Program Assistant Introduction: Clara Li, MIA '23

Note from Admissions: We're excited to welcome our new group of program assistants (PAs) working with us here in the SIPA Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. They’ll specifically be helping you through the application and decision process over the next few months through answering your emails, calls, and writing relevant blog posts to help you during this admission process. You can learn more about assistantships and what PAs do here. So far, you've met PA Jules and PA Shally and we are excited to continue to introduce our PAs!

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Clara Li is a second-year Master of International Affairs (MIA) candidate concentrating in Energy and Environment (EE) and specializing in Data Analytics & Quantitative Analysis (DAQA). She was raised in Maryland and graduated from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) with a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy. Prior to SIPA, Clara worked as a Solution Consultant in IBM’s Salesforce practice where she configured Salesforce environments for, primarily, healthcare and life sciences clients. She is passionate about building equitable and sustainable energy solutions in emerging markets and catering them to local contexts. In her free time, Clara is an avid contemporary and hip-hop dancer and is always on the hunt for great dessert places in the city.

What attracted you to SIPA and Columbia University?

One of the most important factors to me when pursuing an International Affairs degree was pairing it with international experiences. SIPA provided the most variety and immersive opportunities to do just that. From capstone projects that involve international client visits to student-led treks to Palestine, there are personal and professional ways to learn about new industries and regions that you otherwise would not have been exposed to. The other selling point for me is that around 60% of SIPA’s incoming cohort is international. As a domestic student that has primarily learned in American dominated settings, I wanted to be more intentional about being in classroom settings with students from a diversity of backgrounds.

What has been the best part of your SIPA experience?

The people and the community. It is a privilege to be able to learn from students that come from every corner of the world and to have them be part of my support system. Prior to starting at SIPA, I was concerned about the competitiveness of the cohort, but have found the opposite to be true. The people I have connected with have consistently been generous with their time, help, and knowledge. I also appreciate that there is a culture and eagerness to pay it forward to the next class.

What’s your internship experience been like?

I worked for Easy Solar, a West African distribution company that provides affordable and accessible energy and financial services, at their Sierra Leone headquarters. As a Sales and Operations Associate, I documented the Sales Teams’ key processes and KPIs and helped create a new commission structure for their Brand Ambassadors. This experience was a great balance between building technical skills in data and revenue analysis and immersive field work. My managers created opportunities for me to engage with community members to learn about the realities of the country’s energy access and security challenges. In addition, they connected me with their local network to increase my exposure to other types of energy solutions, such as mini-grids.

Can you comment specifically on some exciting things about your concentration?

My completely biased and wholehearted opinion is that EE is the best concentration and has one of the strongest communities. One of the first things I learned about EE is that it starts off as one of the smaller concentrations but ends up growing a sizable amount due to the number of students transferring in. This is a reflection of the strength of the courses, clubs, and, most importantly, the community. Some exciting opportunities include:

• EE Retreat: At the beginning of the school year, students go on an overnight retreat where they enjoy the outdoors, bond over icebreakers, and relax before the school year picks up.
• EE Practicum: Opportunity for first-years to design and implement a consulting project with an external partner. For me, this was a great way to start building my industry experience and to get a sense of where in renewable energy I wanted to be.
• Research Opportunities: Whether you’re in your first semester or last, there are an abundance of research assistant positions (ex: Center for Global Energy Policy, Earth Institute, Columbia Center for Sustainable Investment). Look out for openings on EE’s newsletters or their respective websites for opportunities; I’d also directly reach out to scholars whose work you’re interested in.
• Student Groups: Our student-run organizations (ex: Columbia Energy Association, ECO, Sustainable Business Working Group) have some of the largest footprints on campus in terms of membership and outreach with alumni! Leverage these groups to network for internships/full-time opportunities and to connect with other like-minded SIPA and CU students.

What was the most challenging aspect of the application process?

I decided to apply to graduate programs because I wanted to pivot careers from consulting to sustainability. I found it challenging to clearly and succinctly articulate why I was ready for this transition at this point in time and how I could apply skills from my previous career to my intended one. Key advice I received was to describe the ‘lightbulb moments’ that ignited this new passion and how I aim to use my time at SIPA and the degree to pursue my new career goals.