Inspired by Marisa Drew: Finance for Sustainability

Fireside Chat with Marisa Drew and Prof. Dr. Stephan Stubner

On 15 April 2021, HHL welcomed Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer & Global Head of Sustainability Strategy, Advisory & Finance at Credit Suisse, to a most insightful fireside chat with HHL’s Dean, Prof. Dr. Stephan Stubner, exclusively open to the HHL community. The talk was organized as part of the cooperation between HHL and the Credit Suisse.

Full conversation now on Youtube

Marisa Drew – an industry trailblazer

Since 2020 Marisa Drew is the Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Head of Sustainability Strategy, Advisory and Finance at Credit Suisse. Considered an industry trailblazer, Marisa is one of the few women to have run an investment bank – for a global bank.

Advocate for sustainable finance

As a passionate advocate for sustainable finance, Marisa is driven to help mobilize capital for positive change and believes cross-sector collaboration is key to tackling systemic challenges. She has been recognized by the BBC as one of the Most Powerful Women in Britain and by Fortune Magazine as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in International Business.

Head of Sustainability Strategy, Advisory and Finance at Credit Suisse

In addition to her work at Credit Suisse, Marisa is on the advisory boards of the charities “Room-to-Read” and the “Lessons for Life Foundation”.

During their talk Marisa and Stephan highlighted and discussed the following aspects:

• What are the different strategies in sustainable investing?
• What is the “Double Delta of Impact Investing”? and how do investors create impact?
• How do you measure impact on investors’ level?
• Where is sustainable investing heading and what are the next super trends?

Be part of a sustainable movement

Marisa closed the inspirational fireside chat by giving three powerful pieces of advice to the HHL community:

_ “There are just so many opportunities to create a great career for yourself and to be part of the [sustainable] movement.”

_ “Sometimes these big world problems seem like – how could you possibly have an impact – you as an individual. [But] just remind yourself […] that a third of the answer to global net zero is our own behavior, the things that you do day today. The choices that you make as a consumer, what packaging you use, […] what questions you ask.”

_“So, try to become as informed as you can be, don’t be susceptible to the soundbites that lead you to jump on a wave without being informed. But if you are informed, then take action. Be your own activist because you can drive those outcomes even if you don’t have a single dollar or Euro or ‘Swissy’ of capital. Your behavior can create enormous impact.”