"There are two primary career paths in impact investing. The first begins in the traditional finance sector, with professionals later transitioning to the impact field. The second path involves individuals with academic backgrounds in sustainability or international development, who gain experience in large-scale private sector funding and move to the impact finance field.
In the industry, most experienced professionals have a finance background and typically follow the first path. However, through mentoring university students at my alma mater, I've observed that Gen Z, with their strong interest in sustainability and social impact, often pursue the second path. Those with a finance background frequently lack knowledge in sustainability and development, while those with a sustainability background often lack financial expertise. For young people aiming for careers in impact investing or sustainable finance, it is essential to actively study and gain proficiency in finance and economics." - Kyungmin Park, our Knowledge Development Associate