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Dean James shared, “Our students here today engage in rigorous analysis, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to driving meaningful change. They have demonstrated their capacity to drive innovation and catalyze transformative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.” 

Bobby Turner, sponsor of the TIPC program alongside Lauren Turner W’85, shared, “I was incredibly impressed with the quality of work done by these students — and, more so, by the passion and commitment to using their business degrees for positive change. As I looked around the room, I was confident that I was meeting some of the impact investing industry’s future leaders.” 

Following the welcome, students attended a panel on the future of impact investing, led by Katherine Klein, Edward H. Bowman Professor of Management and Faculty Co-Director of Wharton’s Impact Investing Research Lab. The panel celebrated the publication of An Introduction to Early-Stage Impact Investing and featured co-editor Jennifer Walske (Adjunct Professor at USC Marshall), book contributors Michael Brown (Head of Research at Wharton Impact), and Tyler Wry (Associate Professor of Management and Faculty Co-Director of Wharton’s Impact Investing Research Lab). 

How It Works

Each year, student teams are challenged to put theory into practice by incorporating impact factors into portfolio construction. The 2025 Investor Profile tasked students with managing a $1.5 million student-led ESG fund for a fictional university, challenging them to design a diversified, impact-aligned portfolio that balances financial returns with measurable environmental and social outcomes. 

Throughout the academic year, teams identified specific securities, funds, and investments aligned with their client’s impact and return objectives. They simulated how an institutional investor integrates ESG criteria, monitors risk and return trade-offs, and communicates strategy to stakeholders. 

To support their analysis, students met regularly with industry mentors who shared best practices and tools for impact measurement and investment selection. 

The virtual programming kicked off with an orientation that provided students with strategic tips for getting started in the competition, including an example portfolio. Throughout the year, students also heard from industry leaders on topics such as shareholder engagement and selecting fund managers. Speakers included professionals from Arjuna Capital, As You Sow, the Intentional Endowments Network, and Domini Impact Investments. 

This year’s content contributors included Toniic, Arabesque, Commonfund Institute, Align Impact, and Intentional Endowments, which provided students with case studies, investment tools, and networking opportunities. Students also completed Wharton Online’s four-part Materiality of ESG Factors specialization. 

Guidance from Bank of America

Throughout the year, 45 volunteers from Bank of America—including wealth advisors, analysts, portfolio managers, and sustainability experts—served as coaches to TIPC teams. They guided students through portfolio construction, due diligence, and manager selection. 

Danielle M. Ward, Managing Director and Senior Institutional Portfolio Manager within the Institutional Investments group at Bank of America, shared, “This challenge remains a standout moment each year. Our Bank of America volunteers are continually impressed by the students’ ability to pair rigorous financial analysis with a sophisticated understanding of social and environmental impact. Their creativity and purpose in addressing real‑world portfolio challenges is truly inspiring.” 

Reflecting on the experience, Ward added, “Having our team’s commitment recognized with a Global Volunteer Award underscores the significance of this work and the dedication our volunteers bring to developing the next generation of sustainable investing leaders.” 

And the Winner is…

“We didn’t just build a portfolio but espoused a philosophy that connected capital allocation to real-world outcomes.”

– Obesther Achiaa Obeng, University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management MBA 2025

Obesther Achiaa Obeng, Abhinay Singh, Kyle Hadley, and Yehan Wang from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management earned first place with an ESG student managed investment fund (SMIF) advancing a values-driven, human rights-centered investment philosophy. Through disciplined asset allocation, rigorous monitoring, and diversified portfolio design, their strategy demonstrated how competitive real returns and measurable ESG impact can be achieved in tandem. 

In reflecting on the experience, Obeng shared, “What stood out most to me during this competition was realizing that ESG investing becomes truly powerful when anchored in a clear moral framework like human rights. We didn’t just build a portfolio but espoused a philosophy that connected capital allocation to real-world outcomes. Coming from Ghana, I brought the perspective that ESG investing must be grounded in cultural and economic context to be truly meaningful.” 

“This experience reinforced for me that responsible investing requires nuance and a deep understanding of local realities, and grounding our strategy this way is how we ensure our impact is both measurable and accountable to the goals we set,” Obeng said. 

Runner-Up

Swetha Rakecha, Fatika Akmaliana, Sivagami Lakshmanan, Helena Siagian, and Sarah Tang from the Yale School of Management took second place with a portfolio titled “Structural Alpha, Sustainable Beta.” Their portfolio was designed to optimize both risk-adjusted returns and measurable impact towards net zero across various asset classes. 

The team described the experience as “both intense and deeply rewarding” and credits their success to the multidisciplinary strengths and differentiated perspectives they each contributed.   

Lakshmanan shared, “Normally, when you think of impact investing, one tends to think from a private capital lens. This competition gives you a refreshing perspective on how much can be achieved with public capital. It allows you to think across various asset classes.”  

Judges