IC Venture Fellows
Thank you for your interest in our MBA Venture Fellows program. We currently offer two opportunities to engage with us each year: in the spring and then again in the fall. Read more about our fellowship program here. Fall 2012 application dates will be posted by April 30th - please check back.
Krista Baird is a first year MBA student at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. At Darden, she serves as an Outreach Representative and is an active member of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, focusing on impact investing and entrepreneurship. Prior to Darden, she worked in mergers and acquisitions advisory and private equity fund management in the technology industry. She also has experience in management and operations consulting, where she provided strategic guidance related to streamlining processes for numerous clients in the Energy and Aerospace industries. Krista holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.
Annika Berman is a second year MBA student at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she is also pursuing a Certificate in Public Management. At Stanford, she serves as Co-President of the Sustainable Business Club, an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow, and a Board Fellow with the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In her MBA summer, Annika was a Carbon Markets Intern at MicroEnergy Credits, an early-stage social enterprise, where she led carbon credit certification and strategy and supported investor due diligence. Prior to her MBA, Annika worked in strategy and management consulting at McKinsey & Company in Boston, and in global social entrepreneurship as a Senior Intrapreneur and Projects Manager at Ashoka in Washington DC and India. Previously, she served as a Peter Ling Teaching Fellow a boarding school in England, and led global wilderness adventure trips for The Road Less Traveled. Annika holds a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.
Ben Blackburn is a second year MBA student at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School where he is concentrating in Sustainable Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. At UNC, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition (SVCIC) and the VP of Finance for the Kenan-Flagler Energy Club. He is also an MBA Associate with Anka Funds Sustainable Ventures, where he provides strategic guidance to numerous sustainability-focused portfolio companies. Ben’s interest in renewable energy and clean technology led him to a summer internship with Duke Energy where he analyzed emerging energy technologies for the Chief Technology Officer. Prior to Kenan-Flagler, he worked as a Product Manager at The North Face, where he helped to develop the company’s sustainability initiatives. Ben also has experience in equity capital markets investment banking at Jefferies & Co, and in private wealth management at Merrill Lynch. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Wake Forest University. In his free time, he enjoys running, skiing, climbing and cycling.
Brian Busch is a 2nd year MBA at UC Berkeley-Haas and is passionate about startups that address social and environmental problems. After graduating with degrees in Finance and Philosophy from Boston College, Brian spent four years working with microfinance fund manager and technical assistance provider serving institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. He analyzed loans for an emergency credit facility, launched two risk management training programs, and co-authored two papers on the microfinance industry. At Haas, Brian is a student Co-Chair of the Global Social Venture Competition and spent his summer working on a clean water startup with Dr. Ashok Gadgil (LBNL, UC Berkeley, Darfur Stoves Project). After graduation he will join an edtech startup, MPrep, based in Kenya.
Michael is a graduate student pursuing dual master's degrees in business and urban planning at UNC-Chapel Hill. He holds an AB in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis. While in school, Michael has worked at Self-Help Credit Union, doing business development and financial analysis for their green lending program, and with the UNC Environmental Finance Center, where Michael helped state and local governments develop energy efficiency and renewable energy lending programs. Before coming back to graduate school, Michael worked as a consultant for the Centre for Microfinance, based in Chennai India, where he authored case studies on emerging issues within Indian microfinance and helped develop the centre's communications strategy. Prior to working in microfinance, Michael was a senior research manager at Corporate Executive Board, focusing on business ethics, energy and sustainability.
Megan Christenson is a second year MBA / Masters in International Environmental Policy candidate at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Within the dual-degree program she is focusing on impact investment and sustainable business practices. Her interests in creating innovative business models for social and environmental change have led her to El Salvador with EcoViva to develop a community-based tourism initiative and most recently to the Ecuadorian Amazon to scout opportunities for a social enterprise accelerator with Village Capital. Prior to MIIS, she served as a communications manager for a Chicago-based language services startup. Megan received her BA in International Studies and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and hopes to pursue a career in sustainable enterprise development.
Victoria Fram is a second-year MBA candidate at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she is also pursuing a Certificate in Public Management. Most recently, she was a summer intern at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, reviewing prospective investment opportunities in the fields of global health and global development on the Program Related Investments team. Prior to business school, she was an Investment Associate at MREEM, a global private equity real estate fund-of-funds. Previously as an Insight Fellow, she designed and implemented projects focused on international development and conflict resolution in China, the Netherlands, and East Africa. At the GSB, she is on the leadership team of the Public Management Initiative, is a Board Fellow with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and is active in the Social Venture and International Development clubs. Victoria holds a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in Mandarin from Stanford University.
