During my fellowship with the Climate Knowledge Initiative (CKI) at Columbia Business School I worked on research and consulting‑style presentations aimed at understanding decarbonisation pathways for the aviation industry. I conducted deep dives into the sector’s current status, identified gaps in economic and technical feasibility, and assessed what solutions—such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), electrification, and hydrogen technologies—can realistically bring the industry closer to carbon neutrality. I analysed scalability, cost curves, and policy incentives to produce insights that help investors, businesses, and policymakers make informed climate‑aligned decisions. Aviation is a hard‑to‑abate sector with high emissions and limited decarbonisation options, so this work aligns closely with CKI’s mission to close information gaps on low‑carbon technologies.

My Master’s in Sustainability Management allowed me to connect financial and technical analysis. Thinking from an investor’s perspective, I drew on coursework to understand what drives financial decision making and how to frame climate solutions in terms of cost, scalability, risk, and long‑term value creation. I also applied these insights to research on sustainable proteins, which focused on how companies attract funding for innovative low‑carbon alternatives.

The research involved highly detailed economic and technical data, and simplifying that information for investors was challenging. Striking the balance between technical depth and business relevance required continuous refinement. Another challenge was aligning academic, technical, and financial perspectives into a cohesive narrative. This pushed me to improve my communication skills and focus on what matters most to decision makers.

This fellowship was a fantastic learning experience. Professionally, I learned to connect complex climate research with the financial lens that investors use, translating technical insights into business‑oriented messages. I gained a deeper understanding of sustainable finance and how capital flows influence the success of climate solutions. Personally, I saw the value of collaboration; diverse perspectives strengthen the final product. The experience has made me more confident in bridging climate science and business strategy and excited to continue driving impact at the intersection of money and climate.