From Amazon to Private Equity: Making Sustainability Affordable

When I started my Bachelor’s degree at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management in 2018, what stood out most was the international environment. I was surrounded by people from different backgrounds, all motivated and all working towards ambitious goals. That combination of ambition, curiosity, and a strong network shaped my experience from the outset.

A key part of the programme was gaining international experience. I pursued an internship abroad, which proved to be a formative step and opened doors I had not initially anticipated.

Sustainability in Practice at Amazon

Through this process, I joined Amazon’s Sustainability Engineering team at a time when the company had committed to net-zero carbon emissions through The Climate Pledge. At that scale, the question was not whether sustainability matters, but how to implement it in a way that works operationally and economically.

I worked on value engineering initiatives to support the electrification of Amazon’s delivery fleet. The focus was on the total cost of ownership and on making electric infrastructure competitive with conventional alternatives.

One conclusion became clear: sustainability only scales if it is economically viable.

Our work centred on improving affordability and operational performance to bring electric delivery infrastructure closer to cost parity. Today, seeing Amazon’s electric vehicles on the road across Europe is a visible reminder that impact at scale results from engineering decisions, infrastructure changes, and strategic procurement to make sustainability affordable.

From Operator to Investor Mindset

After graduating, I joined Amazon full-time and moved to Luxembourg. At the same time, I remained connected to Frankfurt School through its alumni network.

At an alumni event in Luxembourg, I attended a discussion on how sustainability can become more attractive for investors. The conversation centred on two main drivers: increasing regulatory pressure and the expectation that, over time, the next generation will naturally integrate sustainability into decision-making as they progress up the career ladder.

I found myself among the more junior voices in the room, which had a lasting impact on how I approached the topic. It led to a simple but important question: where could I have the greatest impact as this transition unfolds?

This reflection ultimately led me to pursue a career in private equity. I joined DTCP to focus on how ESG is embedded in investment decisions and later relocated to London to further develop this perspective.

Digital Infrastructure: Where Scale Meets Impact

Today, I focus on digital infrastructure, including data centres, fibre networks, and communication towers. These assets form the foundation of the digital economy and are, at the same time, highly energy-intensive.

This makes them a particularly relevant area for sustainability improvements, where even incremental changes can have a measurable impact at scale.

In my role, I work across the full investment process, from ESG due diligence to developing value creation plans with portfolio companies and engaging with investors. Close collaboration with investment teams and founders provides a broad perspective on how sustainability is integrated into strategic and financial decision-making.

What I find particularly compelling is the combination of scale and practical implementation. In this context, sustainability is closely linked to capital allocation and fundraising, risk management, and measurable outcomes. At the same time, it requires balancing trade-offs between cost, growth, and long-term impact.

Where Frankfurt School Made a Difference

Frankfurt School played a defining role in shaping this path. I was part of the first intake that could choose a module in sustainable finance, at a time when many of the underlying concepts were still evolving (and, in many respects, still are!). What I found most compelling was that there were rarely clear right or wrong answers. It required working with imperfect definitions and determining what meaningful impact means in practice.

This perspective drew me in and shaped the direction I chose to pursue. It introduced a way of thinking that sits between finance and something more tangible, where decisions are not only driven by financial metrics, but by how they translate into real-world outcomes.

What I Take Forward

One lesson stands out: being the youngest person in the room is not a disadvantage. More often, it indicates that you can learn quickly and take responsibility early. Combined with international experience and a willingness to step outside familiar environments, this can significantly accelerate personal and professional development.