Robert Garey is currently reading for his MBA at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. Prior to Oxford, Robert was a founding partner at IntegrityID.com and a Vice President at Consultants Exchange. After graduating from Pepperdine University with a degree in International Business, Robert spent several years in Washington DC in management consulting and working for the US Congress, before working with Esperanza International, a micro finance institution in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Robert currently serves on the board of Seattle Against Slavery, an anti-human trafficking coalition, and is representing Oxford at the 2011 Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition.
Rachele Haber-Thomson is a second year MBA at NYU Stern School of Business where she is concentrating in Social Innovation & Impact, Finance and Strategy. At Stern she serves on the board of the Social Enterprise Association and of the Stern Energy club. Last summer she was a Stern Social Impact Internship Fund Fellow and worked at Bridges Ventures in London, a social venture capital fund and sustainable growth investor. She has also consulted for non-profits and social enterprises in New York and in Latin America. Prior to business school, Rachele worked in online advertising at Yahoo! Europe. Rachele holds a B.A. degree in Economics and French from the University of Rochester.
Doris Huang is a first-year MBA student at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She grew up in Silicon Valley in the 1990s, an experience that sparked a lasting interest in innovation and entrepreneurship. After completing her bachelor's degree in Government at Harvard University and her master's degree in Latin American economics at Oxford University, she worked and studied in Mexico on a Fulbright Scholarship. Prior to business school, Doris worked as a management consultant for Oliver Wyman in London in its retail practice and as a program officer for Ashoka Innovators for the Public in Mexico City, where she was responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and selecting high-impact social entrepreneurs to join Ashoka's global network.
Jacquelyn Hunter is a second year MBA student at Thunderbird School of Global Management focusing on impact investing, social entrepreneurship, and the economic empowerment of women in developing countries using her expertise in Latin America and Asia. She launched and is currently managing the Thunderbird Angel Network, a group of angel investors. Prior to pursuing her MBA, Jacquelyn leveraged her previous corporate experience with Ecolab and Medtronic in order to effectively manage development projects. Jacquelyn served as a Peace Corps small business consultant in Belize where she mentored over 200 women-owned small businesses. After the Peace Corps, she worked for incubators and reviewed business plans and did due diligence for angel investors. Recently, Jacquelyn was a small business consultant in Peru for the Inter-American Development Bank where she helped 24 women entrepreneurs develop strategic growth plans. Jacquelyn received a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of San Diego.
Eijiro Imai is a second year MBA/MS student at Sanford University. In his MS in School of Earth Science, he is concentrating on cleantech. Currently, he serves as CFO of Finance and Investment club and a Board Fellow at Breath California, a San Francisco based non-profit promoting clean air. Eijiro has an investment experience across different capital structures. Most recently, Eijiro was a summer intern at Sankaty Advisors looking at distressed investments, and at York Capital looking at public equity investments. Prior to Stanford, he worked for Bain Capital, where he evaluated and executed large-scale buyout deals, and was involved in operation of its portfolio company. Prior to that, he worked as a corporate attorney at Nishimura & Asahi, the largest corporate law firm in Japan. Eijiro holds Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo.
Carlos Jerez-Bernal is a graduate student of International Finance at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He co-founded the Columbia Impact Investing Initiative (CI3) andhas been engaged in projects with Developing World Markets, Hub Bogotá and the Inter-American Development Bank. During the summer of 2011 Carlos was a FEC Associate at Ashoka Colombia, where he worked on the business plan of AVD, a commercial entity for home improvements, and advised social entrepreneurs on negotiations with finance providers and their credit assessment processes.
Carlos started his career as an M&A Analyst at Arcano Corporate. Given his interest in policy issues, he later joined the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and read a Masters in European Economic Affairs at the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium). Carlos holds a double B.A. in Economics and Business Administration at Universidad Carlos III of Madrid.
Laura Keller is a second-year MBA student at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Last summer she interned in the sustainability group at Driscoll Strawberry Associates, assessing environmental risks and opportunities associated with berry growing operations and distribution in the Americas. Prior to business school, she was an Associate at California Environmental Associates, a boutique environmental consulting firm based in San Francisco, where she worked with private sector clients to develop sustainable business strategies. She also served as Program Manager at the non-profit Chemical Strategies Partnership, working to reduce chemical use, risks, waste and costs through innovative supply chain strategies. Laura holds a B.A. in Economics, a second major in Environmental Studies, and a minor in Legal Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.
