During my summer fellowship with the Columbia Climate Knowledge Initiative (CKI), I co‑led the Landscape section of a project on plastics decarbonisation. Our objective was to translate complex research into a guide deck for business leaders on aligning the plastics sector with global climate targets. I shaped the storyline by providing context on plastics production, demand, and emissions, and by analysing per‑capita consumption gaps, residual waste, and demand and emissions projections under different scenarios. In the Finance section I mapped investment flows across the value chain and highlighted misalignments between current capital deployment and areas with high emissions‑reduction potential. The work supports CKI’s mission to bridge research and practice and offers evidence‑based levers for change.

My Columbia MBA in strategy, sustainability, and finance was essential. I applied operations frameworks to evaluate supply and demand, leveraged data‑analysis skills to interpret complex projections from sources like the OECD and IEA, and used my consulting and capital‑markets training to quantify investment flows and distil actionable insights. I also ensured the deck delivered clear recommendations by applying lessons on narrative construction.

Challenges included working with fragmented data and reconciling projections across baseline and policy scenarios. Mapping capital flows in a fragmented investor landscape was also difficult. Aligning a diverse team required active listening and flexibility.

This fellowship deepened my understanding of the plastics sector—its drivers, emissions, and the critical roles of finance and policy. It reinforced that tackling climate challenges requires rigorous analysis combined with the ability to mobilise stakeholders around practical solutions. I leave more confident in my ability to integrate consulting expertise and academic training to drive impact at the intersection of business, sustainability, and analytics.