In this episode of Women Changing Finance, Susana Garcia-Robles, Managing Partner at Capria Ventures, speaks about what it really takes to build financial ecosystems in emerging markets. usana began investing in venture capital in Latin America in the late 1990s, long before “impact” was trendy. She shares the hard lessons why early “green funds” failed, and why sustainable impact must include strong financial returns. Susana reflects on backing 90 venture funds, supporting unicorn founders, and creating WeExchange and WeInvest to amplify women entrepreneurs and investors across Latin America. We talk about: how development banks helped shape Latin America’s startup landscape, why local investors must believe in their own ecosystems, and how AI is transforming health, agriculture, and fintech in emerging markets. This episode is about staying through the ups and downs. Because good investors, and good changemakers, don’t trade trends. They build for the long term.

Please review the episode, share your feedback, and subscribe to the podcast!

You can also:

 * Visit our website: womenchangingfinance.org [https://womenchangingfinance.org/]
 * Read Susana's full bio [https://capria.vc/team/leadership/susana-garcia-robles/]
 * Follow Susana on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/susana-garcia-robles-3767297/]

To go further, here are some of the references mentioned during the episode:

 * Capria Ventures — https://capria.vc [https://capria.vc/]
 * Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) — https://www.iadb.org [https://www.iadb.org/]
 * IDB Lab — https://bidlab.org [https://bidlab.org/]
 * LAVCA (Association for Private Capital Investment in Latin America) — https://lavca.org [https://lavca.org/]
 * Apprende Institute — https://aprendeinstitute.com
 * Pomona Impact — https://pomonaimpact.com [https://pomonaimpact.com/]
 * Salkantay Ventures — https://salkantay.vc [https://salkantay.vc/]
 * NXTP Ventures — https://nxtp.vc [https://nxtp.vc/]
 * WeExchange — https://wexchange.co/en/
 * Emprendedora LAC — https://emprendedoralac.org
 * WeInvest weinvestlatam.org/
 * Elevar Equity https://elevarequity.com/
 * 5 C Network https://www.5cnetwork.com/
 * Agrofy — https://agrofy.com [https://agrofy.com/]
 * Cariaco - https://caricaco.com/
 * Global Ventures - https://www.global.vc/
 * Coming of Age by Noor Sweid - https://www.comingofage.me/
 * The Power Law by Sebastian Mallaby — https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/309693/the-power-law-by-mallaby-sebastian/9780141988948
 * The Four Cardinal Virtues by Josef Pieper https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268089894/the-four-cardinal-virtues/

Women Changing Finance is part of the Impact Alpha Podcast Network [https://impactalpha.com/podcasts/].

E23 - Susana Garcia Robles, Managing Partner at Capria Ventures

In this episode of the Body Evolution Podcast, we break down how health actually works in the body — not as isolated habits, but as a connected system.  Building on our previous conversations about habits, consistency, and identity, this episode introduces the Five Pillars of Health. We explain why focusing on just one area often leads to frustration, stalled progress, or confusing symptoms.  Rather than offering rules or rigid plans, this conversation provides a framework for understanding how different inputs interact, influence one another, and shape how the body adapts over time. The goal is not perfection, but support — helping the body feel safe enough to change.  In this episode, we explore:  - Why health breaks down when we isolate habits - The Five Pillars framework and how each pillar supports the others - The difference between daily movement and structured exercise - Why nutrition is about nutrients and signals, not just calories - How sleep and recovery drive growth, repair, and resilience - Why stress and mindset influence every physical system - The role of breathing in nervous system regulation - How environment and daily rhythm shape behavior automatically - Why connection supports consistency and emotional health - How small actions in one pillar create ripple effects in others - Practical ways to start without overwhelming the body  This episode is an invitation to stop trying to “fix” your life and start supporting your body. When health is approached as a system — not a checklist — consistency becomes easier, adaptation becomes natural, and progress becomes sustainable.

🔗 Linktree (all links, free guides, programs) 

https://linktr.ee/body_evolution 

Follow us, join the conversation, and continue evolving with us.