David Knox is a second year MBA candidate at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to Wharton, David worked at Conservation International advising several African governments and extractive industry companies to assist them with climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. He has worked across 35 African countries and has advised the governments of South Africa, Liberia, DR Congo and Madagascar on their transition to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, David has been involved with One Degree Solar, a start-up focused on providing solar energy and lighting solutions across sub-Saharan Africa since 2010. For the summer of 2011, David worked as a management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in San Francisco. David holds a Masters in Environmental Science from the University of Cape Town and a BS in Biology and Chemistry from the University of North Carolina.
Erin Koehler is a first year MBA student at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. At Haas, she serves as VP of Social Entrepreneurship for the Net Impact chapter and is a member of the leadership team for the Global Social Venture Competition. Prior to Haas, Erin worked at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, a non-profit that embraces marketplace solutions to improve access to life-saving medications in the developing world. She has also worked for a maritime consulting company, where she led the analytics and consulting efforts for one of the company’s major markets. Erin holds a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University.
Alina Kogan is completing her MBA at Columbia Business School, where she is currently involved in organizing the Global Social Venture Competition and managing the investment process for Microlumbia – a fund investing in microfinance institutions worldwide. She started her career as a social entrepreneur, launching a school in Afghanistan and working with grassroots nonprofits in Mexico and Brazil. As a strategy consultant at Dalberg, Alina helped the IFC launch an SME Ventures fund in frontier markets and advised the IDB on facilitating investments in renewable energy in Central America. Her recent work includes Latin American investment banking at Citigroup and African venture capital at Fanisi – a fund investing equity in small and growing businesses across East Africa. Originally from Russia, Alina is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and Russian, and holds a BA in Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs from Princeton University.
Jesse Lane is currently an MBA student at Stanford University. Upon graduation, Jesse is planning on returning to Summit Partners, as a Vice President, to work on growth investments in the software, technology, healthcare, and life sciences space. Prior to Stanford, Jesse was an Associate at Summit Partners where he was based at the firm’s Boston office. Jesse is a Fellow and graduate of the Startup Leadership Program (SLP), a highly selective world-class training program for outstanding founders, leaders, venture capitalists and innovators who are or want to be startup CEOs. Jesse also volunteers with Junior Achievement and Minds Matter in Boston, two non-profits focused on furthering educational opportunities for disadvantaged youths. Before graduation, he played two seasons of professional hockey and was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL Draft. He has also represented the United States as a member of two U.S. National Ice Hockey Teams in international competition. He holds an A.B. in Government from Harvard University.
Jessica Lee is a second year MBA candidate at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University). Most recently Jessica served as a Marketing Innovation intern with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Prior to Kellogg, Jessica worked for New Sector Alliance, a nonprofit consulting and leadership development firm. At New Sector Jessica led business development and managed consulting projects for organizations ranging from $20M agencies to entrepreneurial start-ups. Jessica began her career in the social sector with Ashoka, where she oversaw the implementation of Ashoka’s respected Fellow selection process and supported the operations of six global offices. She graduated in 2005 from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Anthropology and French. She enjoys cooking and practicing yoga. This is Jessica’s second year as an Investors’ Circle Venture Fellow.
Stephen Lee is a 2013 MBA candidate at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is interested in private sector solutions to public health and international development challenges. Prior to business school, he spent two years as a consultant at Applied Strategies, a strategy consulting firm based in San Mateo dedicated to life sciences and global health. Through projects with major global health organizations, Stephen conducted a malaria vaccine investment strategy, an HIV vaccine market assessment, and an evaluation of tuberculosis intervention groups. He then spent one year as a Global Health Corps Fellow in Rwanda, working for The Access Project, a local NGO dealing with improving management practices in the national health system. Stephen received an MS in bioengineering from Stanford and a BS in biology from MIT.
Masha Lisak is a second year MBA student at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley where she is concentrating on Impact Investing. Prior to attending business school, Masha worked as Senior Analyst in the Portfolio Management group at Hall Capital, a premier Bay Area asset management firm. Her professional experience also includes a stint as Financial Manager of a social enterprise in Guatemala, where she witnessed the power of market-based solutions to address social problems. Most recently, Masha spent a summer at the Global Impact Investing Network, where she worked on driving more impact capital to investments in African agriculture. At Berkeley-Haas, Masha is a Principal of the Haas Socially Responsible Investment Fund and Co-Chair of Impact Assessment for the Global Social Venture Competition. Masha holds a B.A. in International Relations with a focus on human rights from Stanford University. She is actively involved with Opportunity Fund, a Bay Area microfinance institution.
