E33 - Eliza Foo, Director of Impact Investing at Temasek (Singapore)

What if some of the biggest opportunities to create impact alongside financial returns are in the markets investors still hesitate to enter? In this first episode of Season 3 on Women Changing Finance, Eliza Foo, Director of Impact Investing at Temasek, one of the largest investors in Asia, explains how Temasek invests for impact: looking for market-rate financial returns while holding a high bar for measurable impact, and investing in businesses where commercial success directly drives better outcomes for people and planet. We explore what Eliza is seeing across emerging markets: from India’s deep entrepreneurial ecosystem and digital infrastructure to growing momentum in financial inclusion and climate solutions across Southeast Asia. Technology is helping make essential products and services more affordable, while a new generation of Asian investors and family offices is increasingly looking at how purpose can sit alongside investment. Temasek has understood that capital alone isn’t enough. Eliza shares how collaboration and market building are inherent to her job, working with fellow investors and ecosystem partners, sharing knowledge and building capabilities within the sector. The opportunities are real, the risks need to be understood, and we know much more today about what works. It’s time to put that knowledge, and more capital into action. Please review the episode, share your feedback, and subscribe to the podcast! You can also Visit our website: womenchangingfinance.org Read Eliza’s full bio Follow Eliza on LinkedIn To go further, here are some of the references mentioned during the episode: Temasek — https://www.temasek.com.sg/ Temasek Trust — https://www.temasektrust.org.sg/ Solugen — https://solugen.com/ Ola Electric — https://www.olaelectric.com/ Unified Payments Interface (UPI) – NPCI — https://www.npci.org.in/ GIIN Impact Lab — https://thegiin.org/impact-lab/ Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) — https://ciip.com.sg/ Ecosperity Week — https://www.ecosperity.sg/ Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) – FAST-P — https://www.fast-partnership.com/ Out of Poverty – Paul Polak — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/575944/out-of-poverty-by-paul-polak/9781605092768 A Different Kind of Power – Jacinda Ardern — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744301/a-different-kind-of-power-by-jacinda-ardern/ Women Changing Finance is part of the Impact Alpha Podcast Network.