Past degree(s) received and from where:
B.Sc. Commerce, University of Virginia
Most recent position:
Strategy Consultant, Intellectual Capital, Omidyar Network
Prior experience:
For the last ten years I've worked as strategy consultant for social entrepreneurship and impact investing, focusing on developing and executing on inclusive business models in issue areas such as low-income housing, financial inclusion, adolescent health, urban sanitation, and impact sourcing. Most of my work has been focused on India and Africa. One of the highlights of my work was developing and publishing new frameworks and reports about the challenges of building and scaling pioneering new models to serve the bottom of the pyramid. Prior to Goldman, I worked with the Omidyar Network in their strategy, learning and innovation team with a focus on issues related to the downside of technology, especially social media platforms.
Why I chose Berkeley's MPA program:
I have always admired Berkeley’s commitment to progressive social values, to speaking truth to power, and to standing up for the marginalized. My work in the area of social entrepreneurship had me reflecting on the question of how to infuse more social justice into social entrepreneurship. Asking myself if we are truly serving the most vulnerable with our inclusive business solutions? Or are we creating new types of inequalities and inequities? What socially complex parts of the problem are ignored in the pursuit of scale? When I was researching schools, I found that the professors at Goldman were focused on precisely this type of complexity. I came to Goldman to grapple with these questions, seeking not so much to find definitive answers but to interrogate facile solutions for predictable inequities and unanticipated consequences. And I am excited that in some of my classes, those discussions have begun.
An MPA program or story highlight:
Before starting at the Goldman School I knew I would get to be part of a cohort of experienced and passionate leaders who were committed to creating impact. But when we started, I was blown away by the diversity and richness of experience of the class. Every day in the class room was inspiring as perspectives from across the world (17 different countries!) were shared. One of my favorite days in the summer was when different members of the cohort presented about their work to the class. From censorship in China to recovering from the financial crash in Iceland to supporting small holder farmers in India, the depth and breadth of work undertaken by this cohort is mind boggling. And in a world that is interconnected and globalized, hearing about those unique perspectives is incredibly valuable.
The humility, warmth, humor, and camaraderie of the cohort makes it even more special. We have happy hour traditions, barbecues, dinners, and even local trips to Napa or Big Sur. And I have loved getting to know people more deeply outside the classroom. This is a group that deeply cares and stands up for their values, and that is inspiring day-in and day-out.
After graduation:
The coursework I am taking at the Goldman School is helping me develop new tools and frameworks to examine different social issues. My work experience has given me a deep insight into the perspectives of consumers and business models that can serve low-income communities but the policy aspect of it has been missing. The reality is that a pure private sector solution (non-profit, philanthropic or business-driven) or public sector solution is not enough to solve some of the most pressing challenges. And I hope to learn and examine how there can be a third-way which is at the intersection of these approaches because those are the types of solutions I hope to work on after graduating.