Spotlight on Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MSc graduate Michael Pechstein

What is your background?

I am originally from the States and after studying economics and finance, I worked for several years at an investment bank in New York.  I learned a lot and enjoyed my time there, but wanting to specialize a bit more and do something more impactful, I decided to come to UCL to study Sustainable Resources

What have you been doing since graduating from Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Trasnitions MSc?

I am still in London and am working with Glennmont Partners, a clean energy investment fund working to invest institutional capital into the deployment of large scale generation infrastructure.  Being able to make a direct impact on the advancement of renewables and learning about the complex and interconnected drivers of the energy transition has been fantastic.

 
How has your MSc helped you with your new career?

The SREPT program certainly helped me to steer my career in this new direction.  I think that in addition to helping me explore potential new avenues, the program gave me a strong base of knowledge on a number of energy and decarbonization topics and allowed me to speak competently with employers about these nuanced areas.  I am working everyday to understand how our firm can stay on the cutting edge of the rapidly evolving clean energy space, and the SREPT program helped to lay the groundwork for this type of thinking.

Do you have any advice for future SREPT MSc graduates?

My advice to current students would be to remain very open minded for the first half of the program, but choose an area to focus on in depth for the second half and the dissertation.  The program covers a lot of ground, but by specializing and becoming an expert in an area you're passionate about, you will be much more competitive in the job market.