Episode 5: The Five Pillars of Health: How the Body Works as a Whole System

What if the capital we need most is the kind that stays where others won’t? In this episode, Urmi Sengupta from the MacArthur Foundation explains catalytic capital, patient, flexible, and risk-tolerant funding designed to go where traditional investors won’t. We explore how this capital can seed innovation, sustain essential services like affordable housing, and scale solutions in climate and small business finance that otherwise wouldn’t happen. Urmi shares how the Catalytic Capital Consortium is mobilizing hundreds of millions of dollars while bringing funders together in partnership. Urmi shares why collaboration is more costly, yet more powerful. Why community voices must shape investment decisions. And why foundations must move from isolated funding to collective system change. This conversation is a powerful reminder that finance is not neutral. It can exclude or it can include. And perhaps most importantly: change doesn’t require perfect solutions. It requires action.

Please review the episode, share your feedback, and subscribe to the podcast!

You can also:

 * Visit our website: womenchangingfinance.org [https://womenchangingfinance.org/]
 * Follow Urmi on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmi-sengupta-impact/]

To go further, here are some of the references mentioned during the episode:

 * MacArthur Foundation — https://www.macfound.org [https://www.macfound.org/]
 * Catalytic Capital Consortium (C3)— https://catalyticcapitalconsortium.org/research-learning/
 * Rockefeller Foundation — https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org [https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/]
 * Omidyar Network — https://omidyar.com [https://omidyar.com/]
 * GroundBreak Coalition — https://groundbreakcoalition.org/
 * Invest Appalachia — https://investappalachia.org [https://investappalachia.org/]
 * Chicago Trend - https://www.chicagotrend.com/  [https://www.chicagotrend.com/]
 * Mission Investors Exchange — https://missioninvestors.org [https://missioninvestors.org/]
 * GSG Impact — https://gsgimpact.org [https://gsgimpact.org/]
 * CapitalPlus Exchange —https://capplus.org
 * Tideline - https://tideline.com/
 * Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah and Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — https://www.chimamanda.com/book/

Women Changing Finance is part of the Impact Alpha Podcast Network [https://impactalpha.com/podcasts/].

E22 - Urmi Sengupta, Senior Impact Investments Officer at MacArthur Foundation (USA)

In this episode of the Body Evolution Podcast, we explore what longevity really means — and why it’s not just about living longer, but living better for longer. 

Most people focus on short-term goals: getting fit for summer, losing weight for an event, or pushing hard for quick results. Over time, this leads to burnout cycles, constant restarts, and frustration. In this conversation, we break down why those cycles are not only unsustainable, but harmful to long-term health — and what to focus on instead. 

We introduce the concept of health span, the number of quality years you get to live with strength, energy, confidence, and freedom. From there, we explore how consistency, adaptability, environment, and identity shape whether health actually lasts.  In this episode, we explore: 

- The difference between lifespan and health span - Why quality of life matters more than just living longer 

- How restart cycles undermine long-term health - Why extreme dieting and training backfire over time 

- The role of consistency in sustainable health - How seasons of life require different rhythms and habits 

- Why discipline and willpower work short-term but fail long-term - How identity shapes sustainable behavior 

- Why adaptability is more important than perfection - How environment design reduces reliance on willpower 

- Using the 80/20 principle to support longevity - What long-term health feels like emotionally and mentally 

This episode is an invitation to step out of urgency and into a long-term perspective. When health becomes something you live — not something you restart — it creates calm, confidence, and a body that supports the life you want to experience for years to come.  

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

 The following tools, concepts, and practices were explicitly referenced in the conversation and may help you explore these ideas further: 

🔹 Health Span vs Lifespan - Harvard Health — “What Is Healthspan?”  https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-healthspan-2020101321082 Explains the difference between simply living longer and living better — a central theme of the episode. 

🔹 Longevity & Lifestyle Factors**  - National Institute on Aging — “Healthy Aging” https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging Covers how lifestyle choices influence long-term health, function, and quality of life. 

🔹 Consistency Over Intensity**  - Harvard T.H. Chan — “The Truth About Habits and Health” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-habits/ Supports the episode’s message that sustainable habits matter more than short-term extremes.

🔹 Stress, Burnout, and Long-Term Health**  - American Psychological Association — Chronic Stress https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/chronic Aligns with the discussion on why constant restart cycles and urgency undermine longevity. 

🔹 The 80/20 Principle (Lifestyle Application)**  - Harvard Business Review — “How to Focus on What Matters Most” https://hbr.org/2015/06/how-to-focus-on-what-matters-most Supports the idea of prioritizing what creates the biggest long-term impact without perfection.

🔗 Connect with Body Evolution

🌐 http://www.Body-evolve.com 

🔗 Linktree (all links)  https://linktr.ee/body_evolution 

Follow us, join the conversation, and continue evolving with us.

