In this episode of Sustainability Talks, our Managing Partner Rob Genieser sits down with Hitoshi Yoshida, ETF Partners’ newly appointed Venture Partner and a titan of the Japanese technology sector.

Hitoshi brings a unique perspective to the sustainability landscape. With a career spanning 25 years in senior leadership roles, including serving as the President and CEO of Microsoft Japan and Managing Director of Hewlett Packard Japan, he views sustainability not through a traditional ‘green’ lens, but as a critical mission powered by digital transformation.

In this conversation, Rob and Hitoshi explore:

The Urgency of Transformation: Why Japan is in need of a ‘deep transformation’ to avoid becoming a ‘Galapagos’ of the tech world.

Technology as a Force for Good: How data integrity, AI, and cybersecurity are the essential foundations for corporate sustainability.

Navigating the Japanese Market: Crucial advice for European start-ups looking to sell into complex Japanese corporate and government environments.

Mission-Driven Leadership: Hitoshi’s personal journey from being a ‘nuts’ entrepreneur in the 90s to leading global giants, and why aligning a career with values is the ultimate motivator.

Whether you are a founder looking to scale into Asia or a corporate leader navigating the shift to net zero, Hitoshi’s insights on prioritisation and relationship-building are essential listening. Listen now to discover how experienced operators are bridging the gap between pioneering technology and mainstream adoption.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Sustainability Talks

02:25 Hitoshi's Journey in Technology Leadership

03:43 The Importance of Sustainable Transformation

05:24 Supporting Entrepreneurs in Sustainability

06:54 Japan's Readiness for Innovation

08:03 The Role of Technology in Japan's Future

10:16 Building Ecosystems for Startups

12:06 Execution Gaps in Japanese Organisations

14:30 Collaboration Between Startups and Corporations

17:07 Advice for Startups on Market Strategy

21:05 Challenges Faced by Entrepreneurs

23:22 Defining Success as an Entrepreneur

26:05 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship

29:01 Advice for Today's Entrepreneurs

31:50 Final Thoughts on Making an Impact in Japan

About The Guest: Hitoshi Yoshida

Hitoshi Yoshida, is ETF partner’s newest venture partner and a seasoned technology leader, with 25 years in top management roles at global IT companies, including serving as the president and CEO of Microsoft Japan and the managing director of Hewlett Packard Japan. In those roles, Hitoshi has led large-scale digital transformation for public and private sector customers, helping them leverage cloud, data, AI, and cybersecurity to drive growth and resilience.

Hitoshi was also an entrepreneur early on in his career, having helped create Cambridge Technology Partners, where he rose to be its president of Japan. Now CEO of ixi Corporation, Hitoshi brings a rare combination of deep enterprise technology experience, ecosystem building, and strategic advisory work to the sustainability and impact investment landscape. Rather than coming from a traditional green background, he approaches sustainability through how technology can be a force for good.

Follow Hitoshi Yoshida HERE

Follow Rob Genieser HERE

Find out more about ETF Partners HERE

In this episode of Sustainability Talks, host and Managing Partner of ETF Partners Patrick Sheehan welcomes back a very special guest, Lord John Browne, Co-Founder and Chairman of BeyondNetZero, Senior adviser to General Atlantic and former CEO of BP. When we launched the Sustainability Talks podcast in 2021, Lord Browne was our very first guest. At that time the world looked very different, with President Trump’s term ending, the US pulling out of Iraq and before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Now, Patrick and Lord Browne reunite to dissect the seismic shifts in geopolitics, climate and energy—offering a candid masterclass on how to lead, innovate, and find opportunity in a profoundly unpredictable environment.

Tune in for a powerful, pragmatic and ultimately optimistic discussion on how to navigate the complex trade-offs facing business and politics today and secure a sustainable future.

Chapters:

00:00 The Evolution of Energy Perspectives

08:59 Navigating Uncertainty in Energy Markets

15:57 The Role of Technology in Energy Transition

21:52 Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Energy

28:48 Cultivating Courage and Leadership in Business

About The Guest: Lord John Browne

Lord Browne is the co-Founder and Chairman of BeyondNetZero, General Atlantic’s climate growth equity fund. The fund’s strategy is to invest in companies that contribute to the energy transition by reducing end-to-end costs; improving operational efficiency; reducing strategic risks and improving resilience; and enabling the development of new energy sources.

