Navigating the frontiers of ESG and gender data – with Christine Cappabianca

Produced in partnership with Impax Asset Management.

In this InvestmentNews interview, we sat down with Christine Cappabianca of Impax Asset Management. Cappabianca was recently recognized as the winner of the Portfolio Manager of the Year Award at the Women to Watch Summit and Awards. Cappabianca delves into the challenges and opportunities associated with ESG, especially in the realm of gender data.  

Cappabianca began her career as a quantitative analyst during the nascent stages of ESG data availability. She describes this field as the "Wild West" of quantitative analysis, filled with potential for discovery but also marked by volatility and coverage issues. Her analysis revealed that companies actively promoting gender equity and diverse talent have show distinct performance advantages in their field. 

One significant challenge she highlights is ensuring the accuracy and relevance of gender diversity and equity data in company analyses. When asked about these challenges, Cappabianca noted, "This is a really short time period ... the ESG, the gender data is all very nascent. I sometimes refer to this as more of a Wild West or the frontier of quantitative analysis." 

To learn more about Christine Cappabianca and Impax Asset Management, click here to watch the full interview.