Continuing Education
Training tomorrow's players: interview with Natacha Guerdat on the ISFB Sustainable Finance certificate
In this interview, Natacha Guerdat talks about her career path, the current challenges facing financial institutions, and the strengths of the ISFB Finance Durable certificate program, which enables participants to combine financial performance with positive impact. A rigorous, human and committed approach, at the heart of today's and tomorrow's challenges.
Natachat Guerdat, you are a lecturer at ISFB, where you teach the ISFB Sustainable Finance Certificate. Can you tell us about your experience as a lecturer?
This experience represents a valuable opportunity to convey an essential message: sustainable investing can not only be robust, but also sincere. It's about adopting a thoughtful, consistent approach that integrates long-term sustainable objectives into asset allocation in a structured, intentional way. It's about demonstrating that sustainability principles are not simply secondary considerations, but can be at the very heart of investment strategy, while remaining financially sound.
In the course of this experience, I was struck by the considerable interest shown by the participants; an enthusiasm that reinforced my own motivation. The ISFB is the ideal place for us to share our knowledge and convey meaningful messages. This open and stimulating environment is an enriching experience, both pedagogically and personally!
Can you tell us about your academic and professional background?
I hold a Master's degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva. This multi-disciplinary training introduced me to the concept of sustainable development, at a time when it was still little-known.
I became interested in investing during one of my first professional experiences as a financial analyst. My passion for sustainable finance has remained with me for over 25 years, and has been the common thread running through my entire career.
I am currently Head of Research at Asteria IM, part of the Man Group, a global alternative asset manager. In this role, I define the impact investment strategy and also oversee research and impact measurement activities.
What do you see as the main challenges facing financial institutions in terms of sustainable finance?
Without doubt, training plays an essential role. In an ever-changing environment, it is vital to maintain a high level of competence in order to meet the expectations of an increasingly well-informed clientele.
The aim is to maintain the right balance between critical thinking and the ability to understand customers' objectives, by offering products tailored to investors' goals.
The ISFB Finance Durable certificate will start soon (June 2025). How can this program offer concrete solutions? What, in your opinion, are the strengths and specific features that make this program so rich and valuable?
The certificate aims to provide a multi-disciplinary toolbox, including key concepts, research foundations, the legal framework, the specifics of each investment strategy, and impact measurement tools. Participants familiarize themselves with the challenges of sustainability, its vocabulary and concepts, in order to identify the most relevant investment opportunities. They acquire skills that can be applied directly to their day-to-day work, enabling them to make decisions in line with their own convictions and those of their clients.
Participants come from a wide range of backgrounds and occupy different levels of responsibility. The exchanges that emerge from discussions on practical cases are also precious moments. They take place in a spirit of collaboration and goodwill.
