#288 ‘Scaling Purpose Through Fixed Income' Jessica Zarzycki PM at Nuveen

Welcoming Jessica Zarzycki, Portfolio Manager at Nuveen and a leading voice in sustainable fixed income investing. In this conversation, she explains how fixed income, often seen as the steady part of a portfolio, can deliver reliable returns while also creating real social and environmental impact.

While the podcast is for everyone, the bond strategies Jessica manages are built for large institutional investors such as pension funds, endowments, and foundations, where scale really matters.

From green and social bonds to more innovative structures like wildlife conservation financing, Jessica shares how this capital is directed toward real world outcomes, from renewable energy and affordable housing through to clean water and biodiversity.

At the heart of it is a simple idea. Fixed income can be the cornerstone of a portfolio, generating stable income over time, while also helping to fund solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Jessica also reflects on her journey into impact investing, the responsibility that comes with managing large pools of capital, and the discipline required to balance performance with purpose.

With experience across global markets and a background that includes advising the International Capital Market Association on sustainable finance, she brings both technical depth and a clear sense of mission to her work.

She explains how impact investing has evolved from avoiding harm to actively funding solutions, and why, when done well, it can lead to stronger and more resilient outcomes over the long term.

The conversation also explores the growing role of blended finance, where philanthropy, governments, and private capital come together to scale impact faster.

Ultimately, Jessica makes the case that investing for good is not a trade off, it is a smarter and more forward looking way to invest.