Reimagining Finance Through Sustainability

When Sara Nemsia began her Master’s in Finance at the Mediterranean School of Business in Tunisia, she envisioned a future as a financial analyst in private equity or equity research. What she didn’t expect was that a PRME Students Programme would fundamentally reshape that vision, blending her finance background with a growing sense of responsibility to create sustainable, meaningful impact.

For Sara Nemsia, joining the PRME Students Ambassador Programme was more than a learning opportunity, it was a purposeful step toward aligning her academic background in finance with her passion for social impact. “As a finance student passionate about sustainability, I saw this programme as a unique opportunity to combine academic knowledge with practical, purpose-driven action,” she shares.

Beyond Theory: Making Sustainability Practical

Like many students, Sara had encountered sustainability as a broad concept in her studies. "Sustainability is still being taught as a broader concept," she reflects, "and we don't really get into how to deal with sustainability, and how to have more sustainable practices." The PRME Ambassador Programme changed that entirely.

"Each session had its own reflections and surprising outcomes in terms of learning how things are actually going out there, and how we're supposed to act," Sara explains. The Programme moved beyond theoretical frameworks to provide practical, technical insights that students could immediately apply. "It wasn't only theoretical - during each session and each professor's lecture, we really had insights about some technical practices that we should be doing."

A Fundamental Shift in Perspective

Perhaps the most significant transformation was Sara's evolving view of sustainability's role in finance. "I basically moved from viewing sustainability as an add-on, to thinking of it as a lens that should inform every financial decision," she says. "Risk, return and societal impact - these factors are inseparable. They should always be centered around one focus."

This wasn't merely an academic exercise. Sara had always believed that "finance can and should serve social good," and the PRME Students programme provided the framework to make this belief actionable in her future career.

Turning Awareness into Action: The OASIS Project

As part of the Programme’s requirement to develop a collaborative, student-led solution to a real-world challenge, Sara joined a multicultural team with students from Tunisia, Egypt, and Botswana. Their project, OASIS, tackled one of the most pressing and shared challenges in their regions: water scarcity. The idea was sparked by a teammate’s powerful story about how a single broken borehole had disrupted an entire village in Botswana, a moment that brought a shared urgency to their work.

“We wanted a project that was both personally meaningful and regionally relevant,” Sara explains. “Water scarcity stood out because it affected all three of our countries in different but significant ways.”

Through research and collaboration, the team crafted a project rooted in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. OASIS aimed to show how local, community-driven solutions, grounded in shared lived experiences can help solve global sustainability challenges. Explore their final presentation.

Learning Through Connection and Mindset

For Sara, one of the programme’s most transformative elements was the session on developing a sustainability mindset, hosted by Dr. Ekaterina Ivanova from the PRME Working Group on Sustainability Mindset, and Vice Chair for Research, PRME Chapter Eurasia. It fundamentally shifted how she viewed sustainability not as a checklist of actions, but as a guiding philosophy for leadership and life.

“It helped me internalize the importance of long-term impact, systems thinking, and personal responsibility,” she says. “I started thinking more deeply about the kind of leader I want to be.”

Equally important was the power of collaboration. Working across cultures and disciplines, Sara experienced firsthand how diverse perspectives can lead to smarter, more innovative solutions. This collaborative experience not only expanded her perspective but also nurtured the ability to work meaningfully across cultures, an essential skill for shaping a more inclusive and globally connected future.

Local Roots, Global Responsibility

Sara also emerged from the programme with a more nuanced understanding of sustainability in Tunisia. She now sees the importance of starting with local solutions that are grounded in everyday realities. “Start local and solve a problem you can see and feel. It keeps motivation high and impact real,” she advises future student ambassadors.

She also encourages next year’s cohort to document their work and embrace discomfort. “Take initiative, collaborate beyond your comfort zone, and bring your unique perspective to the table.”

From Finance Student to Sustainable Leader

Before the programme, Sara envisioned herself following a traditional path in finance, pursuing roles in private equity or equity research. While those ambitions remain, the programme reshaped how she defines impact and responsibility in her career.

This wasn't merely an academic exercise. Sara had always believed that "finance can and should serve social good," and the PRME Students programme provided the framework to make this belief actionable in her future career.

“Before the programme, I wanted to be a financial analyst and work in private equity or equity research. That’s still the path I’m on but now I see how important it is to include sustainability in practice,” she explains. “For example, if I work in private equity, I want to be investing in companies that have some level of sustainable practices. It’s like the same career path, but with sustainability embedded in it.”

Looking Ahead

Now entering the final stages of her Master’s programme, Sara is committed to driving change at the intersection of finance and sustainability. Whether through impact investing or community-focused financial strategies, she plans to lead initiatives that are both economically viable and socially responsible.

“Sustainable development is not only a global necessity, it’s a local responsibility,” she says. “And leadership, to me, is about empathy, collaboration, and driving inclusive change.”

Learn more about how to engage with the PRME Students programme.