CFA UK

In the latest episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Anita Brown speaks with David Carlin, founder of D.A. Carlin and Company, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable finance and the opportunities and risks it presents for the financial sector.

David outlines the environmental costs of advanced AI, from data centre energy use to model training, and focuses on the importance of establishing ethical AI governance focused on transparency and accountability. They also discuss tracking emissions and evaluating net-zero strategies using AI, all while avoiding automated groupthink and prioritising human judgement when making complex decisions.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on innovation, responsibility, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of finance.

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance podcast, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA speak with John Reade, Senior Market Strategist at the World Gold Council. John shares his 40-year career journey from mining engineer to market strategist, and explains the evolving landscape of gold markets for investors.

Explore:
Gold’s value as a portfolio diversifier
The impact of gold-backed ETFs on investor access
Central bank reserve strategies and demand for gold
Physical storage considerations and market dynamics
Comparisons between gold and Bitcoin

Tune in for an insightful conversation on gold markets, investment strategy, and the evolving role of gold in your investment portfolio.

In this episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Olly King sits down with Jegor Tokarevich, CEO of Substance Over Form (SOF), to explore the evolving landscape of sustainable finance regulatory reporting in private markets.

Jegor shares insights into the growing complexity of ESG compliance across frameworks such as SFDR, the EU Taxonomy, and CSRD, and discusses how these regulations are reshaping expectations for both General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs).

The episode also explores:

Jegor’s perspective on the key ESG reporting challenges facing private equity and private debt managers
The impact of fragmented data and lack of standardisation in private markets
How SOF supports GPs, LPs, and portfolio companies with ESG data collection and validation
The importance of early alignment between LPs and GPs on ESG
Advice on staying agile amid rapidly evolving regulatory requirements

Tune in for an insightful conversation on ESG regulation, data challenges, and how collaboration and technology are shaping the future of sustainable investing in private markets.

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA sit down with Karen Rudich, Canadian fintech entrepreneur and founder of sherloc.

Karen explores her journey from investment banking to building an AI-driven startup focused on helping small businesses manage financial volatility. You'll hear how she navigates fundraising and builds resilient, purpose-driven teams in a fast-moving fintech landscape.

The episode also explores:
Karen’s transition from banking into entrepreneurship
The role of AI and predictive analytics in supporting SMEs
The importance of value-aligned partnerships in scaling a business
Lessons learned from fundraising and leadership challenges
Practical advice for aspiring fintech founders

Tune in for an insightful conversation on innovation, resilience, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of finance.

In this episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Dr Nic Pillow sits down with Omid Pakseresht, CEO of Goodfolio, to explore how venture studios are changing the way startups are built.

Omid discusses Goodfolio's practical AI integration for efficiency and scalable solutions in fintech and healthtech, including ethical considerations. Not only that, he argues why venture studios are a strong partner to traditional VC, reducing risk and accelerating market entry with a robust support system for entrepreneurs and investors.

The episode also explores:
How the venture studio model works in practice
Identifying ideas, building founding teams, and supporting growth
Embedding ethical and ESG principles into early-stage investment
Supporting diverse and underrepresented founders
Using artificial intelligence to drive innovation responsibly

Tune in to discover how venture studios are changing the game for startup creation, focusing on ethical and impact-driven entrepreneurship.