From Wall Street to the Classroom: Julie Anderson on Educating the Future of Sustainable Finance

In this episode of the Future of Finance podcast, host George Dyer speaks with Dr. Julie Anderson, Director of the M.S. in Sustainability Management Program at American University’s Kogod School of Business. Drawing from a 25-year career in investment management—including leadership roles in ESG product development and emerging markets strategy—Dr. Anderson shares how she’s now equipping the next generation of sustainability professionals. The conversation explores the evolution of sustainable finance, the megatrend status of sustainability, and the critical skills employers are demanding—such as systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and change management.

Julie also discusses the innovative, interdisciplinary, and experiential design of her graduate program, the value of real-world capstone projects, and the importance of grounding financial decisions in long-term materiality. She reflects on the backlash against ESG, the evolving regulatory landscape, and why creativity and fresh perspectives are vital to building a sustainable economy. The episode is a compelling look into the academic-industry bridge shaping the future of sustainable finance.

Keywords: Sustainable finance, ESG integration, systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, sustainability education, experiential learning, change management, investment management, climate risk disclosure, megatrends in finance