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Sustainable Intelligence
Sustainable Intelligence
Author: Novata
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© 2025 Sustainable Intelligence
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Novata’s Sustainable Intelligence podcast brings honest, forward-thinking conversations about sustainability in the private markets. From carbon accounting to turning data into impact, each episode explores how investors and business leaders are tackling real challenges, meeting rising regulations, and building long-term value. Join us for expert insights, practical strategies, and authentic dialogue that empower action and progress in the evolving sustainability landscape.
40 Episodes
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In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, we are joined by Ben Morley, Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Ben leads BCG’s support for the ESG Data Convergence Initiative (EDCI), a global collaboration uniting over 500 GPs and LPs to standardize ESG data across the private markets. Ben shares how the EDCI has evolved from a collective action challenge into a benchmark covering 9,000 portfolio companies and 230,000 data points. We explore emerging sustainability trends, the link betwe...
In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Conor O’Laoire, Head of Partnerships at Novata, joins us to talk about what it takes to build strong, profitable partnerships in the sustainability space. Conor shares how Novata’s strategy has evolved from early ecosystem building to a sharp focus on revenue-generating distribution partnerships that scale the business globally. He reflects on how Novata selects partners, prioritizing shared vision, domain expertise, and strong relationships. He di...
In this episode, we sit down with Rochelle March, Founder of People Places Words Action (PPWA), to discuss how AI is reshaping the sustainability landscape. Rochelle shares how companies are using AI to boost efficiency, uncover insights, and tackle complex global challenges like climate risk, biodiversity, and supply chain impact. She also explores the balance between humans and AI, the rise of responsible AI practices, and how sustainability professionals can build their own AI capacity to ...
California has just set a new bar for climate transparency with SB 253 and SB 261, and thousands of companies will soon be on the hook. But what do these laws really mean for businesses and investors? In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, we are joined by Jessie Miller, Senior Manager, Advisory at Novata, to unpack the details. We explore who’s in scope, the timelines and requirements coming in 2026, the practical costs to plan for, and why climate disclosure is evolving beyond a comp...
In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Nick Donoghue, Lead Product Manager at Novata, discusses what it takes to design sustainability software that actually works. From meeting diverse compliance needs to unlocking real business value, Nick shares insights on integrating sustainability across an organization, choosing the right tools, and making data work harder. Whether you’re a sustainability leader or simply curious about the tech driving ESG progress, this conversation delivers pra...
In this episode, we sit down with Kyle Flick, Novata’s Head of APAC, to explore the shifting sustainability landscape across Asia Pacific. From carbon accounting becoming the norm to LPs driving demand for better ESG data, Kyle shares insights from eight months on the ground. We unpack how regulations, value creation, and energy realities are shaping firm behavior, why APAC investors are thinking in decades, not quarters, and what sustainability trends are gaining ground across diverse market...
Climate risk isn’t a distant threat, it’s a material financial reality. In this episode, Matt Babic, Advisory Manager at Novata, breaks down what today’s investors need to understand about the evolving climate landscape, the data that matters, and how to assess risk and opportunity across portfolios. Whether you're navigating new regulations or rethinking your investment strategy, this conversation brings clarity to a complex, high-stakes issue. The question is: Are you equipped to see ...
In this special edition of Sustainable Intelligence to recognize Novata’s 4th anniversary, host Ella Williamson is joined by Rachel Yoo, Founder & CEO of Hiro, and Nadia Haile, Lead Designer & Strategist at Hiro, to reflect on the journey of building Novata’s brand. From naming and visual identity to brand voice and evolution, we unpack what it really takes to create a sustainability brand that feels credible, human, and built to last. You’ll hear how Novata, a blend of “nova” (new l...
Private credit is fast becoming a force in ESG reporting, but it’s not simply following in private equity’s footsteps. In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, host Ella Williamson speaks with Alex Jackson, Senior Customer Success Manager at Novata, about what’s driving the surge in sustainability momentum across credit markets. From shifting LP expectations to increasing collaboration across the capital stack, Alex unpacks the trends, tools, and tensions shaping how credit GPs are appro...
