During my summer fellowship with Women’s World Banking Asset Management (WAM), I worked on projects involving the interplay between gender, climate change, and financial inclusion. WAM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Women’s World Banking that manages the impact investment program. WAM makes direct minority equity investments in high-performing, women-focused, inclusive financial service providers worldwide, and provides technical assistance to improve client and staff gender diversity.

I developed a prototype natural hazard mapping tool to help portfolio companies consider and manage their climate-related risks. I also worked on developing questionnaires to highlight the voices of women customers on topics such as climate risks, social and community support, climate change awareness, disaster preparedness, and economic resilience. These outputs fed into technical assistance for portfolio companies to consider their ability to support climate mitigation, resilience, and adaptation. I also conducted research on best practices for ESG policies, carbon accounting, and sustainable finance disclosure regulation.

At Columbia Business School (CBS), I have had the opportunity to participate in programs and clubs within the social impact space such as the Nonprofit Board Leadership Program, Pangea Advisors, Leo Impact Fund, and the Climate Knowledge Initiative. These practical hands-on experiences have helped me explore how business skills can be translated to driving social impact outcomes.

The courses that I have taken at CBS and SIPA also played a key role in preparing me for work in the sustainability space. For example, I was able to draw on frameworks for understanding and measuring impact from my High Performing Nonprofits course. Similarly, the Investing in Social Ventures course provided helpful context on the broader impact investment landscape and evaluating early-stage social ventures through a due diligence process. I also took Selected Methods in Financial Inclusion, which provided an overview of financial inclusion and how to scale outreach through innovative financial product design, delivery channels, and technology.

Some challenges I faced were evaluating the feasibility of climate actions, identifying which measures are realistically manageable, and determining how to support portfolio companies. This involved exploring how a portfolio company could utilize information from the natural hazard mapping tool to better assess and manage their climate-related risks. Effectively communicating the right level of detail is crucial for understanding potential hazards, enabling them to take informed and actionable steps. It was useful to refine the scope of the project through discussions.

The regulatory landscape for sustainable investments is constantly changing, with new standards and reporting requirements being frequently introduced. Staying updated with the latest information and developments is crucial to ensure compliance and alignment. However, assessing best practices in climate-related reporting remains challenging, as the field is still evolving. This includes supporting portfolio companies at various stages of their sustainability journey in evaluating their environmental impact. Measuring emissions can be particularly challenging due to the limited availability of data.

I found my internship at WAM to be a rewarding learning experience. I gained valuable insight into how financial products can support underserved communities in emerging markets. Additionally, I deepened my understanding of how investors can support portfolio companies through capacity building, by providing resources and expertise to enhance their operational capabilities. WAM helps companies improve their ability to serve women clients, increase gender diversity among staff, and address specific market challenges.

During my internship, I had the opportunity to work on projects that demonstrated the business case for climate and gender lens investing. This emerging sector is crucial for creating a more inclusive financial ecosystem that addresses climate change while advancing the economic empowerment of women globally. Seeing the diverse opportunities in this field has reinforced my commitment to building a long-term career in the social impact space. Thank you to the WAM team and the Tamer Institute for providing this opportunity.