How To Generate Alpha & Impact in Emerging Markets with THIS Cutting-Edge ESG Quant Strategy | Asha Mehta (#039)

SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing

Emerging and frontier markets are full of opportunities often overlooked by the mainstream investment community.
Today’s guest will help us understand these markets and prove how systematic investing in publicly listed equities can unlock their potential for alpha and impact generation.
Meet Asha Mehta, the managing partner & CIO at Global Delta Capital, a US-based equity long-only investment manager focused on harnessing the power of capital to fuel social and economic development in international, emerging, and frontier markets.
With a background that begins with medical and anthropological studies at Stanford and a well-traveled upbringing, Asha developed an interest in microfinance lending in India after witnessing its extreme poverty in the late 90s. This experience led her to pioneering roles in sustainable and quant investing, making a mark on the international investment scene.
Recognized as one of the Top 10 Women in Asset Management and dubbed a "Brilliant Quant" by Forbes, Asha’s career highlights include leading emerging market strategies at Acadian Asset Management, where she launched the first quantitative/systematic frontier fund.
At the core of this episode is Global Delta Capital’s combination of systematic stock selection and a fundamental thematic overlay on the opportunities present in emerging and frontier markets. Asha and her team are not just seeking high returns; they're using their combined expertise to leverage ESG data and make a tangible impact on the world’s financial, environmental, and social landscape.
We also discuss a range of topics, including the importance of financial literacy, quantitative investing, examples of emerging markets that Global Delta Capital has invested in, and Asha’s take on the future of investment in developing economies.
If you’re intrigued by the power of capital to drive global change and want to learn from one of the leading voices in the field, this is an episode you cannot miss.
Tune in and be inspired by this adventure capitalist.
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Show notes: {link}
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About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.
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Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Asha Mehta’s background and transition into finance (02:47)
Founding Global Delta Capital (24:43)
Overview of Global Delta Capital's strategy and focus areas (35:06)
Asha explains quantitative investing & strategies for sourcing reliable data (41:07)
The investment process at Global Delta Capital (55:16)
Discovering opportunities in the emerging markets: Saudi Arabia’s case (01:03:52)
Shareholder engagement, risk management, & examples of impact (01:11:39)
Asha’s book “Power of Capital” & emerging market predictions (01:21:03)
Rapid fire questions (01:32:45)
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Additional Resources
Find Asha’s book “Power of Capital” here.

Learn more about Global Delta Capital here:
Website
LinkedIn
Connect with Asha Mehta on LinkedIn.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are that of Asha Mehta’s only,