformative global events.

In this inaugural episode, we explore the nuanced journey of impact investing in Asia with Mr. Wai Chiew Chik, CEO of Heritas Capital Management along with our Podcast host Teymoor Nabili, a veteran journalist.

To learn more about AVPN, visit: https://avpn.asia/
To connect with the AVPN Impact Investing team, please contact: [email protected]

In an era of information abundance, organisations have immense data which could be used to inform or drive various impact initiatives. However, figuring out how to utilise data for impact is challenging. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, despite contentions on the role they play, have already allowed the processing of data in impressive speeds that continuously help professionals generate actionable insights.

Impact Intelligence, an organisation that leverages AI to help business achieve ambitious goals, speaks about using data to amplify one's impact and exploring ways in which the technology can be useful. Its Co-founder Niko Moesgaard and Program Manager Guliz Koldas highlight the importance of starting with information you already have and share use cases from their work where they help organisations achieve their impact goals.

Key Moments:

• 5:39 - Various ways in which data can be used for impact
• 8:27 - Case studies
• 12:48 - Taking the first step towards leveraging data for impact
• 15:35 - The AVPN member monitor
• 19:06 - Importance of sharing data and working together
• 20:35 - Humans + AI
• 24:05 - Recommended reading: All-in On AI by Thomas Davenport and Nitin Mittal

Learn more about the work of Impact Intelligence through their website and by going through their case studies.

The Corporate Social Impact Insights series of the Money Meets Mission podcast is part of the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre, which was established in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Miller Trust and Visa. The center also includes self-paced modules, a library of content, and Learning Circles, which are a monthly series of small group discussions for corporate practitioners. To learn more, visit the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre.

The surge in the popularity and utility of artificial intelligence (AI) presents several opportunities for the philanthropic sector - both in leveraging the technology to improve ways of working, as well as playing a key role in supporting the safe development of AI.

Chris Malone, Partner at Dalberg, speaks about how philanthropy can use AI by sharing eight areas where philanthropists might use AI to transform their work, and conversely, how AI can use philanthropy by encouraging funding to go into AI research.

Key Moments:

• 2:00 - Setting the bookends: risks and opportunities in AI
• 12:30 - 8 Areas where philanthropy might engage with AI
• 20:00 - Working with grantee organizations - how could grantee organizations benefit from AI?
• 24:40 - Philanthropies as centers of excellence
• 26:50 - How AI could use philanthropy?
• 34:40 - Existential risk in AI and why we need all kinds of philanthropists funding research into all kinds of risks and possibilities in AI
• 39:10 - How corporates could think about corporate social impact as a sandbox for innovation, such as in AI.
• 43:45 - Recommended reading from Chris: AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee an Chen Qiufan

While corporate organisations recognize the importance of sustainability, the risks of innovation slow down the pace at which businesses make their sustainability transition. How can we de-risk innovation so that corporate organizations are empowered to take the lead in sustainability?

Joyce Wong, Grant Manager at Porticus, shares key levers that can drive corporate innovation for sustainability and gaps that hinder innovation.

Key Moments:

• 2:33 - Introduction to Joyce and Porticus
• 4:14 - Holding businesses accountable through the Purposeful Business programme
• 8:50 - Working towards the programme goals through better policy and regulation, data and resources, and multi-stakeholder engagement
• 9:24 - Localising a global programme
• 12:26 - Identifying opportunities and challenges in sustainability

The Corporate Social Impact Insights series of the Money Meets Mission podcast is part of the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre, which was established in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Miller Trust and Visa. The center also includes self-paced modules, a library of content, and Learning Circles, which are a monthly series of small group discussions for corporate practitioners. To learn more, visit the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre.

Corporate Social Impact (CSI) is often seen as a cost centre in a business. In this episode, learn why a perspective shift is needed to consider it more as a strategy and innovation partner.

Dr. CJ Meadows, of the SP Jain Global School of Management and The Tiger Center, share four key approaches that can be used to improve a business, develop new initiatives, and create impactful and innovative solutions.

Key Moments:

• 2:03 - Introduction to Dr. CJ Meadows and her work
• 3:09 - Unpacking the bold claim that Corporate Social Impact is more than a cost centre
• 5:01 - Understanding disruption
• 10:30 - Applying design thinking approaches in development work
• 18:42 - How greening can lead to financial savings (Related reading: How to Cool Down a City)
• 23:30 - The Golden Triangle and its origin
• 29:58 - Bringing it all together

Keep in touch and learn more about Dr. CJ Meadows' work through her
LinkedIn, website, The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre, and the Tiger Center.

The Corporate Social Impact Insights series of the Money Meets Mission podcast is part of the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre, which was established in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Miller Trust and Visa. The center also includes self-paced modules, a library of content, and Learning Circles, which are a monthly series of small group discussions for corporate practitioners. To learn more, visit the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre.

Recognising that the youth play a key role in society as present and future leaders, decision-makers and contributors, corporate organisations are presented with a unique opportunity to engage with them and harness their potential to create impact.

In 2021, AVPN established the Asian Youth for Impact (ayPact), a platform focused on equipping the next generation of Asian youth with the capital and resources they need to drive impactful change. Debrah Jiang (Senior Manager) and Amanda Kee (Grant and Programme Manager) from our Capital Mobilisation team lead our work on youth engagement, and share how corporates can take on a more meaningful role in empowering the young people of today.

Key Moments:

• 1:51 - Introduction to Amanda, Debrah, and their work at AVPN's Capital Mobilisation
• 3:04 - How ayPact harnesses youth potential
• 4:20 - Examples of corporate youth engagement programmes
• 6:24 - Dimensions of youth engagement (depth, duration, amount of knowledge transfer)
• 8:29 - Pathways corporates can embark on
• 16:28 - Success metrics
• 18:30 - Beginning your youth engagement journey

The Corporate Social Impact Insights series of the Money Meets Mission podcast is part of the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre, which was established in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Miller Trust and Visa. The center also includes self-paced modules, a library of content, and Learning Circles, which are a monthly series of small group discussions for corporate practitioners. To learn more, visit the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre.

Much of the success of Corporate Social Impact (CSI) initiatives is founded on a deep level of trust between and among diverse stakeholders. Establishing a genuine connection with the people one works with not only allows for a more harmonious professional relationship, but also paves the way for amplified and more meaningful impact.

Roberta Feliciano, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation, talks about how they prioritise being purposeful in developing relationships with their funders, employees, partners, and corporate business, how she recognises that there is no shortcut to the process, and their empowering philosophy of change with the communities they work with. 

Key Moments:

• 2:23 - Introduction to Roberta and her work at ABS-CBN Foundation
• 3:47 - The uniqueness of ABS-CBN Foundation
• 5:17 - Alignment between ABS-CBN Foundation and ABS-CBN Corporation
• 6:51 - The role of trust in their relationships with various stakeholders
• 12:02 - Approach to building trust

The Corporate Social Impact Insights series of the Money Meets Mission podcast is part of the AVPN Academy Corporate Social Impact Centre,  which was established in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Miller Trust and Visa. The center also includes self-paced modules, a library of content, and Learning Circles, which are a monthly series of small group discussions for corporate practitioners. To learn more, visit https://academy.avpn.asia/module-centre/corporate-social-impact-centre/