In today's world, the interest in investments that generate measurable positive impact on society and the environment is growing rapidly. Clients, consumers, regulatory bodies, and even employees are increasingly requiring that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations be integrated into every stage of the investment process, including deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio management. More than just a means to mitigate risks, the incorporation of ESG is now seen as essential for enhancing the value of portfolios. Through this course, participants will delve into the intricacies of sustainable and impact investing, exploring its development, its global landscape, methodologies for measuring impact, and reporting frameworks. This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in investment strategies that generate social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. While there will be some in-class meetings to discuss theoretical concepts, learning will be primarily experiential in nature through class discussion, group exercises, case studies, guest lectures from industry experts, and a team project with an industry partner. These activities are designed to provide a real-world perspective and hands-on experience in sustainable and impact investing.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Appreciate the significance of investing in initiatives that not only provide financial returns but also create positive social and environmental impacts;
- Understand the core principles of sustainable and impact investing and how they differ from traditional venture capital / private equity investment approaches;
- Develop proficiency in evaluating investments using ESG criteria and impact measurement tools;
- Solve a real-world investment challenge faced by the sustainable and impact investment space;
- Understand and conduct research on their given industries and develop insights in the regional and global landscape;
- Ideate on actionable solutions that can address key funding, operational or business model challenges;
- Develop a sustainable and/or impact-driven strategy that can improve the financial and impact performance of the company.
