Today I'm joined by Sandrine Henton, founder and managing director of EG Capital, a private credit investment platform focused on climate adaptation across Africa. Her work sits at the intersection of climate finance, resilience, and capital allocation, helping shape new approaches to investing in adaptation across emerging markets. So why is Sandrine with us today? To be serious about planetary boundaries, we collectively need to be serious about how we channel massive amounts of private capital towards Africa, because the scales are more than uneven at this point, and our collective futures depend on it. To do that, how about we start at assessing risk from a clean state with actual data? Because finance and investments are all about data, right? So let's see what Sandrine can tell us about it.
 This special playlist is developed in partnership with ChangeNOW. We welcome some of the fund managers who presented during Funds for Change. Since they only had but a few minutes on stage to explain their unique angles, the sophistication of their approach, the urgent needs they want to address, we decided to offer them more time and broadcast their ideas to a wider audience.
Key topics:

• Climate adaptation finance in Africa
• SME resilience and growth capital
• Mobilizing African private capital
• Gender-driven investment performance

Episode breakdown:Intro - 00:00:00Welcome - 00:01:14Origin & Perspective - 00:02:33Biggest Objections - 00:09:07Flash Round - 00:24:58
Follow us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0Po2mXWyAelyE91jSa5flbApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alaqa/id1838909986
https://linktr.ee/alaqapodcastDesigned & Hosted by Imène MaharziProduced by Taisa Echterhoff

This special playlist is developed in partnership with ChangeNOW. We welcome some of the fund managers who presented during Funds for Change. Since they only had but a few minutes on stage to explain their unique angles, the sophistication of their approach, the urgent needs they want to address, we decided to offer them more time and broadcast their ideas to a wider audience.Today I'm joined by Lucy Mortimer, founding partner at Archipelago Ventures and environmental finance specialist with over 25 years of experience in climate finance and low-carbon investment. Over her career, Lucy has built a strong network across climate and nature finance, supporting early-stage companies and startups in navigating commercial barriers and scaling within complex markets. Her work sits at the intersection of environmental finance, investment structuring, and venture building, focused on helping capital flow more effectively into solutions for the climate transition.So why is Lucy with us today?I think it's fair to say that in 2026, circular economy can receive a "B+" for participation, but the impact in real life is desperately slow to appear. Some even start to question the possibility that it will ever reach actual market traction, at least without hefty public subsidies. That's the central scenario. And then you have the thematic experts, who jump in, willing to do the work. What's the work you'll tell me?Find the types of hidden industrial solutions that can transform the way materials flow through the economy.Not any materials - the 3 big ones - plastics, metals and textiles, the ones which have significant impacts on human health, oceans & landscapes, climate, biodiversity, both from their extraction & manufacturing, and their end of life management. That's the work.
Key topics:

• Circular economy investing beyond recycling
• Building trust in deep tech and climate finance
• Collaboration as a new model for venture capital
• Unlocking more capital for systemic climate solutions

Episode breakdown:Intro - 00:00:00Welcome - 00:01:51Origin & Perspective - 00:02:20Biggest Objections - 00:10:59Flash Round - 00:25:10
Follow us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0Po2mXWyAelyE91jSa5flbApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alaqa/id1838909986
https://linktr.ee/alaqapodcastDesigned & Hosted by Imène MaharziProduced by Taisa Echterhoff

Today we sit down with Danielle Turkov, Founder and Executive Director of Think-Film Impact Production, a company she built from scratch to bridge the worlds of film, policy, and social change. Danielle has worked with Oscar- and Emmy-nominated projects like The Cave, iHuman, and BAFTA-nominated Eminent Monsters, using storytelling as a catalyst for real-world impact. Recently, “Mr Nobody Against Putin” won the Oscar and BAFTA for best documentary. Danielle is also part of the team who’s bringing “The voice of Hind Rajab” story to wider audiences.In this episode, she shares her journey from political strategist in the EU to global impact producer — and how film can move systems as powerfully as finance can. Enjoy the ride, and stay tuned for a possible part 2 with Danielle, as there is certainly more to cover!
Key topics:

• Why storytelling is a form of systemic power
• How impact films can influence laws and institutions
• The tension between finance, empathy, and human rights
• What it takes to build trust-driven change in volatile systems
  

