We have built a financial system that serves only half the world — and we call that progress. In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden speaks with social entrepreneur and author Erlijn Sie about why financial inclusion is not a niche topic — but a systemic failure hiding in plain sight. Erlijn argues that ESG has become overly financialized. Metrics, rankings, and capital flows dominate the conversation, while companies quietly lose sight of their original societal purpose. The “S” in ESG — the social dimension — must come first. Because financial services are not optional. Access to savings, credit, insurance, and pensions enables people to live to their full potential. Yet billions remain excluded. That exclusion is not just unjust — it is economically irrational. It represents wasted talent, stalled entrepreneurship, and suppressed resilience. The irony? Much of this exclusion stems from systems designed in the last century — when digital infrastructure did not exist. Today, technology enables inclusion at scale and at lower cost than ever before. The barrier is no longer capability. It is intent. Erlijn shares how she “accidentally” became a social entrepreneur, founding a microfinance institution to serve some of the world’s most excluded communities. Her journey underscores a key insight: social innovation begins with solving a real issue — not with monetizing it. There is nothing wrong with sustainable business models. But purpose must precede profit logic. For large corporations, the opportunity is enormous. Financial resilience for underserved populations is not philanthropy. It is long-term market development. Corporates still underestimate their ability to drive systemic change, particularly when partnering with social innovators who understand root causes and community dynamics. Yet no single actor can solve these challenges alone. Systemic reform requires co-creation across sectors — financial institutions, corporates, governments, innovators. This episode challenges leaders to rethink: How ESG is prioritized internally Whether inclusion is embedded in strategy or delegated to CSR How digital transformation can accelerate access What entrepreneurial qualities are required in a world of constant change Because resilience, adaptability, and inclusion are not soft concepts. They are the foundations of sustainable growth. And the real question is this: If we now have the technology to include the other half of the world — what excuse do we have not to?