Episode 4b: From Burnout Cycles to Longevity: A Smarter Approach to Health

In this episode of the Body Evolution Podcast, we explore what longevity really means — and why it’s not just about living longer, but living better for longer.

Most people focus on short-term goals: getting fit for summer, losing weight for an event, or pushing hard for quick results. Over time, this leads to burnout cycles, constant restarts, and frustration. In this conversation, we break down why those cycles are not only unsustainable, but harmful to long-term health — and what to focus on instead.

We introduce the concept of health span, the number of quality years you get to live with strength, energy, confidence, and freedom. From there, we explore how consistency, adaptability, environment, and identity shape whether health actually lasts.

In this episode, we explore:

 * The difference between lifespan and health span
 * Why quality of life matters more than just living longer
 * How restart cycles undermine long-term health
 * Why extreme dieting and training backfire over time
 * The role of consistency in sustainable health
 * How seasons of life require different rhythms and habits
 * Why discipline and willpower work short-term but fail long-term
 * How identity shapes sustainable behavior
 * Why adaptability is more important than perfection
 * How environment design reduces reliance on willpower
 * Using the 80/20 principle to support longevity
 * What long-term health feels like emotionally and mentally

This episode is an invitation to step out of urgency and into a long-term perspective. When health becomes something you live — not something you restart — it creates calm, confidence, and a body that supports the life you want to experience for years to come.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

The following tools, concepts, and practices were explicitly referenced in the conversation and may help you explore these ideas further:

Health Span vs Lifespan

 * Harvard Health — “What Is Healthspan?” https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-healthspan-2020101321082Explains the difference between simply living longer and living better — a central theme of the episode.

🔹 Longevity & Lifestyle Factors

 * National Institute on Aging — “Healthy Aging” https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-agingCovers how lifestyle choices influence long-term health, function, and quality of life.

🔹 Consistency Over Intensity

 * Harvard T.H. Chan — “The Truth About Habits and Health” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-habits/Supports the episode’s message that sustainable habits matter more than short-term extremes.

🔹 Stress, Burnout, and Long-Term Health

 * American Psychological Association — Chronic Stress https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/chronicAligns with the discussion on why constant restart cycles and urgency undermine longevity.

🔹 The 80/20 Principle (Lifestyle Application)

 * Harvard Business Review — “How to Focus on What Matters Most” https://hbr.org/2015/06/how-to-focus-on-what-matters-mostSupports the idea of prioritizing what creates the biggest long-term impact without perfection.

🔗 Linktree (all links)

https://linktr.ee/body_evolution

Follow us, join the conversation, and continue evolving with us.

Episode 4a: From Burnout Cycles to Longevity: A Smarter Approach to Health

Mental health is a core driver of how we change the world. What if it was also a smart financial strategy? In this episode, Sabine Flechet, co-founder of Masawa, one of the first funds in Europe dedicated to mental health innovations, shares how she is channeling capital into startups that address emotional well-being, mental illness, and tech-driven solutions, from gamified ADHD awareness to dementia prevention platforms. From cyberbullying prevention to gut-brain innovation. Sabine also shares how 65% of startup failures stem from human capital challenges, like burnout, co-founder conflict, or lack of emotional resilience, and how investors can reduce risk by supporting founders as people, not just performers. But Masawa is more than a fund, it’s a systems-level shift. Sabine talks about how traditional VC models fail founders, and how their approach at Masawa, called “nurture capital”, is designed to protect founders as people and their performance, rewriting power dynamics between founders and investors. It’s a wake-up call for anyone still thinking of mental health as a “soft” issue. Because this conversation proves: it’s systemic, and it’s investable.

Please review the episode, share your feedback, and subscribe to the podcast!

You can also:

 * Visit our website: womenchangingfinance.org [https://womenchangingfinance.org/]
 * Follow Sabine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-flechet/]

To go further, here are some of the references mentioned during the episode:

 * Masawa  — https://masawa.fund/
 * BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt — https://www.bmw-foundation.org [https://www.bmw-foundation.org/]
 * La French Tech — https://lafrenchtech.com [https://lafrenchtech.com/]
 * Purpose Foundation — https://purpose-economy.org [https://purpose-economy.org/en/]
 * Ecosia — https://www.ecosia.org [https://www.ecosia.org/]
 * Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — https://www.gatesfoundation.org [https://www.gatesfoundation.org/]
 * World Health Organization (WHO) — https://www.who.int [https://www.who.int/]
 * Outlive by Peter Attia — https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/

Women Changing Finance is part of the Impact Alpha Podcast Network [https://impactalpha.com/podcasts/].

