Interview with Kolja Leiser - Head of Foundations at the private bank Globalance

1. Mr. Leiser, could you briefly tell us about your career and how you came to be Head of Foundations at the private bank Globalance?

Two central strands of my professional development led me to Globalance:
On the one hand, I got to know charitable organizations from the inside and developed and implemented development cooperation projects - especially in Latin America - together with and for foundations. On the other hand, I worked for many years in the capital markets: in investor relations, as a management consultant for investor-driven sustainability ratings, and as a sustainability manager at a cantonal bank. Now I bring these worlds together and enable foundations to make a positive impact with their assets.

2. What distinguishes Globalance from traditional private banks or other asset managers?

Globalance is an owner-managed Swiss bank founded in 2011 - unique because it builds on the foundation of decades of pioneering work for sustainable investment. The founders of Globalance established SAM (Sustainable Asset Management) in 1995, the world's first asset manager for sustainable investments and co-developed the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, among other things.

Since our founding, we have focused our activities on wealthy private clients, families, family companies, foundations and charitable organizations. Globalance is an innovative "pure play" boutique with a focus on sustainable investments with a positive footprint. All assets under management are invested taking into account sustainability aspects relevant for the future. In addition, Globalance operates with a business model free of any legacy issues, conflicts of interest and short-term bonus incentives, which means maximum security, independence and transparency for our clients.

Last but not least: Globalance wants to move more than money. With our campaign "Save the planet. Be a better capitalist." we are committed to a modern, future-oriented and sustainable capitalism for the 21st century. The current challenges require a new way of doing business that takes into account not only economic profit, but also the preservation of our natural resources. This paradigm shift offers incredibly attractive investment opportunities. "Be a better capitalist" means taking responsibility, leaving behind outdated business models that harm our planet and instead investing capital in the opportunities offered by future-oriented technologies. A "better capitalist" invests in new, promising technologies such as renewable energies, electromobility, innovative materials such as nanotechnology, pioneering forms of nutrition, artificial intelligence or smart cities. These not only offer attractive potential returns, but also contribute to ecological balance and improving the quality of life on our planet.

3. Many foundations not only want to secure their capital, but also invest it in line with their charitable objectives. What instruments does Globalance offer specifically for foundations and nonprofits?

Globalance develops individual solutions for foundations that not only generate market- and risk-appropriate returns, but also impact. In asset management for foundations, the investment strategy is tailored to the foundation's purpose and specific objectives. Various mandate solutions are available, e.g. pure equity mandates or multi-asset class solutions in various currencies. However, fund solutions are also possible - especially for smaller assets - for example with a fund that also takes into account the particularly strict BVV 2 investment guidelines.

Foundations particularly appreciate our digital platform "Globalance World" (see below) and our unique, individual asset magazine, which contains annual reporting and background information on their own portfolio: In it, Globalance explains not only the financial development of the foundation's portfolio graphically and in comprehensible texts, but also the impact of the investments in all sustainability dimensions. Globalance is also the first Swiss bank to report the Swiss Climate Scores for all assets under management, aligned with the Paris climate goals, for maximum transparency in terms of climate impact.

4. Transparency plays a central role for foundations. With "Globalance World", you have created a visualization tool. How can foundations use it in practice?

Globalance World is a kind of "Google Earth for investors". All dimensions of the sustainability and impact of a financial investment are visualized here. Foundations can see in real time how their portfolio affects the climate, society and global megatrends. On the three-dimensional world map, they can see in which countries and continents the real economy is affected by their investments and, for example, which global warming path is associated with them. A foundation with the purpose of "environmental protection" can see here to what extent its own investments are conducive to the foundation's purpose.

At the foundation's request, Globalance also offers an individual future check. We analyze existing portfolios for their future viability, create transparency and make individual recommendations for specific improvements.

5. To what extent can smaller foundations with limited resources benefit from your approach - or are you primarily aimed at larger assets?

Experience has shown that Globalance is a very good fit for smaller and medium-sized grant-making foundations with assets of CHF 0.5 million or more. In such foundations, asset management is often not yet covered by a highly specialized team within the foundation itself. Globalance can also provide cost-efficient support here with investment know-how and at the same time respond to individual needs. In particular, we also relieve the administrative offices of smaller foundations of the burden of communicating the results of their investment activities to the foundation board and other stakeholders.

6. What requirements must be met for people to contact you if they want to set up a foundation next year?

Globalance, in collaboration with partners, offers support from the moment the founding idea is conceived. This means that there are hardly any formal requirements. If you have a small starting capital for a foundation, you can also consider realizing your project within an umbrella foundation.

7. Globalance is a comparatively young bank. How has your approach developed since it was founded and what lessons have you learned?

Since our foundation, we have continued to pursue the goal of using money as a positive force for the economy, society and the environment. Initially, the focus was on proving that returns and responsibility are compatible. Today, we focus more on transparency - for example with the Globalance Footprint - and we think even more in global contexts and long-term effects from climate risks to technological upheavals and social megatrends. The most important lesson: future-oriented investing is not a trend, but a permanent change that requires innovative strength, adaptability and consistent action.

8. You rely heavily on technological tools and data visualization. What role will technology play in asset management in the future?

We want to inspire our clients and provide them with full transparency by giving them access to knowledge with the help of technology. As responsible owners of capital, this provides them with comprehensive information and transparency as a basis for making informed decisions.

We also recognize that our clients want to navigate the world of information themselves. Similar to what they are used to from platforms such as TripAdvisor or Google. We therefore integrate all aspects of the financial investment - not just the monetary ones. The social and ecological impact is also highlighted and made tangible.

9. In conclusion: Looking ahead to the next ten years, which social or environmental issues do you think will shape foundations' investment strategies the most?

The profitability and preservation of foundation assets (around CHF 140 billion in Switzerland as a whole) depends to a large extent on the performance of exchange-traded securities - mostly corporate stocks. In the disruptive change we are currently experiencing in the economy and in our society, there will be winners and losers. Those companies that solve the problems of the future will gain in value. Foundations can help steer capital flows in the direction of these problem solvers today.

In the spirit of the aforementioned campaign "Save the planet. Be a better capitalist." , we are firmly convinced that foundations will increasingly fulfill their dual role. They invest capital and thus make an important contribution to innovation and a sustainable economy. At the same time, they will consciously manage the risks in their investment portfolios, for example the declining importance of the fossil fuel economy compared to regenerative business models.

Everything you need to know about the Globalance offer for foundations: globalance.com/foundations

Contact us now