Propel Impact

Lena Courcol

Acquisitions Manager at New Market Funds

Analyst at Esplanade Quebec (2019)

“Propel Impact offered me invaluable insight into the Canadian social finance ecosystem through various lenses, including that of an investor, accelerator, and social entrepreneur, all while applying my skills toward a tangible project. My internship was a defining experience that has since shaped my career path. Had I been able to design my perfect internship, it would have looked just like this.”

What was your career path?

After completing a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Environment at McGill University, I pursued a Masters of Science in Sustainability Management at Columbia University. During the summer of my graduate degree, I interned with Propel Impact at Esplanade. This enriching experience allowed me to gain an understanding of where my interests could align for a role post-graduation. Once I graduated, I started as Investment Readiness Program Coordinator at New Market Funds, which then led to an opportunity to further my financial skills and grow into my current role as Financial Analyst.

How did Propel Impact help you grow?

My internship with Propel Impact at Esplanade fully immersed me in Canada’s social innovation and social finance landscape, allowing me to meet a variety of actors, including investors and entrepreneurs, apply my academic knowledge toward building an impact measurement product for the accelerator, and overall, gain an important vantage that would prove invaluable for directing my career path.

What issue do you most want to tackle in the world?

Carbon neutrality, accessible and thriving urban environments, and environmental conservation.