Burridge鈥檚 Annual Conference Explores Sustainable Investing
Each year, the Burridge Center for Finance鈥檚 spring conference showcases industry thought leadership, challenges and trends in the finance industry. This year, the focus was of increasing importance to the investment world鈥攁nd all sectors of society: sustainable finance. Nearly 200 attendees gathered to hear more than 25 speakers, including Colorado鈥檚 39th Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Alice Jackson, president of Xcel Energy Colorado.
Presented over two days in Boulder and Denver, the conference featured thoughtful panel discussions centered on environmental, social and governance (ESG); the increased demand for corporate transparency; and how environmental and social issues can impact funds, organizations and individual investors. In addition, Heidi VanGenderen, CU Boulder鈥檚 first chief sustainability officer, gave perspective on the intersectionality of regulation, sustainability and fostering economic growth.
As sustainable investing continues to grow, conversations such as those at this conference play an important role, especially for students in attendance, to understand how investing for change makes good business sense鈥攏ow and in the future.
鈥淭he Burridge Conference continues to harness CU Boulder鈥檚 home-grown talent and research by hosting a forum where students can connect with industry thought-leaders and have open discussions about the future of finance.鈥�
鈥�
Burridge Center Executive
Director Roberto Caccia
Making Connections with Impact
听
In fall 2019, the Burridge Center launched the Women in Finance Forum to encourage women students鈥� interest in finance by highlighting the vast opportunities in the industry. It was there that Rose Huang听(Fin鈥�20) and Alexis Delulio (MSFin鈥�20) first met Cindy Schatz, Burridge Center board member and senior credit officer for Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). In a watershed moment in February, while volunteering at the Burridge Center鈥檚 annual conference, the two reconnected with Schatz.
Seeing these two aspiring finance professionals demonstrating their dedication to their education, the industry and themselves made an impression on Schatz鈥攁nd ultimately opened a door at SVB. Rose was offered a role in April as part of SVB鈥檚 Global Fund Banking Group, and Alexis started on SVB鈥檚 Credit Solutions team in May. Their experiences and outcomes are prime examples of how students鈥� involvement with the Burridge Center can positively impact the trajectory of their careers.
鈥淚 can honestly say I participated in every Burridge Center event I could,"听Delulio said.听"They provided great networking opportunities and I reasoned that the more people I could meet and learn from, the more I would understand where I wanted to go, and the better opportunities I would have to get there.鈥�
