Announcing the 2024 Youn Impact Scholars—here’s what they have to say

By Sachin Waikar 

Kellogg proudly announces the newest cohort of Youn Impact Scholars: alumni and graduating students who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to making impact across key social and environmental domains. This cohort of five “Emerging Changemakers” and five “Impact Leaders” was chosen for the impact they already have had, along with their vision and potential for the future.

Each Impact Scholar becomes part of a growing community of leaders who represent the school’s commitment to meaningful, sustainable and global social change. This is the Kellogg Youn Impact Scholars program’s 11th year, and the Scholars now number 110 in all, with years of graduation from Kellogg spanning ’81 to ’24. The group meets in-person every other year at Kellogg and networks with current students and faculty. The next Scholars convening is scheduled for early May 2024.

We caught up with the newest cohort of Impact Scholars to congratulate and hear their thoughts on how Kellogg has influenced and supported their impact vision—whether through classes, clubs, mentorship, values, or other resources—and what being an effective business, sustainability, and social-impact leader means to them.

Here’s what they said. 

Impact Leaders

Sruti Bharat ’19 MBA is currently CEO of two impact organizations: Campground Systems, a SaaS-based business offering CRM and operating system solutions for program leaders running programs, communities, and human services; and FutureMap, which she founded at Kellogg in 2018 to support first-generation college students in partnership with multiple prominent college access and success organizations.

“At Kellogg I didn’t think about pursuing social entrepreneurship until I was a teacher assistant for New Venture Development with Rick Desai at the end of my first year. I started FutureMap as a passion project and won $3,500 during VentureCat to help us launch.” 

Susan Edwards ’10 MBA is an operating director of DEI & Impact at The Vistria Group, a Chicago-based private equity firm committed to driving high-value social change. Previously she was a director at management leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), where she led the private equity accelerator program as part of the organization’s mission to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the alternative investments space.  

“The guiding principle I’ve centered my impact career on is to generate positive, equitable outcomes for underserved communities – whether it’s increasing access to capital for minority entrepreneurs or improving access to health services. As both a student and alum, Kellogg has fueled my impact career through its vast alumni network who are committed to advancing sustainability globally and sharing innovative impact strategies.” 

Liz Livingston Howard ’93 MBA is co-founder and executive director of the Kellogg School’s Center for Nonprofit Management and a clinical professor of management at the Kellogg School of Management, where she develops curriculum and teaches MBA students and nonprofit executives.

“My vision of impact is focused on education, specifically, the education of nonprofit and social impact leaders, enabling them to be even more effective. Kellogg has supported that vision in multiple ways, from enhancing my personal management and leadership skill set to exposing me to critical theories and frameworks to advance impact. In addition, the essential support Kellogg provides to our Center for Nonprofit Management has enabled us to grow to serve thousands of social impact and nonprofit leaders annually.”   

Julian Posada ’97 MBA is the founder and president of LiftUp Enterprises, a for-profit holding company that focuses on improving both economic and social outcomes of low-income individuals, as well as the founder of LiftUp Communities 501C3, which accelerates stability and mobility for individuals and their broader network and community.

“I applied to Kellogg because I needed to be around people who could help me get smarter and push my vision of contributing to society by learning insights and best practices from all sectors: for-profit, non-profit, and government. Over the last 20-plus years, I’ve looked to my professors and classmates for support and guidance, to work smarter, simpler and always with transparency. LiftUp Enterprises was supported by Megan Kashner’s class when we were only six months off the ground.”

Josh Williams ’19 MBA is the director of strategy and operations at Chicago Beyond, a philanthropic organization that works to ensure every individual, regardless of zip code, has equitable access to opportunities.

”Kellogg connected me to an incredible community of values-driven leaders and provided me with meaningful skills to advance my career. Equally important to the career opportunities that my Kellogg experience has unlocked, the school has provided me with a tremendous network of friends and colleagues who share my desire to leave a lasting, positive impact in the world, relationships that have enriched my life. I am excited to continue applying the lessons I've learned on my journey.”  

