The summer between my first year and second year at HBS, I joined Allied Climate Partners (ACP) as a Summer Associate in New York. ACP, a philanthropy-backed investment firm, dedicates itself to catalyzing climate-related infrastructure projects in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). The firm operates with a mission to deploy hundreds of millions of dollars across regions like Africa, India, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia—essentially targeting places where sustainable infrastructure is often most needed yet underfunded.
With ACP still in its early stages, there’s an exciting energy around shaping its investment strategy, and my role reflected this dynamic environment. My responsibilities spanned two main areas: supporting fund strategy by conducting deep dives into new markets and verticals that might offer promising investment opportunities, and assessing the viability of opportunities within ACP’s pipeline. Each day was an immersion into critical questions about climate impact and financial viability, set against the backdrop of a fast-evolving sector.
Why This Path?
I came to HBS with the goal of transitioning from advisory roles into investment roles, particularly in sectors where capital can drive meaningful impact. Throughout my first year, I solidified my interest in this area, especially as I reflected on the significant infrastructure deficits in my home country, Mali. This issue is deeply personal, as Mali is currently facing one of the worst electricity crises (among others) in its history. On top of that, given the pressing need to address the climate crisis, I sought a summer role with a firm focused on sustainable infrastructure investment. This internship allowed me to build my expertise in the field and evaluate whether this is the right long-term career path for me.
The Path to ACP
My journey with ACP began with a cold email to an HBS alum on the organization’s leadership team. Interestingly, they hadn’t considered hiring interns until our initial conversation, but one discussion led to another, and eventually resulted in a series of interviews. As we talked, the concept evolved, and ultimately; we co-created a role that matched both my learning objectives and ACP’s needs. The Social Enterprise Summer Fellowship, which supports students interning with organizations across the nonprofit, public, or for-profit sectors that focus on creating social impact, was instrumental in making this internship a reality by helping to sponsor my time with the firm.
Advice for Aspiring Climate Investors
My advice for anyone interested in this space is to start networking early because even the most unexpected conversation can lead to an internship—or even a full-time position down the line. It’s important to reach out with a clear sense of what you bring to the table and what you want to gain from the experience. Networking is more than making connections; it’s about crafting your narrative and demonstrating the value you can add. Lastly, don’t limit yourself. There’s a vast landscape of innovative organizations out there. Take advantage of HBS resources for your research and be open to exploring less conventional roles—they could lead to exactly where you want to go.
