ESG -> Metals & Mining IBD: Am I cooked?

Hey everyone,

I'm a junior at a Canadian target school and currently trying to narrow down my finance interests. After some exploration, I've landed on infrastructure and metals & mining (M&M) as potential areas of focus.

Similar to many of my peers, I started with the traditional path: search fund in freshman year and asset management (AM) in my second year. However, for the last year, I pivoted to a small non-profit consulting firm focused on impact/development finance. We provide funding and technical assistance to investment vehicles aimed at emerging markets. This role really appealed to me due to 1) tangible impact/meaningful work, and 2) relatively high paycheck for an internship.

I understand that shifting from non-profit to banking is difficult, but with two more years left in school, I'm ready to give it my all. It feels daunting since most bankers seem to jump into traditional finance right from the get-go, and my unique background makes me hesitant to reach out.

Would it be smarter to first dive into sustainability finance and then make a transition, or is my story compelling enough to market myself directly into banking? Any advice or insights would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance!