Esther Pan Sloane, managing director of Eyre Street Capital, joined host Jeff Gitterman on FintechTV’s TheImpact to discuss her unconventional path from diplomacy at the United Nations to sustainable investing in the private finance sector. The conversation explored the realities of impact investing, the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and how climate change and technological growth are reshaping modern finance.
Pan Sloane’s career began in international relations and development, where she served as a U.S. diplomat and played a role in negotiating the SDGs, which were established in 2015 to promote global prosperity and peace. While the goals are ambitious and well intentioned, she explained that the real challenge lies in mobilizing enough capital to turn them into reality, particularly in underserved regions. That realization ultimately drove her shift from public service into private markets, where she believed capital allocation could be more directly influenced to generate measurable outcomes.
At Eyre Street Capital, Pan Sloane focuses on the growing importance of private capital in solving global challenges. She emphasized that the private sector has become essential to financing sustainable solutions at scale. The firm concentrates on opportunistic private credit investments that deliver environmental benefits, evaluating each deal based on its real-world impact, whether through renewable energy development, waste recycling, or efficiency improvements. According to Pan Sloane, sustainability and profitability are not competing goals but complementary ones.
The discussion also addressed how attitudes toward sustainable investing have evolved over the past decade. Pan Sloane noted that while governments and large institutions once carried most of the responsibility for achieving the SDGs, private finance is now widely recognized as a necessary driver of progress. Without meaningful participation from private investors, she warned, many sustainability targets will remain out of reach.
Artificial intelligence and its rapidly growing energy demands were another key topic. Pan Sloane highlighted the strain AI-driven data centers are placing on power grids and the need for innovative energy solutions to keep pace. She pointed to opportunities for utilities to expand renewable energy capacity and modernize infrastructure, reinforcing the idea that technological advancement must be matched by parallel progress in energy systems.
When discussing emerging energy technologies, Pan Sloane expressed interest in geothermal power and acknowledged the long-term potential of nuclear energy, while also recognizing the extended timelines required for nuclear projects to reach viability. Her investment philosophy prioritizes solutions that can be deployed in the near term rather than those that may take decades to materialize. Eyre Street Capital, she said, is focused on directing capital toward sectors that offer both financial returns and tangible sustainability benefits.
Internationally, Pan Sloane noted that Eyre Street Capital is closely monitoring opportunities beyond the United States, particularly in Europe. Regulatory frameworks around renewable energy are evolving quickly, driven in part by geopolitical pressures such as the war in Ukraine. These developments, she said, underscore the urgency of building resilient and secure energy systems capable of withstanding global disruptions.
A consistent theme throughout the conversation was optimism about the future of sustainable investing, paired with a sense of urgency. Pan Sloane stressed that businesses focused on renewable energy and sustainability are not only viable but increasingly essential as global demand accelerates. Collective action and timely execution, she argued, will determine whether sustainability goals can be met.
As climate resilience and technological innovation continue to converge, the role of finance will only grow more influential. Eyre Street Capital’s model, which aligns sustainability with profitability, illustrates how responsible finance can drive meaningful change while delivering competitive returns. Pan Sloane’s perspective reflects a broader shift within the industry, where impact investing is no longer a niche concept but a critical component of the global financial system.
In closing, Pan Sloane’s insights point to a financial landscape in transition. Impact investing tied to sustainability is emerging as both a powerful investment opportunity and a key mechanism for advancing the SDGs. With leaders like Pan Sloane pushing practical, scalable solutions, the partnership between private capital and sustainable development is positioned for continued growth in the years ahead.