Impact Journey with Julia

What did it take to start a first-of-its-kind sustainable business section at The Guardian? And why leave the big city life to live in a monastic community? Journalist Jo Confino describes his journey from covering finance and business to the next frontier in this time of crisis: mindfulness, compassion, feeling our suffering. As the podcast Jo hosts says: the way out is in.   THE IMPACT. Jo Confino: - Bridges many worlds: executive coach, facilitator, journalist, and sustainability expert. - Was Executive Editor of What's Working at HuffPo, executive editor of The Guardian and chairman and editorial director of Guardian Sustainable Business - Is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest, partnered with UN Development Programme on a consciousness and systems change initiative, and sits on the Boards of various climate organizations. - Is a mindfulness advocate, has worked closely with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and his monastic community in France Plum Village, and now hosts their podcast The Way Out Is In. - Gained his MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice at the University of Bath.   THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore: - Early influences: the desire to make sense of the world - Changing things at the edge: how he did that at Guardian Sustainable Business - The next edge for anyone working on the climate and social crises: consciousness - What does climate have to do with mindfulness: getting personal, feeling the feelings - The wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh: connecting to our own suffering and the suffering of the world - The thousands of choices we can make every day

We often hear about tradeoffs in impact investing - impact or profit, people or planet. Cecile’s journey to lead impact at Israel's largest VC shows that it’s not either or. It's interconnected. THE IMPACT. Cecile: Is Head of Impact and Sustainability at Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest VC fund, where she merges technology, profit and social impact Co-founded GITA, the Global Impact Tech Alliance, a new organization to empower tech innovations to achieve the SDGs Previously founded Impact First Investments, Israel’s first impact investing company; managed the Noaber Foundation’s Israeli investments for over 14 years, and held executive positions at several companies THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore: Early influences - martial arts, entrepreneurship, rebalancing capital and values Impact investing, from 20 years ago to now - from its own asset class to a mindset shift False tradeoffs in impact investing - profit vs. impact, people vs. planet, incremental vs. systemic Two types of companies - impact natives and impact migrants A surprise on the people side - you don’t need to convince companies or investors

From being a changemaker at a very early age, through 17 years at Greenpeace, Femke walks through the modern day tensions of leadership, and makes the case for this new type of leadership - a creative, complex, and collective leadership. THE IMPACT. Femke Bartels: Is Managing Director of THNK School for Creative Leadership, a purpose-driven social enterprise with transformative programs to develop leaders to solve the world’s greatest challenges Worked for Greenpeace for 17 years in many roles, including Campaign Director, Global Forest Network Director, Global Director of Strategy and Planning, and Executive Director of Greenpeace Mexico Served as a policy advisor to the European Parliament and the Dutch Ministry of Environment Studied Political Sciences and International Relations at the University of Amsterdam, and has a Master of Public Administration at the University of Twente THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore: Origins as a changemaker: “chicken is chicken?” Joining Greenpeace as a campaigner: “they were looking for me” Societal change: “what are your motivators?” Collective leadership: “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”, “connection over polarization” Complex leadership: “comfortable not knowing”, “courage is not the absence of fear”

In a beautiful personal story, Swati Chaudhary of Synergos shares insights on the power of listening, from her ancestors in Bihar India to fighting injustice today. THE IMPACT. Swati: Is Managing Director of Synergos Advisory, where she advises foundations, philanthropists, and companies around the world. Synergos is a global non-profit that brings people together to solve complex problems of poverty. Was a Manager at PwC Advisory, where she advised clients on topics like payments and banking, financial inclusion, and anti-corruption Worked with the UN Global Compact on developing Compass, a guide for companies to align their strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals and assess their contributions Brings experience in investing from Acumen Fund, and growth equity at General Atlantic Receive a BA from Franklin and Marshall College, and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore: Early influences - a story of ancestors in Bihar, India Seeing injustice - in childhood, in being an immigrant, in the private sector, in COVID Listening to the most vulnerable - a key ingredient for moral leadership and systemic change Investing in people - the radical potential for philanthropy to create a more just world

How can we better connect with each other, now that we need it most? Veronica Marquez of Dinner Confidential shares what she’s learned about having confident AND compassionate conversations. --- THE IMPACT. Veronica: Is co-founder of Dinner Confidential, a brave space in over 25 cities worldwide, from NYC to Berlin to Tokyo, for women to talk confidentially about topics like fear and control. They recently launched their approach as a course on confident and compassionate conversations. Is a Certified Professional Coach with Guided and with her own practice, Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) Practitioner, and Reiki Practitioner. Has traveled the world as a researcher at ?What If! Innovation, Flamingo, and The Wellbeing Project. Is from Venezuela, has a BS in business from Universidad Metropolitana, and a MA from Emerson College. THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore: Curiosity about people - growing up in Venezuela, seeing different religions and cultures Seeking intimacy and belonging - creating Dinner Confidential in a moment of seeking connection Ingredients for connection - a safe structured space, stories not opinions, no judgment or advice What we need now - harder conversations and lighter joy, expressing and listening, confident and compassionate conversations