Jenna Nicholas: Climate Finance, Green 401(k)s & Community Empowerment

Beyond Carbon

Georges and Chris have a wide-ranging discussion with impact investment trailblazer Jenna Nicholas, who takes us on her career journey through climate activism, community-informed impact investing and climate finance in 401(k) retirement plans.

Guest

Jenna Nicholas, CEO Impact Experience

Background

Jenna is a private equity investor and the CEO of Impact Experience, an organization that builds bridges and deep relationships between impact investors, foundations, corporates, entrepreneurs, artists and local leaders to co-create solutions for marginalized communities.

Jenna previously worked with Divest-Invest Philanthropy and has taken the lessons from that experience and applied them to help drive change around environmental and social issues from the bottom up.

Conversation

• We go deep on her work at Impact Experience, and she shares stories about the hands-on efforts in communities like Montgomery, AL, and southern West Virginia to bring together businesses, capital and communities to catalyze impact.
• Jenna discusses her latest project, the Business Climate Finance Initiative which seeks to raise awareness and decarbonize the assets in 401(k) plans and corporate deposits.
• Finally, we delve into the politicization of ESG and break down the recent U.S. Department of Labor ruling on ESG that has been the subject of considerable debate.

For more information regarding the activities of Impact Experience: https://www.impact-experience.com