E21 - Sabine Flechet, co-founding Partner of Masawa (France)

In this episode of the Body Evolution Podcast, we continue to shift the way we understand the body — from something to control or fix, to an intelligent ecosystem that’s constantly adapting to our lifestyle.  After laying the foundation with identity in the previous episodes, this conversation explores how the body responds to recovery, energy, and rhythm. We explain why symptoms are often signals rather than failures, and how the body reflects the inputs it’s given over time.  Instead of fighting your body or chasing isolated fixes, this episode invites you to work with your biology — supporting it through intentional movement, proper nourishment, rest, and aligned rhythms that allow real health to emerge naturally.  In this episode, we explore:  - Why the body is always adapting, not malfunctioning - What it really means when people say “the body remembers” - How lifestyle inputs shape physical responses over time - Why health breaks down when we treat the body as isolated systems - Why recovery and sleep are essential for adaptation, not optional - How stress and lack of rest disrupt the entire ecosystem - The role of energy, rhythm, and connection in overall health - Why working with the body creates better outcomes than forcing it  This episode is an invitation to release judgment and build understanding. When you stop fighting your body and start supporting it, health becomes a cooperative process — one grounded in rhythm, nourishment, movement, and trust.  🔗 Connect with Body Evolution - https://linktr.ee/body_evolution

Episode 3b: The Body as an Ecosystem: Movement, Nourishment, Recovery & Rhythm  - Part 2

In this episode of the Body Evolution Podcast, we shift the way we understand the body — from something to control or fix, to an intelligent ecosystem that’s constantly adapting to our lifestyle.  After laying the foundation with identity in the previous episodes, this conversation explores how the body responds to movement, nourishment, recovery, energy, and rhythm. We explain why symptoms are often signals rather than failures, and how the body reflects the inputs it’s given over time.  Instead of fighting your body or chasing isolated fixes, this episode invites you to work with your biology — supporting it through intentional movement, proper nourishment, rest, and aligned rhythms that allow real health to emerge naturally.  In this episode, we explore:  - Why the body is always adapting, not malfunctioning - What it really means when people say “the body remembers” - How lifestyle inputs shape physical responses over time - Why health breaks down when we treat the body as isolated systems - The difference between movement and fitness — and why both matter - How nourishment goes beyond calories to support hormones and recovery - Why recovery and sleep are essential for adaptation, not optional - How stress and lack of rest disrupt the entire ecosystem - The role of energy, rhythm, and connection in overall health - Why working with the body creates better outcomes than forcing it  This episode is an invitation to release judgment and build understanding. When you stop fighting your body and start supporting it, health becomes a cooperative process — one grounded in rhythm, nourishment, movement, and trust.  🔗 Connect with Body Evolution - https://linktr.ee/body_evolution

Episode 3a - The Body as an Ecosystem: Movement, Nourishment, Recovery & Rhythm

What does it mean to build a gender-smart investment fund in East Africa, and what makes it work? In this episode, Carolyne Kirabo, an investor based out of Uganda and the founder of M-Kyala Ventures, is transforming how capital flows to women-led businesses across East Africa. From funding a plastic recycling business to supporting a million-dollar eco-footwear brand, Carolyne shares what’s working and what’s not in inclusive finance. We dive into why many women don’t get funded, and why funders need to change how they show up. Carolyne talks about the gap between women’s repayment behavior (much better than some may think) and their access to capital, and how she’s bridging the gaps. If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond good intentions to real outcomes in gender lens investing, this conversation is for you. And it’s a call for all of us to always start with listening deeply to women’s needs and experiences.

Please review the episode, share your feedback, and subscribe to the podcast!

You can also:

 * Visit our website: womenchangingfinance.org [https://womenchangingfinance.org/]
 * Read Carolyne's full bio [https://mkyalaventures.com/team-member/carolyne-kirabo/]
 * Follow Carolyne on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyne-kirabo-00362029/?originalSubdomain=ke]

To go further, here are some of the references mentioned during the episode:

 * Gender Action Collective https://mkyalaventures.com/service/convening-for-collective-impact/
 * M-Kyala 5 Year Impact Report https://mkyalaventures.com/2025/10/16/m-kyala-impact-report-celebrating-five-years-of-walking-with-women-entrepreneurs/
 * Gender Smart Lending Toolkit https://www.gslafrica.org/our-drivers
 * Shona Group – https://shonacapital.co/
 * FindingXY – https://findingxy.com/
 * Helton Traders – https://heltontraders.com/
 * Uzuri K&Y – https://www.uzuriky.com/
 * Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) – https://www.andeglobal.org
 * The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Women Changing Finance is part of the Impact Alpha Podcast Network [https://impactalpha.com/podcasts/].

