Blended finance is often promoted as a way to mobilise private capital for sustainable development, yet systemic barriers still constrain its scale and effectiveness. In this episode, Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), unpacks the 2025 report From Promise to Performance: Reforming Blended Finance for Scale. She outlines five structural challenges — transparency, risk pricing, liquidity, pipeline gaps, and additionality — and why addressing them is key to unlocking impact. The conversation also explores practical reforms and the roles of DFIs, donors, and rating agencies in making blended finance more efficient and effective.   Season 2 is produced in collaboration with the SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI).   Hosted by Luka Biernacki.   Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGenevaConnection   Let’s Talk Finance! Let’s Talk Impact!

Scaling Impact investing in emerging markets still requires strategic use of catalytic capital. In this episode, Nicolas Muller, Managing Director of Blue Earth Capital explores how impact-focused investment strategies are structured to balance risk, returns, and outcomes. From the role of philanthropy in de-risking to practical insights on attracting commercial capital into high-impact deals, we look at what it takes to turn purpose into investible opportunity — and what’s still missing to bridge the gap at scale.  Season 2 is produced in collaboration with the SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI). Hosted by Luka Biernacki. Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGenevaConnection Let’s Talk Finance! Let’s Talk Impact!

Impact investing is central to closing the $4 trillion SDG financing gap, yet it remains just 1% of global assets. How can we scale it to the level the world needs? In this episode, Guillaume Bonnel, CEO of the SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI), unpacks the barriers holding impact investing back — from liquidity constraints and misaligned risk perceptions to regulatory hurdles — and explores how blended finance can unlock private capital at scale. He shares how concessional capital, platform approaches, and stronger data and standardisation can bridge public and private interests, ensure true additionality, and direct investment flows into emerging markets where impact and growth potential are greatest.   Season 2 is produced in collaboration with the SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI).   Hosted by Luka Biernacki.   Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGenevaConnection   Let’s Talk Finance! Let’s Talk Impact!

Development is often framed as aid, but for Jeffrey Sachs, one of the world’s leading development economists, it’s first and foremost an investment challenge. In this opening episode, Professor Sachs explores why capital isn’t flowing to the countries that need it most, how risk perceptions keep private money out of poor economies, and what a new investment-led development model could look like by 2030.   The episode is part of Season 2 of The Geneva Connection — “Bridging the Gap: Financing the Future of Sustainable Development.” This four-episode season takes listeners inside the world of development finance: why capital isn’t flowing where it’s needed most, and how blended finance, catalytic capital, and impact investing can help close the $4.2 trillion SDG funding gap. From big-picture insights to practical solutions, we explore what it will take to turn ambition into investible impact.   Season 2 is produced in collaboration with the SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI).   Hosted by Luka Biernacki.   Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGenevaConnection   Let’s Talk Finance! Let’s Talk Impact!

Guests: Dimple Sahni, Yuko Takano, Kostis Tselenis. This episode explores the evolution of impact investing once seen as a niche, now emerging as a powerful strategy to reshape how capital is allocated, measured, and scaled across financial systems. Through three grounded conversations, we examine how investors across asset classes from institutional portfolios to early-stage startups are embedding impact into core decision-making.   PART 1 From Values to Value — Embedding Impact into Investing Dimple Sahni, Managing Director, Multi Asset Impact Investing, Anthos Fund & Asset Management PART 2 Transparency, Data, and Strategy in Impact Investing Yuko Takano, Co-Lead Investment Manager, Pictet Group PART 3 Fuel for the Future — Scaling Impact Through Venture Capital Kostis Tselenis, Managing Partner, Swiss Impact Office   Timestamps: Dimple Sahni (1:32) Yuko Takano (13:28) Kostis Tselenis (25:29) Hosted by Luka Biernacki. Season 1 was recorded in December 2024 at the Building Bridges Summit in Geneva.  

Guests: Adrian Schatzmann, Anja Hannerz, Helena Viñes Fiestas. In this episode, we explore the fundamentals of transition finance and how financial institutions, businesses, and policymakers are working together to bridge today’s economy with a low-carbon future. With trillions needed annually to stay on track, we ask: Where is capital most needed? Which approaches are delivering results? And how can we make transition finance both effective and equitable?     PART 1: The Role of Financial Institutions in Transition Finance Adrian Schatzmann, CEO, Asset Management Association Switzerland   PART 2: Real Economy Impact and Scaling Transition Finance Anja Hannerz, Group Head of Sustainability, Nordea   PART 3: Policy Frameworks and the EU Perspective Helena Viñes Fiestas, Chair, EU Platform on Sustainable Finance & Co-Chair, UN Taskforce on Net-Zero Policy   Timestamps: Adrian Schatzmann (00:56)Anja Hannerz (18:52)Helena Viñes Fiestas (27:56) Hosted by Luka Biernacki. Season 1 was recorded in December 2024 at the Building Bridges Summit in Geneva.     

Guests: Delilah Rothenberg, James Mwangi, Jean Pesme. In this episode we examine how finance can become a tool for closing wealth gaps, empowering marginalised communities, and ensuring that sustainable development is truly inclusive. From rethinking investment frameworks to designing financial systems that work for all, our guests provide insights into how finance can shape a better future   PART 1: The Role of Finance in Addressing Systemic Inequalities Delilah Rothenberg, Co-Founder & Executive Director, The Predistribution Initiative   PART 2: Financial Inclusion and Equity James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Group Holdings   PART 3: Global Financial Systems and Development Goals Jean Pesme, Global Director, Finance, World Bank Timestamps:(01:15) Delilah Rothenberg(20:47) James Mwangi(28:31) Jean Pesme   Hosted by Luka Biernacki. Season 1 was recorded in December 2024 at the Building Bridges Summit in Geneva. 

Guests: André Hoffmann, Mark Halle, Xiye Bastida. This episode explores nature finance and its expanding role in business and investment. From rethinking accounting frameworks to embedding biodiversity in corporate strategies and scaling nature-positive solutions, our guests explore the systemic shifts needed to integrate nature into financial systems for long-term resilience. We also examine the crucial role of Indigenous knowledge and youth activism in shaping a more inclusive and effective nature finance system.   PART 1 Building the Business Case for NatureMark Halle, Senior Advisor, NatureFinance. PART 2 The Private Sector’s Role in Valuing NatureAndré Hoffmann, Vice Chairman, Roche Holding AG & Co-Founder, InTent. PART 3 Funding for Nature: An Indigenous PerspectiveXiye Bastida, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Re-Earth Initiative.   Timestamps: (01:26) Mark Halle(12:30) André Hoffmann(30:24) Xiye Bastida   Hosted by Luka Biernacki. Season 1 was recorded in December 2024 at the Building Bridges Summit in Geneva.   

Guests: Patrick Odier, Karen Hitschke, August Benz. In this first episode, we explore the latest Building Bridges Summit in Geneva, featuring insights from key leaders driving the initiative and shaping the future of Sustainable Finance: PART 1 Building Bridges as a Catalyst for ChangePatrick Odier, Chairman of the Building Bridges Foundation, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lombard Odier Group, and President of Swiss Sustainable Finance. PART 2 Building Bridges as a Platform for ActionKaren Hitschke, CEO of the Building Bridges Foundation. PART 3 Switzerland’s Role in Driving Sustainable Finance and InnovationAugust Benz, Board Member of Building Bridges and Deputy CEO & Head of International & Transformation at the Swiss Bankers Association.   Timestamps: (02:31) Patrick Odier (16:53) Karen Hitschke(26:02) August BenzSeason 1 is hosted by Luka Biernacki.  Season 1 has been recorded in December 2024 at the Building Bridges Summit in Geneva.

Welcome to The Geneva Connection! Season 1—"Building Bridges 5th Edition: Pushing Boundaries, Inspiring Change"—dives into the future of finance in collaboration with the Building Bridges Foundation. Across five thought-provoking episodes, we explore key themes like nature finance, impact investing, transition finance, and the social and equity dimensions of finance. Get exclusive insights from the latest Building Bridges Summit (December 2024) as leading experts share bold ideas, innovative strategies, and actionable solutions to drive meaningful change. Tune in and be part of the conversation shaping the finance of tomorrow!