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Through CESR’s Sustainability Scholars Program, Wes Obmascik (Fin’26, SRE) discovered how sustainability could shape both his studies and his career. “I originally worked at a renewable energy developer during my sophomore year,” he shared. “I found out about sustainability through CESR and through their ethics class. Then I attended a climate finance workshop - it was awesome because it combined both finance and sustainability, which I didn’t realize you could combine.”

That experience led Wes to take his research with him on his study abroad in Europe, exploring how the region approaches sustainability. “I think they are ahead culturally - small things like bag taxes meant the majority of people were already bringing their own bags,” he explained. “It gave me a global mindset.”

This global perspective ultimately helped him land a role at Lightsource BP in power markets. “They told me they wanted someone who wasn’t just a finance kid who worked in energy. They wanted someone who was committed to sustainability,” Wes said. His advice for students considering a similar pathway or program? “If you’re passionate about protecting the earth or social responsibility, there’s now a whole industry around sustainability. You can have a very successful career while also contributing to something bigger.”

Read more about Wes' Sustainability Scholars experience in this inaugural cohort interview.