He currently serves as Chairman of Avathon, an artificial intelligence technology company, and Chairman of Carbonplace, a global carbon credit transaction network. He also serves on the board of Venterra, an offshore wind energy services company which is part of BeyondNetZero’s investment portfolio.

After retiring from BP in 2007, Lord Browne joined Riverstone, where he was co-head of a $3.4 billion renewable energy private equity fund, the world’s largest at the time. He was subsequently Executive Chairman of L1 Energy.

He has previously served on the boards of Goldman Sachs, Intel, SmithKline Beecham, and DaimlerChrysler.

From 2010 to 2015 he served as the UK Government first lead Non-Executive Director, working with Secretaries of State to appoint Non-Executive Directors to the board of each government department. In 2010, the report of an independent inquiry headed by Lord Browne was published under the title Securing a Sustainable Future for Higher Education, making recommendations for a more sustainable system of higher education funding.

Find out more about Lord John Browne HERE

Find out more about BeyondNetZero HERE

Follow Lord John Browne HERE

Follow Patrick Sheehan HERE

Find out more about ETF Partners at: etfpartners.capital

In this episode of Sustainability Talks, Rob Genieser, Managing Partner at ETF Partners, sits down with Sir Danny Alexander, CEO of Infrastructure Finance and Sustainability at HSBC. They explore the massive trends currently reshaping global infrastructure—from the energy security needs of developed markets to the rapid electrification of emerging economies.

The conversation dives into the bank’s role in supporting “first-of-a-kind” projects, the critical need for blended finance in Southeast Asia, and why 95% of HSBC’s clients now view sustainability as a fundamental growth opportunity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The Infrastructure “Golden Age”: How energy security, digital transformation, and climate resilience are driving unprecedented demand for new assets.

AI as an Energy Transition Catalyst: Why the massive power demand of data centres is actually accelerating the deployment of firm, clean power and grid innovation.

Bridging the Bankability Gap: The specific criteria required to move sustainability from venture-backed innovation to large-scale project finance.

Blended Finance & Partnerships: A look at Pentagreen Capital and how public and private capital work together to de-risk sustainable projects in Asia.

Case Study—Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): How HSBC supported the Infinium Roadrunner project in Texas to scale e-SAF production.

The Necessity of Adaptation: Why we need to move beyond mitigation to develop financing models for resilience and nature-based solutions.

About the Guest:

Sir Danny Alexander is CEO of HSBC Infrastructure Finance and Sustainability, CIB. In this role, Danny leads on infrastructure finance and project finance advisory opportunities associated with the transition to net zero in our strategic markets. Danny also leads on sustainable finance and clean tech initiatives and oversees partnerships such as Pentagreen Capital, our joint venture with Temasek that targets marginally bankable clean energy and adaptation projects in Southeast Asia.

Previously Sir Danny was Vice President, Policy and Strategy, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He joined the AIIB – the first new multilateral development bank of the 21st century and the first to be headquartered in Beijing - at its inception in 2016 and led the Bank through its start-up and growth phases. Sir Danny was responsible for AIIB’s strategic direction, including its thematic sectoral and country priorities. He led the Bank’s ambitious climate agenda and oversaw AIIB’s environmental and social and other operational policies. He represented AIIB at the G20 Finance Ministers meetings, climate COPs, and other international meetings. He led the Bank’s partnership with the World Bank and other multilateral, bilateral, and private sector partners.

From 2010-2015, Sir Danny was Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the United Kingdom Cabinet. He led the Liberal Democrat negotiating team that established the Coalition that governed in that period and was one of the four member ‘Quad’ that provided the core political leadership of that government. In government, he was responsible for the UK’s deficit reduction, pension reform, and national infrastructure plan. He was a member of the National Security Council. He was MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey from 2005 to 2015. He was Knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 2015 for his services to government.

He holds a BA in philosophy, politics and economics from the University of Oxford and is an honorary fellow of St Anne’s College, Oxford. He was born and brought up in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Follow Sir Danny Alexander on LinkedIn HERE

Follow Rob Genieser on LinkedIn HERE

Find out more about ETF Partners at etfpartners.capital