Success of the 1st Edition of CFA Society Poland's ESGthon for Impact at the Warsaw Stock Exchange

On May 26th, the Listing Room of the Warsaw Stock Exchange became an arena for future leaders in sustainable development. The final of the 1st edition of the ESGthon for Impact competition, organized by CFA Society Poland and the GPW Foundation with the support of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), brought together the top six student teams from across Poland. Participants, working under time pressure, tackled real and complex ESG challenges prepared by leading Polish companies: KGHM Polska Miedź, the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), and Dom Development. The event demonstrated not only the enormous potential and excellent preparation of young talents but also the growing importance of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues for Generation Z.

The ESGthon for Impact final was not a typical academic competition (official contest website: contests.cfapoland.org/esgthon-for-impact). It was a true intellectual marathon where students spent 3.5 hours analyzing comprehensive case studies, followed by a 20-minute presentation of their recommendations and a defense before a jury. The top-tier competition and the participants' extraordinary commitment proved that the young generation has deeply internalized ESG principles and is ready to actively shape the future of Polish business with this awareness.

Real Challenges, Innovative Solutions

Students were tasked with developing strategies and specific actions in response to complex ESG problems that market leaders face daily. The case study by Dom Development focused on significant social impacts, including working conditions and wage adequacy, in the context of ESRS S1 guidelines and the Best Practice for GPW Listed Companies 2021. The Warsaw Stock Exchange challenged finalists to devise a sustainable development strategy for the social pillar, focusing on GPW's role in financial education and education for sustainable development, including defining strategic goals and performance indicators. Meanwhile, KGHM Polska Miedź asked students to develop a concept for responding to the materialization of a significant governance risk related to preventing and detecting corruption, considering potential operational, financial, and reputational consequences for the global concern. 

"The first edition of ESGthon for Impact exceeded our wildest expectations," says Magda Oleksiuk, FCCA, Managing Director of CFA Society Poland and originator of the competition. "We were immensely impressed not only by the students' analytical skills but above all by their ability to work in teams, their creative thinking, and their professionalism during presentations. The tasks were extremely demanding, reflecting the real complexity of implementing ESG strategies in large organizations. What we saw at the Warsaw Stock Exchange is proof that we have a young generation in Poland ready to consciously and responsibly shape the future of business. For CFA Society Poland, promoting the highest standards, including in the ESG area, is the foundation of our activity. This competition perfectly aligns with our mission."

Teamwork was the key to success. Participants, working at separate islands in the Warsaw Stock Exchange's listing room, had to not only demonstrate their subject-matter knowledge but also effectively delegate tasks, manage time, and collaboratively develop coherent and convincing recommendations. The students' level of preparation, their fluency in navigating complex regulations like ESRS, and their maturity in argumentation earned immense recognition from the jurors and observers.

"The GPW Foundation is delighted to support initiatives like ESGthon for Impact. Education in sustainable development and responsible investment is crucial for building a conscious and transparent capital market. Today's presentations show that investing in young talents brings tangible results," adds Alina Bączar, President of the Management Board at the GPW Foundation.

"Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego's involvement in ESGthon for Impact stems from our strategic approach to sustainable development. We see enormous value in confronting real business challenges with students' fresh perspectives. Their proposals often bring a new viewpoint and can inspire the implementation of innovative ESG solutions in Polish enterprises. As a development bank, we want to actively support the transformation of the Polish economy towards greater sustainability," admits Patryk Darowski, CFA, Director of the Industry and ESG Risk Department at Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.

ESG Crucial for Generation Z

The ESGthon for Impact final perfectly illustrated the great importance Generation Z attaches to sustainable development issues. For young people entering the job market, environmental, social, and corporate governance aspects are not just a fashionable slogan but a real expectation towards future employers and the companies whose products or services they choose. Their determination and deep understanding of the subject are a signal to businesses—ignoring ESG is not only a reputational risk but also a loss of competitiveness and the trust of key stakeholders.

Companies worldwide today face fundamental challenges related to the transition towards a sustainable economy. Climate change, regulatory pressure, and growing social and investor expectations all mean that implementing ESG strategies is ceasing to be an option and is becoming a necessity. Avoiding these issues generates serious risks: from financial ones, through loss of access to capital, to operational ones related to supply chain disruptions or difficulties in attracting and retaining talent. Initiatives like ESGthon for Impact are crucial for preparing future managerial staff to navigate this complex environment and turn ESG challenges into opportunities for innovation and long-term growth. The need to continue and develop such educational projects is therefore indisputable.

Winners of the First Edition and the Jury of the 1st ESGthon for Impact

After deliberations, the jury awarded the title of winners of the first edition of ESGthon for Impact to the team ESGential Analysts, composed of:

• Kamil Wyderka,
• Katarzyna Tęcza,
• Maksym Tomaszewski,
• Igor Ząbek.

Their comprehensive approach, innovative recommendations, and excellent presentation earned the highest recognition. The winning team represented the SGH Warsaw School of Economics and the Warsaw University of Technology.

The jury panel included market practitioners and ESG experts:

• Alina Bączar – President of the Management Board, WSE Foundation
• Piotr Polanowski, CFA – Vice President of the Management Board, CFA Society Poland
• Maciej Szczęsny, CFA – President of the Management Board, Bank Guarantee Fund
• Patryk Darowski, CFA – Director of the Industry and ESG Risk Department, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego
• Karolina Studniarek – Deputy Director of the Sustainable Development and Green Finance Department, Warsaw Stock Exchange
• Ewa Masztalerz – Specialist for Sustainable Development and ESG, Dom Development
• Agnieszka Kontny – Chief Specialist in the Corporate Risk Management and Compliance Department, KGHM Polska Miedź

CFA Society Poland and the WSE Foundation extend their heartfelt thanks to all participants, partners, case study authors, and jury members for creating an unforgettable and extremely valuable event. The success of the first edition of ESGthon for Impact provides a strong foundation for the further development of this initiative, which has the real potential to shape future ESG standards in Polish business.