Episode Breakdown:Intro - 00:00:00Welcome - 00:01:06Origin & Perspective - 00:03:04The Relationship at the Core - 00:10:29Tensions, Lessons & Tools - 00:30:49Contrarian Thoughts - 00:35:12Your go-to person - 00:37:19Flash Round - 00:39:33
Follow us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0Po2mXWyAelyE91jSa5flbApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alaqa/id1838909986
https://linktr.ee/alaqapodcastDesigned & Hosted by Imène MaharziProduced by Taisa Echterhoff

Today, we are happy to welcome Marcel Zuidam, CEO of Triodos Bank, one of Europe’s leading banks in sustainable finance. Before joining Triodos, Marcel held senior leadership roles across mainstream finance, including CEO positions at NN Bank and Delta Lloyd Bank, giving him a rare perspective on both conventional and regenerative models of capital. In this conversation, we explore what it really means to finance change and change finance, from the myths still embedded in mainstream markets to the deeper question of how capital can serve societies, ecosystems, and long-term resilience rather than short-term extraction.Key topics:- Why finance is never neutral and capital always takes sides.- How the financial system became extractive rather than useful.- Why transparency alone will not redirect capital toward impact.- The tension between urgency and patience in systems change.Episode Breakdown:Intro - 00:00:00Welcome - 00:01:27Origin & Perspective - 00:02:24Financing Change & Changing Finance - 00:05:47Systems Thinking & Leverage Points - 00:11:44Democratic Guidance & Incentives - 00:18:03The Myths of Mainstream Finance - 00:23:15What a Regenerative Financial System Could Look Like - 00:26:09Urgency vs Patience - 00:27:58Contrarian Thoughts - 00:29:02Flash Round - 00:30:15Follow us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0Po2mXWyAelyE91jSa5flbApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alaqa/id1838909986https://linktr.ee/alaqapodcastDesigned & Hosted by Imène MaharziProduced by Taisa Echterhoff

Today, we are happy to welcome Benjamin Le Pendeven, associate professor of entrepreneurial and responsible finance at Audencia Business School, where he leads the “Finance for Innovation” research chair focused on impact investing, innovation financing, and social impact bonds. He collaborates with public institutions, private investors, and NGOs and previously worked as an entrepreneur and impact investor.Key topics:

• Why experimentation isn’t the problem, scaling and persistence are.
• How persistence and stability in teams matter as much as patient capital.
• Why impact investing must think beyond pilots, metrics, and exits.
• How academia can act as a bridge between finance, policy, and real-world change.

Episode Breakdown:Welcome - 00:00:00Origin & Perspective - 00:03:06The Relationship at the Core - 00:23:12Contrarian Thoughts - 00:32:12Your go-to person - 00:33:54Flash Round - 00:34:59

Today's episode is a special one. We’re switching things up with a conversation conducted entirely in French.Consider it a linguistic detour from our regular programming.Alors… on y va, et bonne écoute en français.Aujourd’hui, nous sommes heureux d’accueillir Benjamine Friderich, Head of Investments chez Colam Impact, une filiale de Colam Entreprendre.Après avoir effectué un tour du monde à l’âge de 21 ans sur le thème du commerce équitable et de la microfinance, Benjamine Friderich rejoint le Groupe Crédit Coopératif, où elle accumule 12 ans d’expérience dans différents services. En 2015, elle intègre la filiale Esfin Gestion, où elle développe un fonds dédié à l’impact social, accompagnant plus d’une vingtaine d’entrepreneurs dans leurs enjeux de croissance.En 2021, elle devient Directrice de l’Impact Investing chez Enowe, un family office français, où elle développe et pilote la stratégie d’investissement à impact positif. Elle déploie plusieurs millions d’euros dans des entreprises et des fonds d’investissement à impact en France et dans le monde.
Points clé:

• Pourquoi l’impact est intrinsèquement subjectif et politique
• Comment l’appétit pour le risque façonne les trajectoires des fondateurs et fondatrices
• Comment le capital patient permet aux entreprises de pivoter et de mûrir

