Chris Ito goes one on one with Noah Miller, Co-Founder of Rho Impact, to discuss the state of developing decarbonization technologies and Rho’s approach to measuring the impact of thousands of climate tech solutions across all stages of maturity. separating the “Leaders” from the “Laggards”, analyze early performance insights, and discuss the current state of clean energy technologies. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the evolving energy landscape.

Noah Miller – CAO & Founder, Rho Impact

Noah Miller is the Co-Founder and Chief Advisory Officer at Rho Impact, a North-American Based climate advisory and software company. He has been the Corporate Finance Institute's ESG subject matter expert since 2020. Noah has held a variety of roles in the ESG space, ranging from consulting practice leader to fractional director for multiple public and private companies to a board advisor.

• What really counts as a climate solution? Why many impactful technologies don’t look like “climate tech” at first glance.
• From carbon accounting to climate impact How avoided emissions (often called Scope 4) are changing the way investors evaluate decarbonization.
• Measuring what scales, not just what exists Using counterfactuals and lifecycle analysis to assess impact in a future where solutions reach real adoption.
• Connecting climate impact to commercial value How per-unit avoided emissions link sales, market growth, and investment performance.
• Why demand is rising despite political noise Global regulation, LP pressure, and market forces are pushing climate solutions forward.
• A new lens for investors and operators alike Moving beyond ESG compliance toward scalable, investable climate outcomes.

In this crossover episode of The Future of Finance and Beyond Carbon, hosts Georges Dyer and Chris Ito sit down with Lane Jost, Head of Sustainability & Governance Advisory at Edelman Smithfield, for a candid conversation about the evolving ESG and sustainable investing landscape. Lane traces the arc of ESG from its “1.0” early days to today’s politically charged environment, unpacking the dynamics of greenwashing, greenhushing, regulatory risk, and the often-confusing language that shapes public perception.

They examine what this moment means for endowments, asset managers, and campus stakeholders, and discuss Edelman Smithfield’s work with endowments on strategic communications strategies.

Ultimately, the episode balances realism about political headwinds with optimism about market innovation, improved governance, and the long-term trajectory toward resilience and value creation.

Lane Jost – Head of Sustainability & Governance Advisory at Edelman Smithfield

Lane Jost leads the Sustainability & Governance Advisory Practice at Edelman Smithfield, bringing 16 years of sustainability leadership across facilities management, financial services, and consulting. Previously, he served on PwC’s national Responsible Business Leadership team, contributing to the firm’s global net zero strategy. Lane has held senior ESG roles at Santander US and Sodexo USA, developing sustainability strategies and managing significant grant portfolios. He holds degrees from UC San Diego and Kenyon College.

• Green Hushing May Actually Be Beneficial - The pullback from aggressive ESG marketing forces organizations to focus on substance over rhetoric, emphasizing rigorous processes and how ESG factors genuinely drive value and risk management.
• ESG Terminology Will Evolve, But Core Principles Remain - While "ESG" may fade within 3-5 years, evaluating material environmental, social, and governance factors remains fundamental to investment decisions regardless of political climate or terminology changes.
• Communications Must Align With Portfolio Management Reality - Strategic communications should be conservative, transparent, and grounded in fiduciary stewardship. Avoid making unvalidated claims, particularly given emerging regulatory risks around greenwashing in multiple jurisdictions.
• Context Matters: One Size Doesn't Fit All - Appropriate approaches vary by institution. Small liberal arts colleges have more latitude for impact investing, while large state universities face greater scrutiny. Mission and stakeholder context determine strategy.
• Educational Institutions Have Unique Teaching Opportunities - Universities should engage students in real-world discussions about balancing financial constraints, stakeholder pressures, climate risks, and portfolio construction—providing invaluable practical experience beyond traditional classroom learning.

In this episode, hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer engage with Kathleen Simpson, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation (TRFF), and Brad Harrison of AlTi Tiedemann Global, TRFF's investment advisor, to explore the intersection of mission-driven investing, shareholder engagement, and the critical role of impact strategies in addressing global climate challenge. Recorded just days after the U.S. election, the episode offers timely insights into navigating uncertainty in the energy transition and scaling impactful investments.

Kathleen Simpson - Chief Executive Officer, The Russell Family Foundation

Brad Harrison - Co-Head of Impact Strategy, AlTi Tiedemann Global

Kathleen Simpson serves as CEO of The Russell Family Foundation, where she guides strategic planning, programs, and community affairs while overseeing the Foundation's impact investing. Under her leadership, first as CFO and now as CEO, the foundation has transformed its portfolio from 7% to nearly 95% impact-aligned investments. She champions TRFF’s Net Zero commitment and regional food systems initiatives while serving on numerous nonprofit boards. With extensive experience in finance and leadership, Kathleen has helped reimagine philanthropy through a decarbonization lens.

Brad Harrison co-leads AlTi's impact investing strategy globally and oversees the firm's Climate Sustainability strategy focused on accelerating the net zero transition. Working with clients to align capital with purpose, Brad’s holistic approach integrates financial innovation with environmental stewardship. He brings decades of experience in climate investing and collaboration with organizations like the Global Impact Investing Network.

• Decarbonization and Impact Journey: Learn how TRFF evolved from initial experiments with community bank investments to becoming a leader in mission-aligned investing with 94% of assets aligned with impact goals.
• Net Zero Framework: Discussion of TRFF's approach to achieving net zero, combining investments in decarbonization technologies with nature-based solutions for a holistic environmental impact.
• Transparency and Field-Building: Insights into TRFF's commitment to transparency and field-building through sharing their investment policies and strategies openly.
• Navigating Policy and Political Uncertainty: Reflecting on the 2024 election, the conversation addresses challenges to the Inflation Reduction Act and its implications for impact investors.
• Impact Measurement: Details about TRFF's participation in the IEN's Endowment Impact Benchmark initiative and achieving a platinum rating, demonstrating the value of third-party verification.
• Future Challenges: The duo share insights on addressing the “last mile” of decarbonization and maintaining a balance between net zero goals and meaningful impact.

Listen as Chris and Georges explore how foundations can lead the way in impact investing while maintaining strong returns and building a more sustainable future.