Dr. Julie Anderson, Director of the Master of Science in Sustainability Management at American University’s Kogod School of Business, joins this episode of Sustainable Intelligence to explore what the global rollback of sustainability regulations really means for investors. While recent policy shifts, from SEC revisions to the EU’s “stop the clock” directive, may appear to signal retreat, Julie argues they actually open the door to a more complex, opportunity-rich landscape. This episode fram...
Joining us today is David Willans, Director of Sustainability at Bladonmore, to unpack the shifting dynamics of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in today’s business and political climate. As media narratives and stakeholder pressures intensify, companies are responding in divergent ways. Some are retreating, others reframing, and a few holding the line. David explores the critical disconnect between public values and DEI program perceptions, revealing how communication missteps have op...
Joining us today is David Wingate, Manager on Novata’s Advisory team, to explore how ESG due diligence is evolving from a fragmented, qualitative process to a streamlined, data-driven approach that connects sustainability and financial outcomes. David explains why sustainability data needs to stay consistent from diligence through to exit, how focusing on material, decision-useful metrics unlocks value, and the risks of collecting too much, or the wrong, data. He shares what investors should ...
In this episode, Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra, reflects on how sustainability principles have remained constant over decades, even as language and strategies have evolved. She distinguishes between managerial sustainability (risk and compliance) and entrepreneurial sustainability (innovation and growth), arguing businesses must embrace both to thrive. Solitaire emphasizes the opportunity in sustainability as a competitive advantage, not just a complian...
We've got Waliur Rahman, Metrics and Regulations Associate at Novata, to break down the new Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs, better known as the VSME. Wali explains how this EFRAG-developed standard is designed to make sustainability reporting more accessible, especially for smaller businesses, and why its flexible, modular approach could transform how SMEs engage with sustainability data.
The EU Omnibus Package is shaking up sustainability reporting, bringing changes that could significantly impact companies across Europe. Laura Callaghan, Head of EMEA Advisory at Novata, joins us to break down the key updates, including the potential 80% reduction in CSRD scope, new reporting deferrals, and what these changes mean for businesses navigating the evolving ESG landscape. She explains why sustainability reporting isn’t just an EU mandate but a growing market expectation, and how ...
Joining us today is Colin Finn, Director of Customer Engagement at Novata. In this episode Colin shares practical strategies for streamlining sustainability reporting in private markets. As sustainability teams face mounting reporting demands and regulatory changes, Colin breaks down how firms can prioritize data requests, centralize workflows, and leverage technology to make sustainability reporting more efficient and impactful.
We've got Samuel King, co-founder and CTO of AI company Briink, discussing his transition from machine learning and natural language processing to developing AI tools for ESG and sustainability. He explains how companies face overwhelming volumes of unstructured ESG data and regulatory demands, and how Briink’s technology streamlines data extraction and compliance processes. The conversation highlights the shift in sustainability from a voluntary corporate social responsibility effort to a da...
We've got Jessie Martin, Global Head of Advisory at Novata, joining us today. We explore the growing pushback against ESG reporting, particularly due to regulatory overload and inefficiencies. Jessie highlights how businesses are struggling with excessive ESG data demands, leading to frustration and calls for simplification, especially in Europe with the CSRD and in the US with a shifting regulatory landscape. Despite these challenges, she emphasizes that a sustainability focus should not be ...
We've got Josh Green, Novata’s COO and Co-Founder joining us today. He shares why considering ESG factors is no longer a “nice to have” but a business imperative driven by regulatory, investor, and consumer pressures. He explores how businesses can navigate political and regulatory crosswinds by embedding sustainability into their core strategies and leveraging technology to streamline compliance and drive meaningful change. Josh introduces the concept of “of course, sustainability” as a prag...
We’ve got Sarb Thandi, Novata’s Chief People Officer, joining us. Sarb delves into the strategic alignment of sustainability and people practices, emphasizing how Novata’s core values—integrity, longevity, togetherness, and agility—drive a culture of resilience. Sarb highlights the challenges and successes of creating a lasting sustainability ethos that empowers individuals to drive change both within and beyond the workplace.