Amanda Lubin is a second-year MBA student at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Prior to business school, Amanda worked at Bain & Company in New York, where she conducted strategic consulting and due diligence projects in a wide variety of industries for corporate and private equity clients. While at Bain, Amanda also served as Director of Operations for Inspire, Inc., a national 501(c)(3) that provides pro-bono consulting services to educational nonprofits. Amanda also worked for TechnoServe in Mozambique on a rural development project prior to attending the GSB, and most recently, she spent her summer in Guatemala as a consultant for Dalberg Global Development Advisors. At the GSB, Amanda is co-President of the Social Venture Club, a member of the student-led Executive Committee for the Public Management Program, and a Venture Philanthropy Fellow. She holds a B.A. in Government and Spanish from Dartmouth College.
Hatem Mahbouli is an MBA 2012 candidate focusing on social business and impact investing, at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University (Washington, DC).He served as the president of the Middle East Graduate Alliance.For the past two years, he has been involved in several projects to develop impact investing at organizations such as Grassroot Business Fund, Gray Ghost Ventures, and Laterite Africa.Prior to the MBA, he worked as Senior Analyst at the Paris Office of Accenture.
Hatem holds a master's degree in Telecom Engineering from the Telecom SudParis School (France). He is the co-founder and president of the Tunisian Center for Social Entrepreneurship (www.tcenterse.org). After graduation, he will be working as a Micro-business Investment Officer at FMO, in the Hague, Netherlands.
Ben Margolis is a first year MBA student at Darden Graduate Business School at University of Virginia. As part of his studies, Ben is pursuing concentrations in sustainability and entrepreneurship. On campus, Ben is involved with Net Impact, Energy Club and Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club. Off campus, Ben is working with several local nonprofits including the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) where he is helping craft a marketing campaign for university staff and faculty. Prior to Darden, Ben worked as an engineer for SunEdison, designing and managing commercial scale solar photovoltaic projects worldwide. Ben has a BS in Civil Engineering from the A. James Clark School of Engineering at University of Maryland.
Tyler McNally is first-year MBA / MA Education candidate at Stanford University. Tyler is a co-founder and partner at IXL Center; a professional services firm that helps large organizations develop world-class innovation capabilities. Prior to IXL Center, Tyler was a Case Team Leader at Monitor Group, a global strategy consulting firm. He has worked with public and private sector clients on a range of issues related to national economic development, corporate strategy and innovation across the US and Middle East. Tyler is a co-author of several books and case studies on the topic of innovation including 101 Innovation Breakthroughs, and Greenovate! Companies Innovating to Create a More Sustainable World. Tyler has a B.A. in Economics from the Honors Program at Boston College.
Nikhil Neelakantan is a recent MBA graduate of the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School where his focus was on social entrepreneurship and finance. Prior to business school, Nikhil worked for most of his career as an engineer in the semiconductor industry. He then used his experience to help set up manufacturing operations for a nanotechnology startup, Advanced Diamond Technologies. He also helped found a chapter of the non-profit organization Vibha, which works to improve the lives of underprivileged children in India. It makes grants
to grassroots organizations working primarily in the areas of education and health. As a member of the board, he oversaw the process of selecting and monitoring these organizations.
With a focus on impact investing, Nikhil hopes to use his professional experience and business skills to help solve some of the seemingly intractable social and environmental problems facing the world.
Genny Orr is in her first year of a joint MBA/MA degree program at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford University School of Education. Prior to graduate school, Genny spent three years as a researcher at MDRC − a nonprofit, social policy research organization based in New York City. There she conducted qualitative and quantitative program evaluations to build knowledge about what works to improve postsecondary educational opportunities for low-income people. Genny is passionate about bridging business innovation with education reform. She holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University.
Sid Padgaonkar has always gravitated towards roles that would allow me to make a positive impact on his community. In 2007, he spent a year in Mississippi managing the FEMA Housing Grant Program that was designed to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It was a very gratifying experience and motivated me to move back to India in search of similar opportunities.
For the past 4 years he has worked in India where he started a housing finance startup, Micro Housing Finance Corporation (MHFC) that provides micro mortgages to India’s urban poor. At MHFC he developed micro mortgage products, raised capital through venture funds and managed its lending operations.
MHFC was an immensely rewarding experience; it allowed his to make a direct impact in the lives of those deemed “unbankable” by traditional banks, by helping them move out of their inhospitable environments into dignified housing alternatives. It was a truly gratifying experience that led him to believe that he has discovered his true calling in life.
