SRI360 Podcast

“Tell me about your upbringing and the environment that shaped you.”

This is a frequent opening question used to establish the guest's origin story and core values from the very beginning.

“What led you to your specific field of study in university?”

This question connects the guest's early intellectual interests to their eventual career path.

“Where does your appetite for risk, or another core personality trait, come from?”

He asks this to dig beyond professional experience and understand the fundamental drivers of a guest's mindset.

“When did the disconnect between your work and your personal values become too great to ignore?”

He asks this to pinpoint the exact turning point that often precipitates a move from traditional finance to impact investing.

“What was your main takeaway from a pivotal experience, like your time in Peru?”

This question is used to distill key lessons from formative experiences in a guest's life.

“What was going through your head when you left an established success to start something new?”

He often uses this question to start an interview 'in media res', focusing on a moment of high-stakes decision-making.

“What was the internal conversation in your head during a period of extreme difficulty, like solitary confinement?”

A question that probes the psychological resilience and internal mindset of a guest during their most challenging times.

“How did you get your start at a pivotal early company like Goldman Sachs?”

Arnell uses this to explore the guest's entry into the world of high finance or their chosen field.

“Walk me through the process of building your company or institution from the ground up.”

Arnell asks this to move from philosophy to the practical, operational challenges of creating something new.

“What insight from a previous role became the core idea for your next venture?”

This question connects the dots in a guest's career, showing how past experiences inform future innovations.

“How do you test for key traits like resilience when evaluating founders or investments today?”

This connects the guest's own life lessons to their current investment or leadership framework.

“What was it like to be inside an institution during a major crisis like the 2008 crash or a geopolitical event?”

This question seeks a firsthand, personal account of navigating a significant historical moment from a professional standpoint.

“What did your time in investment banking teach you about the limits and potential of capital?”

This question prompts a high-level reflection on the nature of finance itself from an experienced practitioner.

“Take me back to a specific, formative moment, like the day you were arrested. What do you remember?”

This is a narrative-driven question designed to elicit a vivid, personal story about a life-changing event.

“Tell me about your personal routines or habits that are essential for your clarity.”

A question that shifts from the professional to the personal, exploring the habits that support high performance.

“Tell me about a key mentor and the story of what you learned from them.”

This question explores the role of guidance and external influence in a guest's professional development.