From Classroom to the Real World: The Capstone Experience at SIPA

As I near the end of my time at Columbia SIPA, I find myself reflecting on the experiences that have shaped my journey here. Graduate school is a whirlwind of coursework, networking, and career exploration, but one experience stands out as the bridge between academic study and professional impact: the Capstone Workshop.

Unlike traditional coursework that focuses on theory, analysis, or is presented in practicum format, Capstone is about application—working with real-world clients on real-world problems. It’s the moment when SIPA students step out of the classroom and into the role of consultants, analysts, and policy advisors. We collaborate with governments, multinational organizations, and private-sector firms to tackle complex issues, delivering recommendations that could shape future policies and strategies.

My Capstone project has been particularly exciting. My team is working with ReNew, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, to analyze how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investments can be leveraged to accelerate the global energy transition. As ESG financing becomes an increasingly important driver of sustainability, our work focuses on identifying barriers to investment, regulatory challenges, and financial strategies that could help ReNew maximize its impact.

But beyond my own project, what makes the Capstone Workshop such a defining SIPA experience is the sheer range of projects, topics, and challenges that students take on. It is an opportunity to work in small teams to develop policy solutions, business strategies, or research analyses for organizations that span the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Capstone Workshop is that no two projects are the same. Each team’s experience depends on their client’s needs, the scope of the project, and the global issue at hand. Some projects are research-heavy, requiring deep policy analysis, market research, or regulatory assessments. Others are data-driven, where teams conduct financial modeling or statistical analysis to support their recommendations. Some even involve fieldwork, where students travel to work directly with stakeholders in-country.

In my project, while we’re not conducting fieldwork, we are engaging with ESG investors, policymakers, and industry experts to understand how financing can accelerate the global transition to renewable energy. Our client is looking for strategic recommendations that will shape their approach to sustainable investments, and our findings will help inform their corporate and financial decision-making. Across different Capstone projects, the common theme is that students aren’t just learning about policy—they are actively helping to shape it.

What You Gain from Capstone

1. Bridging Theory and Practice

We spend two years studying policy frameworks, economic models, and governance structures. But knowing the theory isn’t enough— our Capstone forces us to translate that knowledge into practical, actionable solutions.

For instance, in a project on climate finance, students might not just research the role of carbon markets; they would need to assess how a company or government should structure its ESG investment portfolio and how financial institutions perceive climate risk.

For my Capstone, this meant identifying investment barriers, analyzing regulatory shifts, and developing a clear financial strategy for a real corporation navigating the global energy landscape.

2. Professional-Grade Work Experience

It is professional consulting at the graduate level. Clients expect SIPA teams to deliver real, implementable solutions, often at the same standard they would expect from a top consulting firm or think tank. Many Capstone teams present their findings to senior leadership, government officials, or executives, and some even see their work directly incorporated into policy decisions or corporate strategies.

3. Collaboration and Teamwork

Capstone teams are made up of students from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, and learning how to collaborate effectively is a key takeaway. Some students come from public-sector roles, others from finance, energy, or law, and each brings a different skill set to the table.

I’ve learned that the best Capstone teams leverage their diversity—playing to each member’s strengths and dividing work in a way that maximizes impact and it has proven successful for my team so far!