Episode breakdown:Intro - 00:00:00Welcome - 00:02:50Origin & Perspective - 00:06:06The Relationship at the Core - 00:10:17Tensions, Lessons & Tools - 00:31:30Contrarian Thoughts - 00:49:55Flash Round - 00:52:03

Today we are happy to welcome Constanza Robles Fumarola.Constanza is a systems change investor and designer focused on transforming food systems across Africa. She is the Founding Partner of Inanna, an investor and venture builder applying systems thinking to regenerative agriculture and food. With a background in social impact and futures design, she has worked with organisations such as the UN FAO, FCDO, and GIZ to shape strategies that bridge innovation, inclusion, and sustainability. Her work brings together modern finance and indigenous, community-led knowledge to build resilient, equitable agrihealth systems.
Key points:

• Why shifting investment logic is necessary for system transformation
• The gap between conceptual, long-term transformation goals and the short-term, survival-based realities of farmers or investors
• How Regenerative Agriculture is gaining traction

Episode breakdown:Welcome - 00:00:00Origin & Perspective - 00:10:35The Relationship at the Core - 00:18:43Tensions, Lessons & Tools - 00:30:47Contrarian Thoughts - 00:35:29Your go-to person - 00:35:49Flash Round - 00:36:50

Today we are happy to welcome Laure Blanchard-Brunac.Laure is an expert in development finance and blended finance, with over 20 years of experience across leading European financial institutions and the European Commission. She has a proven expertise in EU financial instruments, budgetary guarantees and investment-related policies and regulations. Laure is currently a member of the InvestEU Investment Committee, and a Key Expert with the Trade and Private Sector Development Facility (TPSD) implemented by DAI on behalf of the European Commission. She is also a Senior Advisor with Rud Pedersen Public Affairs Brussels advising private companies on their EU funding strategies.
Key topics:

• How blended finance actually works — where it succeeds, where it fails, and what signals show it’s the right tool.
• The hidden “EU bubble” dynamics
• The systemic importance of certain individuals inside institutions

Episode breakdown:Intro - 00:00:00Origin & Perspective - 00:02:22The Relationship At Core - 00:17:37Contrarian Thoughts - 00:28:44Flash Round - 00:33:04

Today we are happy to welcome Greg De Temmerman.Greg has about 20 years of experience spanning fusion and energy research, philanthropic funding, and climate solutions. Working at the intersection between science, innovation and climate action, he is passionate about building systems that enable bold and transformative initiatives to thrive. Until October 2025 he was deputy CEO and Chief Science Officer of the Quadrature Climate Foundation in London. He is currently advising philanthropists and entrepreneurs on high impact projects. He is a published author and TED speakerKey topics:- The importance of effective Communication in Climate & Energy- Funding, power dynamics and what it really takes to scale Climate Innovation- Philanthropy’s role in Systems Change and infrastructure building- The messy middle of Climate TransitionEpisode breakdown:Intro - 00:00:00Origin & Perspective - 00:02:33The Relationship At Core - 00:12:16Tensions, Lessons & Tools - 00:24:39Contrarian Thoughts - 00:27:20Your Go-To Person - 00:29:43Flash Round - 00:30:25

Today, I’m joined by Eric Collins, Co-Founder and General Partner of Impact X Capital Partners and a serial entrepreneur, investor, technology executive, host of award-winning Channel 4 business show,The Money Maker, which is based on the highly successful US show The Profit on CNBC, and author of the award winning book We Don’t Need Permission - How Black Business Can Change the World.In 2018 he co-founded Impact X Capital Partners, a UK domiciled VC fund that has closed 2 funds with 49 investments including Europe’s 2nd Black unicorn, insurtech innovator, Marshmallow. Impact X also invests in select creative projects with the animated series IYANU which launched to commercial and critical success on HBO Max and Cartoon Network in April 2025.
Key topics:

• Urgency vs. Incrementalism in Systemic Change
• Access to Capital and Representation in Venture
• Culture as a Vehicle for Change
• Navigating Relationships, Conflict, and Complexity
  

Episode breakdown:Welcome - 00:00:00Origin & Perspective - 00:04:33The Relationship At Core - 00:08:14Tensions, Lessons & Tools - 00:33:34Flash Round - 00:38:13