From Development Banker to Founder: What Sustainable Finance Taught Me

During my years at KfW IPEX-Bank and later KfW Development Bank, working on public-private partnerships, project finance and development projects across the Middle East, one question kept coming back to me: how do we make financially sound projects sustainable, and sustainable projects financially sound?

Why I chose the programme

I already knew how to read a financial model. What I wanted was a framework that connected that craft to ESG, climate risk and impact, along with the leadership skills to act on it. The Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance (MLSF) at Frankfurt School brought all three together.

Studying online

Studying online alongside a full-time job was demanding, and I won’t pretend otherwise. Classmates from different sectors and countries challenged assumptions I had never questioned, and distance never got in the way of that exchange. That made the leadership academy week in Frankfurt all the more valuable - after months of working together remotely, I finally met my classmates and fellow participants in person. My thesis let me apply everything at once: a financial model and economic viability assessment of a 5MW/40MWh battery energy storage system in Ontario’s reserve capacity market.

What it did for my career

The Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance strengthened my leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and understanding of how sustainable finance can support long-term economic development. Combined with my professional experience at KfW and KfW IPEX-Bank, the programme reinforced the importance of integrating ESG considerations, climate risks, financial sustainability, and socioeconomic impact into decision-making.

It changed how I work. I now ask more deliberately whether a project can sustain itself economically once the initial financing ends, who benefits, what could go wrong over its lifetime, and how those answers should shape the financial structure. Looking back, the MLSF was more than another qualification. It didn’t ask me to abandon my banking background; it asked me to question it, widen it and put it to work for a broader purpose. It also gave me the confidence to move from working inside large institutions to building something of my own.

Building on the foundation

I come from a family of traders, so the entrepreneurial instinct has always been part of me. But it was my banking experience, combined with what I learned in the MLSF, that motivated me to build an advisory practice alongside the trade business.

Building on this foundation, I founded and now lead Edelmann Global Trade & Advisory Ltd., a Canada-based company focused on international advisory services and cross-border business development and sustainable growth opportunities. The leadership insights and international perspectives gained through the programme continue to inform my entrepreneurial approach and the strategic development of the company.

Based in Ottawa, the company combines European development banking standards with entrepreneurial agility. On the advisory side, we support infrastructure projects with bankability assessments, economic viability studies, financial modelling and lifecycle monitoring. On the trade side, we focus on corridors connecting North America, Germany, the UAE, the wider Middle East and Chinese manufacturing hubs. In both, rigorous compliance, risk mitigation and systematic methodology come first.

Looking ahead

I aim to incorporate these principles into the company’s development by promoting responsible business practices and evaluating opportunities not only in terms of commercial viability, but also their potential environmental and socioeconomic impact. I believe that considering climate risks, local needs, and stakeholder interests is essential to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. For me, that means looking beyond short-term returns toward lasting economic value, for our clients and for the communities our work touches.

As the company grows, I intend to build on the knowledge and leadership approaches gained through MLSF to foster responsible international partnerships, support informed decision-making, and contribute to long-term sustainable economic development.

My advice

If you are considering the programme, use it not only to expand your knowledge but also to challenge your ideas, build meaningful connections, and explore opportunities beyond your current career path. Engage actively with your peers and faculty, and connect what you learn to real-world challenges. The experience can open doors you may not have considered before.

I would be glad to hear from fellow alumni working on infrastructure, sustainable finance or cross-border trade. Frankfurt School’s network is one of its greatest strengths.