E20 - Carolyne Kirabo, Founder and CEO of M-Kyala Ventures (Uganda)

In this episode of the Body Evolution Podcast, we explore why lasting health change doesn’t begin with motivation, discipline, or pushing harder — it begins with identity.

Many people know what to do for their health, yet struggle to stay consistent. This conversation unpacks why that happens and explains how habits built from pressure often fall apart, while habits built from alignment tend to last. We discuss the role of identity, nervous system regulation, stress, and the powerful two-way relationship between mind and body.

Rather than relying on short bursts of motivation or chasing quick fixes, this episode offers a calmer, more sustainable way forward — one rooted in clarity, safety, and becoming the kind of person for whom healthy behaviors feel natural.

In this episode, we explore:

 * Why motivation often fails to create long-term change
 * How identity quietly shapes habits and consistency
 * The difference between pressure-driven habits and aligned habits
 * Why quick fixes feel safer than deep, lasting change
 * How stress and nervous system dysregulation block progress
 * Why calm is more powerful than motivation
 * The two-way relationship between mind and body
 * How beliefs and identity influence physical health
 * Why separating mindset and physical health limits growth
 * How small identity shifts lead to sustainable behavior change
 * Why Body Evolution begins with identity before action

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reduce the pressure, and rethink how change actually works. When habits grow from identity, health stops feeling like a fight — and starts becoming part of who you are.

🔗 Connect with Body Evolution

https://linktr.ee/body_evolution

Episode 2: Why Identity Drives Habits, Consistency, and Health

Women Changing Finance is about the people transforming finance to create a better world. Host Krisztina Tora, a global leader and changemaker, brings her extensive expertise to the conversation, inviting remarkable women from across the globe to share their stories of driving social and environmental impact through financial innovation.

Through real-world examples and personal journeys, this podcast reveals how finance can be a powerful tool for change—something we can all engage with and leverage for good.

Our guests are women proving that change is possible—whether by investing in underserved communities, developing innovative solutions to address climate challenges, or driving systems-level transformation. Their stories showcase the impact we can create when we align financial resources with our highest aspirations for a better world.

If you’re a changemaker, a professional seeking purpose, or simply curious about the role of finance in building a better future, join us to:

 * Get inspired by real stories of impact and innovation
 * Learn how to contribute to systemic change
 * Explore the intersection of finance, purpose, and leadership

Subscribe now and join us in reimagining finance!

Visit our website womenchangingfinance.org [https://womenchangingfinance.org/]

The show is part of the Impact Alpha Podcast Network [https://impactalpha.com/podcasts/].

Women Changing Finance 

The Body Evolution Podcast is a health and wellness podcast focused on helping people understand their body, their mind, and their habits, so they can build long-term wellbeing, sustainable performance, and a higher quality of life.

In a world full of conflicting advice and constant noise, this podcast offers clarity.

We explore health as a whole system, not isolated tactics.

Movement, nutrition, sleep, recovery, stress, mindset, identity, and daily choices all work together. When you understand how they connect, health stops feeling confusing and starts feeling manageable.

Each episode brings clear explanations and practical perspectives on key areas of wellbeing. Some conversations focus deeply on one topic, others take a broader view, but every episode is designed to reduce confusion and increase understanding.

You’ll hear discussions on:

 * How the body works and adapts over time
 * Strength, movement, and becoming more capable in your body
 * Nutrition and building a healthy relationship with food
 * Sleep, recovery, and energy management
 * Stress, mindset, and habit formation
 * Identity, behavior, and lifestyle design
 * Longevity — not just living longer, but living better

The goal is not perfection or extremes.

The goal is clarity, consistency, and a way of living that supports health for decades, for men and women, at any age.

Complex topics are simplified.

Science is explained in human language.

And everything is grounded in real life.

Body Evolution Podcast is for people who want less confusion, better understanding, and a smarter relationship with their health — so strength, energy, and wellbeing can evolve with them over time.

Krisztina Tora

Shows