Net Impact
Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a network of business leaders who use the power of business to create a positive net social, environmental, and economic impact.
Our chapter hosts speakers, organizes educational, volunteer, and career-related workshops and events, coordinates an annual welcome retreat for new and continuing students and attends Net Impact conferences. The Chapter also competes in business case competitions like the Food Solutions Challenge and the Annual Net Impact Case Competition.
Our Mission
The Graduate Chapter of the Net Impact Club is led by MBA students, but open to all graduate students at UC Davis who seek to drive environmental and social change on our campus, in our community and on our planet.
Net Impact offers networking and educational opportunities that bring together students and alumni and encourage community involvement. From career treks to Social Entrepreneur Enablement Design Sprint (SEEDS), community volunteering events and Earth Day celebrations, we provide our members and the GSM community with a wide variety of opportunities to engage with one another in new and thought-provoking ways.
“In addition to its many accomplishments, the Davis team has spread the Net Impact message to the 120-person student body, creating a chapter that while small in number, is mighty in impact.”
- Liz Maw, Former CEO, Net Impact
UC Davis Graduate School of Management is perhaps the smallest chapter in Net Impact, yet pulled off participation in the Food Solutions Challenge, Net Impact Case Competition, was the only club in the program to lead orientation activities for incoming students and accomplished the first-ever Overnight Career Trek that saw 20% participation from the entire full-time MBA student body.
Check out Former Net Impact Club President Daniel Student’s blog post about Net Impact’s events here
Meet our Board
Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau
President
Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau is a student in the Bay Area Part-Time MBA program and works as a senior investment analyst at KingsCrowd. She previously worked for Stanford's accelerator, StartX, helping to select the most promising entrepreneurs. She is passionate about impact investing and led the first award-winning study on the Malawian startup ecosystem.
Yash Asthana
Vice President
Yash is a Full-Time MBA candidate with an emphasis in Strategy and Finance. He has multiple years of experience in the water industry specializing in large-scale project management and technical sales across India, Middle East, and Africa. He is passionate about the environment, sustainability, and resourcefulness and would like to transition into a strategic/financial role in the energy/clean tech sector. He holds a B.E. (Honors) from BITS, Pilani - Dubai.
Faye Wu
Director of Outreach - Online MBA
Faye Wu is a student in the Online MBA program and a Fashion industry professional with 14 years of experience. She previously worked at the H&M group in two different regions. Prior to joining H&M she used to be a Fashion Buyer and Designer for a women’s fashion brand with around 100 stores in the China market. She’s passionate about making a positive impact in sustainable fashion and determined to make a difference in the fashion industry.
Samhitha Upadhya
Director of Outreach - Bay Area Part-Time MBA
Samhitha Upadhya is a student in the Bay Area MBA program and works as a VP - Feature Lead at Bank of America. She leads a small team and her day job mostly involves programming and program management. She holds a Masters degree in Information Technology from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She’s interested in bringing a positive impact to the environment and envisions ways to make her company/surroundings more eco friendly and strives to bring in a change. She is an active member of “My Environment” club which drives positive environmental change by engaging employees in various environmental initiatives and programs. As part of this club she educates people around her to help them act as better stewards at work, at home and in the community.
Stefanie Auld
Director of Outreach - Sacramento Part-Time MBA
Stefanie Auld is in the Sacramento Part-Time MBA program. She is the Sr. Vice President of People at Avantus (formerly 8minute Solar Energy). Avantus is a clean tech company, shaping the future by making reliable, accessible clean energy a global reality primarily focused on development of utility scale solar and storage power plants. She plans to spend her career in renewable energy to participate in and accelerate the conversion to clean energy. She also has 10 years of experience in Ad Tech, also focused in Human Resources. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from UC Berkeley with a focus in Stigma and Prejudice.
Yan Linn
Director of Career and Networking
Yan Linn is an online MBA student. He works as Senior Staff Manager for Analog Design Engineering in the Optical Communications Business Unit at Marvell Technology. In his role, he ensures that design engineers maintain honesty and deliver high-quality designs to address the bandwidth bottleneck in today’s data communication. His work involves contributing to the development of data center chips used for communication, which have been utilized by AI applications (such as ChatGPT) in the field of live computing. His areas of interest for social sustainability include renewable energy, philanthropy, and desalination.
Neal Vogel
Director of Internal Affairs
Neal Vogel is a 2024 MBA candidate in the online program concentrating in business analytics.
Currently, Neal works as a cardiovascular researcher for the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. Prior to beginning the MBA program, Neal graduated from the University of Florida with a Masters in Biochemistry and Microbiology to focus on his targeted area of research. Following completion of the MBA program, he plans on continuing his education into a Physician Assistant program to become a physician scientist. Neal’s goal of earning an MBA degree is to better understand the relationship between healthcare and business and bridge the gap between the two fields to focus on improving patient care. When time permits, Neal enjoys traveling, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with his partner and dog.
Mahmoud Ibrahim
Director of Finance
Mahmoud Ibrahim is an MBA student with an emphasis in Technology Management and Business Analytics. He holds a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from San Jose State University with experience in the IT industry specifically in the public sector. As Director of Finance, Mahmoud is committed to managing the budget and expenditure. He also looks forward to leading and supporting Net Impact events.
Dinora Benites
Director of Sustainability
Dinora Benites is a Full-Time MBA student with an emphasis in food and agriculture. She holds a bachelor's degree in Managerial Economics with a focus on agricultural resources from UC Davis. She is passionate about regenerative agriculture and equitable access to healthy foods. As Director of Sustainability, she will ensure sustainability of the club’s events from the perspective of environment, economic, and equity. In addition, she will share news on sustainability, tips, and events.
Yvette Ravaee
Director of Marketing
Yvette Ravaee has a graduated from Cal State Northridge and began working for a start up working to build a net zero hotel. She has a passion for entrepreneurship and sustainability in industries like beauty, agriculture and construction. Yvette is currently an MBA candidate at UC Davis and is working on several start up passions while trying to pursue her dreams of making a more sustainable world. Her goals for net impact are to create and educate student about how companies are becoming more sustainable and what the new generation of MBA student can do to add value to these companies.
Net Impact (National Organization) Resources
Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. Read more >
Energy Efficiency Center
The UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center aims to accelerate energy efficiency innovation and to stimulate the transfer of technology into the marketplace. The center is uniquely poised to make significant contributions to this effort by supporting and energizing activities and expertise already well established at UC Davis. Read more >
Fun Fact: Did you know that Gallagher Hall, home to the Graduate School of Management is a Leed Certified building?
University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program: A Statewide Program within UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) was created through the grassroots efforts of organizations and individuals concerned about the environmental impacts of agriculture, the health of rural communities, and the profitability of family farming operations in California.
At the request of the California legislature, the University of California established SAREP with three mandates. Read more >
John Muir Institute of the Environment
The John Muir Institute of the Environment supports innovation and discovery aimed at solving real-world environmental problems. The institute’s faculty are committed to strengthening the scientific foundation for environmental decision-making through collective entrepreneurship, a team-oriented approach that recognizes the complexities of environmental problems and the societal context in which they occur. Read more >
Orientation Retreat
Net Impact Graduate Chapter at UC Davis works closely with the Associated Students of Management to ensure that a socially and environmentally responsible theme is woven into the new student orientation. Past events have included weekend retreats to Lake Tahoe, where students toured the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and the Tahoe Science Center; Yosemite National Park, where students stayed at the social venture Evergreen Lodge; a wine-tasting trip to an organic winery; a volunteer event at the local Boys & Girls Club; a “trial” case study focusing on diversity in the workplace; and an informal Big Idea Party where all club members had the option to share short presentations on an issue they care about.
Net Impact Annual Conference
Each year students have the opportunity to attend the Net Impact Annual Conference. Considered one of the premier events for students and professionals interested in socially and environmentally responsible business, the Net Impact North America Conference mobilizes members through an exciting array of keynotes, panels, case studies, simulations and special events. Participants gain a fresh perspective on the role of business in society and a new appreciation for their work as business leaders and their connection to a network of like-minded colleagues.
Board Fellows Program
The Board Fellows Program led by the Women in Leadership Club (WiL), but open to all UC Davis Graduate School of Management MBA candidates, matches students with the boards of nonprofit organizations. The program benefits both parties: students gain exposure to nonprofit organizations and a rewarding experience as a non-voting board member, and the participating nonprofit benefits from project or committee work, access to future business leaders with fresh perspectives, and affiliation with the Graduate School of Management.
Fellows work closely with trustees and executive directors, attending board meetings, serving on committees, and working on special projects. As a result, Fellows gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by nonprofit organizations, as well as the complexities of nonprofit management.