Schwarzman Hopeful Strives for Green Sustainability and Finance

We are delighted to share news about Phillip Schmider, the university’s nominee for the Schwarzman Scholarship this year. The Schwarzman Scholarship funds a year of study at China’s Tsinghua University in Beijing. The award, which brings together young leaders from across the United States, China, and the world, is focused on helping these young people develop leadership skills, grow in understanding of Chinese society and culture, and build powerful cross-cultural networks to facilitate dialogue.

Phillip Schmider, DMSB’ 25, International Affairs and International Business
Mentors: Hua Dong, Julie Garey, Kevin Chuah

Phillip is driving meaningful change at the intersection of policy, finance, and sustainability. By studying international business and international affairs, he has gained a complex understanding of how global affairs and financial systems interact. Phillip plans on leveraging this knowledge as he embarks on a career centered on financing climate-focused technologies and infrastructure. In his most recent role with AEW Capital Management’s ESG and Resilience team, he gained valuable hands-on experience, deepening his insight into how financial institutions integrate sustainability practices into their operations. On campus, Phillip is the Director of Investments at NUImpact, Northeastern University’s student-led Impact Investing Fund, where he leads an analyst team of over 30 working to provide meaningful capital to impactful ventures. Phillip’s leadership in sustainability was recognized in 2024 with the Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust Scholarship, honoring his efforts in promoting responsible corporate management. Having developed a passion for learning Mandarin Chinese since Middle School and declaring it as a minor at Northeastern, Phillip hopes to use his language skills as a Schwarzman Scholar in China. While there, he will deeply examine China’s world-renowned green tech industries and further his understanding of the role of policy and finance in advancing sustainable innovations.