In this episode of Turbo Impact, Lee Qian, CFA, Portfolio Manager of the Positive Change Strategy at Baillie Gifford, joins host Kenny Chen to explore how public market investing can help move capitalism toward more purposeful, long-term value creation. Drawing on his experience helping build the Positive Change Strategy into a global impact investing platform, Lee explains how Baillie Gifford identifies companies that can solve material social and environmental challenges while generating attractive financial returns over time.
At the heart of the conversation is a more pragmatic view of sustainability: not as a separate agenda, but as a source of innovation, competitive advantage, and durable growth. Lee discusses the idea behind his upcoming book, Purposeful Capitalism, including why businesses should focus on “profitable problem solving” and how the Sustainability Flywheel can help leaders connect purpose, strategy, business model strength, and financial performance. The discussion offers a timely perspective on how investors and companies can move beyond polarized debates and focus on where impact and economics genuinely reinforce each other.
Key Topics Covered
- How Baillie Gifford’s Positive Change Strategy defines long-term impact investing
- Why product-led impact can create both societal value and financial value
- What long-term institutional investors look for in companies preparing for public markets
- What “profitable problem solving” means for business leaders and investors
- How the Sustainability Flywheel links purpose, strategy, and long-term competitive advantage
Who Should Listen:
Private capital managers, institutional allocators, and corporate leaders
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Produced by: Turbo Net Zero