In this episode, we sit down with Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance and Academic Director of the Centre for Corporate Governance at London Business School. Alex specialises in the integration of classical financial theory and ESG, from worker pay and diversity to climate and sustainability.
His book Grow the Pie: how great companies deliver both purpose and profit won the Financial Times award for Excellence in Sustainable Finance Education, and his TED talk ‘What to trust in a post-truth world,’ has been viewed over 2 million times.
In this episode, we discuss:
Who we should listen to on climate?
Economics vs gut feel in ESG
Growing the pie (and taking climate seriously)
The end of ESG?
Embracing subjectivity
Stakeholders, shareholders, and getting Friedman right
Is pricing in ESG impossible?
Finding your potential
'… as we said throughout the theme of this talk, if you do something which is good for society, hopefully you will trust that the profits will follow. And I say the same thing is true for career. If you do things because you enjoy it and you think it's having a positive impact, ultimately it would lead to financial success and security later on.'
'So before coming up with a time management plan, think about what the objective of your life or career is. It's like knowing how to get to a destination. We need to know where to go to first. And so I define my personal mission statement as to use rigorous research to influence the practice of business.'
'…really important topics like climate change that does attract a lot of people and with very good intentions… People do want to contribute to it, but sometimes you might be contributing without some research behind it. And so this might lead to shooting from the hip rather than saying what is based on evidence.'
Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables in association with the London Business School Energy Alumni Club.
It brings together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.
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We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 2 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES in association with LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL, ALUMNI ENERGY CLUB.
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REFERENCES:
https://alexedmans.com/
https://www.london.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/e/edmans-a
twitter - @aedmans
