Stephanie Kelly: Sustainable Investment Practices for Ours and the Planet’s Futures

Ladderworks is a publishing platform of diverse picture books and an online curriculum with the mission to empower over a million kids to become social entrepreneurs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders, and Changemakers who are advancing the UN SDGs. 

Spiffy here with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Stephanie Kelly, the head of Greenwheel, Redwheel’s sustainability ecosystem. Let’s learn about what’s happening there and how Stephanie is making a positive impact in the world.

Spiffy: Welcome to the blog, Stephanie! What challenge are you addressing through Greenwheel?

Stephanie: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! Greenwheel is a research team focused on how to invest sustainably for the future. We look at environmental and social challenges and opportunities across the world and work with our investment teams to invest in these things. This includes technologies to fight climate change, how companies should think about human rights in their businesses, and a whole lot more sustainability-related investment ideas.

Spiffy: What motivates you to do it?

Stephanie: I kind of fell into investments after studying economics and politics at university—some of the best things in life are not planned! I've stayed in investments and particularly in sustainable investing because I really believe that it is a huge opportunity to help people have strong pensions when they retire and to ensure the world they retire into is one that is not destroyed by climate change. I feel really passionate about creating a better future and that will require determination and investment. 

Spiffy: That’s so inspiring! What would you say is the impact of your work?

Stephanie: My work helps our clients directly by educating our investors on sustainability issues that can affect clients' pensions and savings in the future. I also hope my work affects the wider world by working with my amazing team to identify climate change solutions, better human rights practices, solutions for biodiversity, and ways to sustainably develop poorer countries and communities.

Spiffy: Tell me about a recent milestone/initiative by Greenwheel. What impact does that make on your community?

Stephanie: We recently launched four sustainable investment strategies that I am so excited about! These are focused on investing in a clean economy, in biodiversity, in life-changing healthcare for patients, and in sustainable development in emerging markets.. We put a lot of thought and hard work into building these investment funds and I am so proud of that.

Spiffy: Congratulations! Is there anything else you would love to tell our audience?

Stephanie: People sometimes think working in finance is all about money and power, but my experience has been that sustainable investing is mostly filled with people passionate about making the world a better place.

Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Stephanie—it’s been an honor!

Stephanie Kelly joined Redwheel in 2022. As head of Greenwheel, she leads the sustainability ecosystem that powers Redwheel’s Enhanced Integration, Transition, and Sustainable funds. She began her career within the investment industry in 2014, and prior to joining Redwheel, Stephanie was the Deputy Head of the abrdn Research Institute, where she led on macro ESG and political risk research. She holds a BA (Hons) in Economics and Politics and an MSc in International Relations from Trinity College Dublin. (Nominated by Archana Shah. First published on the Ladderworks website on March 7, 2024.)

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.