Emerging Changemakers

Fernando Carranza ’21 MBA, an investor with Cleveland Avenue’s CAST US Funds, is working toward his mission to level the playing field for diverse entrepreneurs. As a VC investor, he supports tech-driven businesses led by founders from under-resourced communities focusing on the future of work and human enablement sectors.

”Kellogg really opened my eyes to what's possible when you combine meaningful impact with financial outperformance. Hands-on experiences like the Turner MIINT Competition, courses on values-based leadership with professor Harry Kraemer and participation in the Leadership Development System have fundamentally shaped and shifted my career approach.”  

Shalom Ikhena ’24 MBA, originally from Nigeria, worked as a consultant at PwC and founded the Sawubona Foundation — leading a team on grassroots initiatives to combat sexual violence in Nigeria — before arriving at Kellogg. Her life mission is to leave the world safer and more empowering for women and girls, including by raising awareness, fostering male allyship, and connecting global resources with grassroots initiatives.

“Kellogg has proven a nurturing ground for my dreams. This has been evident from the Social Impact Club and Board Fellows communities where my ideas were nourished, to the transformative courses I have taken, and the mentors I have gained. My Global Initiatives in Management class provided a platform for me to delve deeply into issues such as gender-based violence. I am deeply grateful for the invaluable support provided by the entire Social Impact community at Kellogg including Megan Kashner, the director of social impact.”

Manasa Pagadala ’24 MD-MBA has made impact as a student, including by starting a mentorship program that paired LGBTQ+ medical students with attending physicians as part of the LGBTQ+ Alliance. Manasa has also served on the Jesse Brown for Black Lives (JB4BL) Clinical Committee to combat racism against VA employees, and joined the Associate Board of the NorthShore Health System to address underserved systemic healthcare needs. 

“Kellogg has provided an open environment for me to pursue my interests within social impact. Professor Kashner's support is unprecedented, as I experienced in her Social Impact Practicum course, which emphasized creating change that is sustainable. The ‘Kellogg Leader’ principles of being ‘high impact’ and ‘low ego’ have really stuck with me from the beginning, empowering me to lead in a collaborative and empathetic way. Social impact is nothing without empathy.”  

Shubham Prajapati ’24 MBA worked as a consultant with Clinton Health Access Initiative in India, developing a last-mile supply chain to remove geographical access to essential drugs. He was also a key member of the Indian government’s COVID-19 task force and helped establish the oxygen supply chain during the second COVID-19 wave, along with developing innovative products to improve the vaccination rate.

“My impact vision is to support public healthcare systems in developing economies to foster equitable healthcare outcomes. I plan to do so by creating digital products leveraging current technologies to remove the friction of delivery and foster seamless healthcare access.”

Gabrielle Sims ’24 MBA previously managed multimillion-dollar grant portfolios for various foundations, with the goal of increasing homeownership opportunities in marginalized communities. She also served on the Mayor of Boston’s Millennial Council and took part in the PLACES Fellowship, where she was trained in equitable grantmaking.

“The Kellogg curriculum’s practical, ’real-world‘ approach has enabled me to explore and understand impact trends in emerging markets more deeply. I’m confident that my journey at Kellogg has equipped me with a thorough understanding of impact trends in emerging markets and strengthened my strategic problem-solving and cross-cultural communication skills. The mentorship I’ve received from professors and alumni has been invaluable. Kellogg has exceeded my expectations in so many ways!” 

The Kellogg Youn Impact Scholars program is named after Andrew Youn ’06 MBA, co-founder of the One Acre Fund, a nonprofit supporting smallholder farmers in multiple developing economies. The fund provides critical resources—monetary, knowledge, connections, others — to help the farmers grow, improve and expand their crops, enhancing their livelihoods.