Background:
I studied Anthropology at the University of Georgia with a minor in Arabic, my capstone was a monitoring and evaluation project with a non profit in Ethiopia and I did a few other international research/study abroad programs (at the time I wanted to work in international development). Through volunteering with a few food organizations I developed a strong interest in environmental issues and food systems. I was very active in extracurriculars, an officer in two clubs and also competed in club cross country, worked on a few research projects and internships that motivated me to get into grassroots action.

After graduation I spent a year abroad teaching English and returned to the US to do a year of AmeriCorps VISTA as a volunteer coordinator on an educational farm that distributed produce to those in need. While doing AmeriCorps I simultaneously worked for the county parks and rec department managing trails. I’ve spent the last 3 years at one of the biggest community forestry non profits in the country. Started as an assistant project coordinator, then coordinator, now I'm a supervisor. I lead two project coordinators in planning residential tree plantings. It’s a small team but our work makes up about ¼ of company revenue. We do everything from site selection, landscape design, governmental approvals, community engagement, logistics, and leading volunteers in planting and maintaining the trees. I’ve taken on a few other projects as well, for instance I play a major role in company DEI and environmental justice efforts. I led a task force that resulted in several new company policies. The COO was impressed by my leadership on DEI so they tapped me to facilitate development and implementation of the new company operational plan.

My current ECs are recruiting students for the undergraduate fellowship program I was a member of, working with a kids nutrition program, homebrewing hard cider, and freelance landscaping.

Why MBA:
I've been working on at the local level for several years now and I'm ready to make an impact on a bigger scale. The work I am most proud of involved a lot of strategic planning, project management and stakeholder engagement, so MBA seems like a natural choice. I'm really interested in how corporate strategy can drive the sustainability movement, e.g. renewables procurement. I am drawn to the food and bev industry as it's at the intersection of so many crucial sustainability issues. I am also interested in dual degree programs such as the Erb Institute.
.
Post MBA Goals:
Short term- sustainability consulting or supply chain/ops job in Food & Bev, also open to other consumer goods industries but I'm particularly interested in working for Pepsi.

Long term- high level sustainability strategy, eg Director of ESG, Chief Sustainability Officer at a major corporation

Target Schools: Fuqua, Ross, Kenan-Flagler, Scheller
Reach: Yale SOM
(Applying to Fuqua, Ross, KF and SOM via Consortium)

Planning to retake the GRE, shooting for 165V/160Q. Planning to apply R1.

Would love feedback on my profile, tips on demonstrating impact in my nontraditional background, recommendations on target programs, etc.