Bridging Profit and Purpose with Matt Patsky: The Evolution of Sustainable Investing
The latest episode of Dollars & Change: The Expert’s Guide to Sustainable & Responsible Investing brings us an inspiring deep-dive into the story and insights of Matt Patsky, CEO of Trillium Asset Management, recorded live at the US SIF Sustainable Investment Forum in Chicago. With host Peter Krull leading the conversation, Matt reflects on his decades-long career in sustainable investing, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and socially responsible investing (SRI).
Matt shared with Pete how his career in finance began as a financial analyst at Lehman Brothers. His experience as a financial analyst, combined with his early passion for investing, inspired his focus on aligning financial portfolios with positive social and environmental impacts. Matt’s interest in sustainability and financial returns started when he first invested at 11, and over time, his interest has grown into a successful career as a leader in ESG integration and responsible investing.
Listeners were treated to engaging anecdotes, like Matt’s bold confrontations with industry conventions and his insistence on the importance of corporate HR engagement and environmental liability as an integral part of investment analysis. His early foresight into ESG’s material importance, despite resistance from Wall Street’s traditional leadership, laid the groundwork for today’s sustainable investment practices.
The podcast also tackled the broader evolution of ESG investing, its challenges, and its current narrative amidst political and economic debates. Both Peter and Matt emphasize the importance of continuing to have authenticity in the sustainable investing space, celebrating the progress that has been made, and continuing to reclaim the narrative around ESG to prevent the dilution of sustainable investing’s core values. Matt’s optimistic perspective can serve as a reminder that positive change, while gradual, can make a lasting difference.
The episode concludes with Peter reflecting on how Matt has paved the way for sustainable investing efforts and how he is truly an inspiration to all sustainable investing advocates. Be sure to listen to the full conversation between Matt and Pete and explore more episodes of Dollars & Change.
Remember to like, subscribe, and follow us on social media to stay updated with our latest content, and check out Matt’s full episode here!
Check out some of our recent episodes:
- Erin Gray, Vice President of Business Development at Green Century Funds shares Green Century’s Impactful Advocacy and the Fight Against Plastic Waste
- Rachelle Carson Begley, an environmental advocate and actor, explores sustainability, climate action, and the role of media in advocating for change.
- Gabe Rissman, co-founder of YourStake, highlights the intersection of sustainable investing and data.
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Be good. Invest better.
The Earth Equity Team
