The Kenan Institute’s MBA Kenan Scholar program is the premiere research opportunity for Kenan-Flagler MBA students. Scholars gain real-world research experience through a year-long apprenticeship and earn course credits while working directly with world-renowned faculty researchers. The Center is pleased to bring on 3 students this year from different MBA programs to research and examine Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts, Impact Investing and Sustainability in the Technology Sector.
Anagha Kalvade was born and raised in India. She received her undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) in India and a Master’s degree in EE at Cal State Northridge. As an Electrical Engineer, Anagha worked at Synopsys Inc. for the last 24 years helping major semiconductor companies design chips that are faster, smaller, and power-efficient.
Anagha plans to leverage her technology background to further her passion for sustainability. The project “Sustainability in the Technology Industry: Challenges and Opportunities” will provide her the in-depth hands-on experience to research the current methodologies employed by software and hardware companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use, and waste generation. She is very excited to join the Center for Sustainable Enterprise team and contribute to both ESG and Impact Investing work in the technology sector.
John MacAree is a first year full-time MBA candidate focused on Kenan-Flagler’s Energy pathway. John’s professional experience is in business development and strategy roles within the renewable energy space, working primarily on solar and anaerobic digestion power projects. He has international experience working in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and is excited for the opportunity to contribute to ESG and Impact Investing research for the Center for Sustainable Enterprise.
John will be investigating the discrepancy between the current investment dedicated to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the capital required to meet those goals ($1.4 trillion/per year and $4.5 trillion/per year respectively). His analysis will center on the extent to which investors incorporate ESG and/or Impact Investing into their portfolio, and the macro trends that exist within growth hurdles within the sector.
Lauren Ma was born and raised in North Carolina and currently lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two boys. She earned a B.S. in Economics from UNC Charlotte and additionally holds the Certified Financial PlannerTM professional certification, series 7 & 66 securities licenses, and life, health, and variable insurance licenses.
As VP, Financial Planning Director at Morgan Stanley, Lauren leverages her expertise to support Financial Advisors in delivering the full firm to clients while providing best in class advice.
Previously, Lauren spent nearly seven years as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley and UBS helping families and individuals create a clear plan and a purpose for their wealth. Before transitioning to financial services, she served as a Sales Manager at Nordstrom for six years, supporting teams of up to 80 employees in progressively larger leadership roles.
Lauren is a firm believer that learning is a life-long endeavor, so she spends a good deal of her free-time doing just that. Specifically, she enjoys studying how public and private organizations collaborate to achieve positive socio-economic and environmental outcomes. Lauren is also fascinated by the role capital markets play in catalyzing change and consequently, her research interests are focused on ESG and impact investing for the future.