What I Learned This Summer About Money

This summer I participated in the CREATE Summer Fellowship Program, and one thing I learned is that money can be more than a thing we earn and spend: it can be leveraged as a mechanism of climate action. Through the virtual internship that was a part of the program, I learned about sustainable finance, and I am now approaching impact with a brand new lens.

One thing that resonated most deeply with me was green bonds, which are financial products that fund projects that are environmental, like renewable energy, reforestation or sustainable transportation. What a game-changer. I had never thought investing could catalyze such meaningful real-world change.

I also became aware that finance does not exist in a vacuum to justice — it can be relative to construct systems that are more just, particularly in communities most impacted by climate change.

As a builder, I now recognize that creating better financial systems can be just as impactful as building a technology or product. Moving forward, I want to direct my efforts to work that brings finance, sustainability, and innovation together to develop long-term solutions.