Sid chose Kenan-Flagler as he was attracted to the strong sustainable enterprise program and the well-rounded academic base it provides me to become a successful social entrepreneur. Post MBA, he would like to use the knowledge and exposure gained, to achieve my goal of becoming a social entrepreneur.
K. Danae Pauli is a second-year MBA candidate at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she is also pursuing a Certificate in Public Management and Social Innovation. Most recently, she was a summer intern at Maiyet, a start-up social venture in the luxury fashion space. Prior to business school, she worked in East Africa in the field of international development with CARE in Kenya, the Clinton Foundation Health Access Initiative in Rwanda and the United Nations Development Programme in Burundi. At Stanford, she is co-President of the International Development Club and an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow. Danae holds an A.B. in Government from Harvard University and is fluent in French.
Rupa Pereira is a 2012 MBA candidate at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. She was a 2011 Entrepreneur-in-Residence at NCIDEA, a 501(c)3 that awards grants to high growth startups in NC. Prior to business school, Rupa led technology consulting engagements at NYC DOT, inVentiv Health, Teradata and major financial institutions, specializing in IT strategy, business analytics and project management. She was a member of NYC OEM's 9-11 recovery operations.
Marco Rafanelli is a 2012 MBA Candidate in Social Entrepreneurship at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. He also works full time as the Director of Member Business Services at the Colorado League of Charter Schools, where he has developed several revenue generating ventures and partnerships. Previously, Marco worked for GNYHA Ventures, Inc., a business services and consulting firm that serves the health care market in the New York Region. As part of his graduate studies, Marco was selected to be a student leader of a multidisciplinary partnership between Rotary International and the University of Denver whose mission is to develop a financially sustainable and scalable water and sanitation delivery model to serve the urban poor in Sub-Saharan Africa. Marco is passionate about developing business models that create both social benefit and economic value. Marco holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Samantha Shiells is a first year MBA candidate at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where she is earning a Certificate in Public Management. Prior to the GSB, Samantha worked as an analyst at the mid-market private equity firm Great Hill Partners and as a senior strategy analyst at the nation’s largest home healthcare non-profit, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. Samantha holds a BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Karl Skare is a first year MBA/MS student at Stanford University in the Graduate School of Business and the Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. At Stanford, he is serving on the Board of Acterra, an environmental education and action nonprofit, through the Board Fellows program and is on the Executive Committee of the Berkeley-Stanford Cleantech Conference. Prior to Stanford, Karl worked as a Project Manager at Energy Solutions, an energy efficiency consulting firm in Oakland, CA. Karl holds a BA in Finance and Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis. Karl is passionate about the intersection of environmental sustainability and international development and plans to pursue an internship working on bringing renewable energy to those that do not have grid access.
Catalina is passionate about the link between the private sector and development. She is pursuing her Master in Public Administration at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University and is part of the funding board of Columbia Impact Investment Initiative student group. Currently she is interning at New York City Economic Development Corporation as NYC Market Intern. With over five years of working experience, before starting her MPA at SIPA she held several positions including Search and Selection Associate for Endeavor Colombia. She has also worked as a volunteer for several organizations through out her career.
Doug Weiss is a first year in the E-IPER MBA/MS joint degree program at Stanford University specializing in sustainable development. Prior to enrolling at Stanford, Doug worked at PepsiCo, helping to develop the implementation strategy and metric system for their newly created sustainability plan. Before PepsiCo, Doug worked at McKinsey, helping companies, non-profits, and the public sector create programs to lower their environmental footprint through energy efficiency and sustainable development platforms. Based in Chicago, his capstone project was helping the City of Chicago develop their Climate Action Plan, connecting the government with key private and community stakeholders. At Stanford, Doug is on the Board of Village Enterprise, helping them to create support for sustainable businesses in East Africa, CFO of the Social Committee, and a member of the Energy and Sustainable Business organizations. Doug holds a BS in Business and a BA in International Studies and Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Stephanie Yeung is a second year MBA candidate at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, focusing in Sustainability and Entrepreneurship / Venture Capital. She participated in events like the Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition and is a portfolio manager for Darden Capital Management’s Rotunda Sustainability Fund. Prior to returning to school, she worked for four years as a Treasury Analyst at Bank of Hawaii in Honolulu where her responsibilities ranged from financial modeling to corporate strategy. She represented the Bank as the investment manager for a clean energy project on Maui, an experience which kindled her interest in pursuing a sustainability-related career after business school. Stephanie spent her summer internship starting a building and human performance technology company under the guidance of a serial entrepreneur in San Francisco. She received bachelor degrees in Economics and Spanish from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In her free time she enjoys competitive ballroom and salsa dancing, pick up soccer, and playing the piano.
