First insights into Impact Investing

Currently in my second semester at SIPA, I had the chance to expand my knowledge of system-level investing through the SIRI Sustainable Investing Consulting Project. I am assigned with three other students to assist an impact investing consulting firm in creating a report aimed at helping investors establish an improved investment committee using a system-level approach. The report aims to provide guidance on incorporating long-term systemic issues such as environmental, social, and financial factors into investment strategies, with tailored recommendations for different investor groups, such as foundations, pension funds, and family offices. Through background study and analysis, we will try to come up with clear suggestions for how different types of investors can use the new investment committee framework.

However, our journey has not been without challenges. In the beginning of the project, our team composition has changed, requiring us to adapt to new working dynamics. We are trying to adapt to shifting responsibilities and different working styles. Another major hurdle has been scheduling. Balancing the workload of this project alongside rigorous coursework on campus has required careful time management. Finding a common time to meet that accommodates everyone's schedules has often been difficult, given our different commitments and workload.

Beside the project, our team recently participated in a skills workshop organized by the Sustainable Investing Research Initiative (SIRI). Given my previous experience in impact investing, I am excited to delve more and explore how much new knowledge I would gain. And I was pleasantly surprised by the workshop’s emphasis on refining consulting methodologies, particularly in the context of sustainable investing. The session on team formation helped us better understand our communication styles and conflict resolution approaches. In addition, there is an important session focused on feedback—both giving and receiving. The workshop reinforced the importance of offering constructive feedback that not only recognizes strengths but also encourages further skill development. Other than that, we also conducted a role play for interviewing a client, clarifying expectations and project scopes, and understanding the client's different perspectives. This role play helps me to understand how to communicate and align project objectives with different kinds of stakeholders.

In addition, during the class, there are some interesting guest speakers, such as Neri Bukspan, who shared about the history of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and sustainable investing, which really helps a lot in understanding the context of ESG in the investing context. Another guest speaker, Allison Boxer, the Managing Director of Sorenson Impact Institute, where she shared about her work in Sorenson Impact Institute to embed social impact in her academic programs, also on how to persuade investors to invest in the social impact agenda.

This course has been a journey of both professional and personal growth. Managing shifting team structures, balancing demanding schedules, and delivering high-quality work despite constraints have all been invaluable lessons. As we move further, I look forward to further refining our research and making meaningful contributions to the field of system-level investing. I look forward to sharing more reflections on this experience in the weeks ahead.