Mark Fawcett, Chief Executive Officer of Nest Invest, explores how the UK’s pension system has been transformed to serve a broader and more economically diverse workforce. Nest is the largest multi-employer pension fund in the UK, and it handles the retirement savings for nearly one-third of the UK working population. Nest Invest is the asset manager of Nest. Fawcett offers a compelling narrative about scale, access, and purpose-driven financial management.

Nest’s core mission revolves around building financial resilience for all—an ambitious approach to investing that transcends the narrow goals of simple wealth accumulation. Fawcett discusses the profound impact of automatic enrollment, which dramatically expanded pension participation from just 10–15% of the UK workforce prior to its introduction to over 80% today. This shift has redefined the retirement outlook for millions, particularly low- to moderate-income earners, many of whom face significant income volatility and limited financial literacy.

Fawcett emphasizes the behavioral finance insights that underpin Nest’s strategy. By minimizing the cognitive burden of financial decision-making, Nest has made pension saving feel less like an anxiety-laden obligation and more like a manageable, automated part of life. A large majority of members remain in these default options, insulated from daily market turbulence, thanks to highly diversified investments across public and private markets.

Importantly, Fawcett also touches on the risks of both under-saving and over-saving. While many need encouragement to set aside more for the future, especially in the absence of emergency savings, others—particularly those closer to the poverty line—might unintentionally sacrifice present well-being for an uncertain future. Through sidecar savings initiatives and employer collaborations, Nest is investigating ways to improve short-term financial stability without undermining long-term retirement planning.

A significant part of the conversation also centers on Nest’s role in sustainable investing. The organization has embedded ESG principles directly into its default investment strategies—not as niche options, but as a core part of its offering. From renewable energy and infrastructure to affordable housing and UK enterprise investment, Nest Invest is demonstrating that doing well financially need not come at the cost of doing good. The returns, as Fawcett notes, have been competitive, underscoring the false dichotomy between performance and purpose.

This episode offers not only a powerful vision of inclusive finance but also actionable insights for policymakers, investors, and employers seeking to build systems that foster dignity, stability, and opportunity for all.

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Helen Mountford, President and CEO of the ClimateWorks Foundation, provides a clear and structured overview of the current state of climate philanthropy and its role in supporting decarbonization, resilience, and systemic climate solutions. ClimateWorks, founded in 2008, was established to improve coordination among climate funders and to identify high-impact interventions that can be supported at scale. Since its inception, the organization has granted over $2 billion to partners in more than 50 countries.

Mountford explains how philanthropic funding is well-positioned to play a catalytic role in advancing climate solutions, despite its relatively small scale compared to public and private capital. Philanthropy’s comparative advantage lies in its ability to take calculated risks, support early-stage innovation, and invest in enabling conditions—such as policy research, technical capacity, and coalition building—that other sectors may overlook. She gives examples ranging from industrial decarbonization (such as the development of LC3 cement) to the role of philanthropic incentives in accelerating energy-efficient air conditioning technologies.

The discussion explores how the cost of renewable energy has now undercut that of fossil fuels in many regions, even when paired with battery storage. This shift has made the economic case for clean energy more compelling, though political and regulatory obstacles remain. Mountford notes that while some jurisdictions are experiencing pushback—through efforts to weaken ESG standards or reduce transparency—broader market and investment trends still favor climate-aligned strategies.

A recurring theme in the conversation is the growing convergence between climate and other sectors, such as public health, agriculture, and education. Many foundations that did not historically identify as climate funders are now incorporating climate dimensions into their work. Conversely, climate-focused funders increasingly recognize the importance of aligning with local development goals. Mountford points to the rise of collaborative initiatives aimed at climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in areas that overlap with development priorities.

On strategy, she emphasizes the importance of data and coordination. ClimateWorks helps funders co-develop shared approaches based on emissions profiles, political context, and evidence of what is feasible. This includes identifying areas where philanthropic investment can help unlock larger flows of capital or policy change. A systematic, portfolio-level approach helps reduce duplication and increases the likelihood of durable outcomes.

Mountford also discusses the challenges of data collection in the philanthropic sector, particularly with respect to individual giving and the measurement of adaptation-related investments. ClimateWorks continues to invest in improving data transparency and encourages others to do the same, as shared information strengthens the entire ecosystem.

The episode concludes with a reflection on the role of accurate, credible information in sustaining climate progress. Mountford cautions against the influence of misinformation, which can lead to apathy or misdirected skepticism, and reiterates that while challenges persist, there is substantial forward movement that deserves attention.

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Fabio Segura, Co-CEO of the Jacobs Foundation, offers a deep dive into the foundation’s bold and evidence-driven approach to improving learning outcomes in low- and high-resource environments alike. At the heart of the discussion is a new $120 million co-funding initiative in Ghana—an ambitious, multi-stakeholder collaboration bringing together the country’s Ministry of Education, the World Bank, the Global Partnership for Education, and an expanding consortium of private sector actors.

What emerges is a compelling framework for what true impact entails. Success is no longer measured solely by the number of schools built or children enrolled, but by the cultivation of resilient education systems that are capable of continuous learning, self-correction, and scale. This means embedding a “culture of rigor” while retaining the humility to revise assumptions as conditions change.

Segura is candid about the complexities of building trust across sectors—philanthropy, government, business, and academia—each of which brings different priorities and expectations to the table. He highlights the importance of clearly defined success metrics, transparent governance structures, and a willingness among partners to surrender individual control for the sake of shared objectives. Notably, he underscores how corporate partners are being asked to expand their lens beyond traditional CSR and consider educational reform as a long-term investment in system-wide human capital development.

Ultimately, Segura offers a persuasive argument for rethinking philanthropic and developmental practice. In a world where challenges outpace resources, the path forward is not to pursue impact in silos, but to build shared, data-informed architectures for change—anchored in realism, yet animated by the conviction that systems can evolve.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 300 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.