Fellows and Ambassadors

Braden Beaudreau credits his undergraduate education at Davidson College with pushing him into uncomfortable areas that broadened his horizons. Between his junior and senior years, Braden, a Political Science major, interned at a firm that lobbied for educational and environmental policy in Washington, D.C. In one memorable experience, he assisted lawyers and lobbyists at hearings about keeping Native American reservations in Oregon clean and supplied with adequate resources.

After graduation, Braden worked as a project assistant in real estate law at an Atlanta firm. He had been dead-set on going to law school. However, after a year on the job, he realized the heavy path-to-partner culture did not appeal to him. At the same time, he discovered a new interest as a result of his work at the law firm—real estate.

To prepare for a change in his career trajectory, he applied to Scheller College of Business's Part-time MBA Program, so he could continue working while gaining real-world experience at an institution with "global appeal." Named a 2017-18 Scheller Sustainability Fellow in his first year, Braden calls it a "perfect opportunity" to advance his education, improve his résumé, and build relationships with faculty and peers.

He currently works at Georgia Power as a land rights analyst, where he enjoys the real estate angle, working alongside engineers, and being part of a company that has clearly defined sustainability goals, including wanting to be a leader in green energy. He hopes, in time, to transition to the company's renewable energy group.

In his spare time, Braden watches documentaries and reads books about climate change. He recently finished the biography of Elon Musk, who Braden admires for pushing forward electric car technology and design. "No one says, 'Oh man, I can't stand the environment! I hate being efficient!'" he reflects. "But it's hard in practice to make products people want to buy because they're cool because they're actually better." Musk went out there and did just that—a lesson Braden finds "inspiring."

When Jacquelyn Renée Schneider studied abroad in Paris as an undergraduate at Georgia Tech, she expected to learn classic methods of building construction. She did not anticipate a complete change to her worldview. She realized how environmentally progressive the French are and thought: "I want to bring those principles back to the States."

After graduation, she pursued an Environmental Sciences and Policy degree at The Johns Hopkins University at night while managing construction projects by day. She then became a sustainability consultant for the Architect of the Capitol.

Her focus transitioned from the space within buildings to the spaces between buildings. She was offered a full scholarship to the University of California, Davis graduate program in Transportation Technology and Policy, where she was able to continue research and teach at the collegiate level. Davis has a sustainability edge, being named one of five Platinum Bicycle Friendly Communities in the country.

Jacquelyn returned to Atlanta and worked on over 100 LEED projects before assuming her current position as a consultant in Georgia Power's energy efficiency program. An MBA seemed the next logical step to help her develop the skills necessary for a position in strategic management.

Jacquelyn singled out the "vital legacy" of Ray C. Anderson as an important factor in her deciding to apply to be a 2017-18 Scheller Sustainability Fellow. She first encountered Anderson's work when writing her senior thesis on indoor air quality. When the two met briefly once at a conference, he leaned in to say, "Go Jackets!" She reflected, "It's great to have his spirit here."

A proud Yellow Jacket, Jacquelyn supports her alma mater in extracurricular activities. She contributes towards founding a leadership accelerator for MBA students, volunteers through Mentor Jackets, and serves as Class President of the Graduate Evening MBA Program. She is the first in her family to graduate from university and feels grateful for those who have guided her along her academic journey. She said, "I want to maintain that cycle of giving to the next generation."

Leave no trace. Tommy Bledsoe learned this principle as an Eagle Scout in Roswell, Georgia, when his troop would go on a camping trip every month. The scouts and leaders would put into practice what the organization preached—cleaning up not only their own campsites but also trash left behind by others. The streak of environmental stewardship, Tommy said, "was always with me."

Now a first-year Evening MBA student and 2017-18 Scheller Sustainability Fellow, Tommy did not always see his path leading toward an MBA. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a major in History and minors in French and Religion, he worked for one year in France as an English teaching assistant in a public school. When he returned to the United States, he was hired by an educational nonprofit that organized trips focused on history, politics, and activism.

Future work experiences became more tech-focused—first as product manager for a digital marketing start-up, and second as project manager for his current employer, Aderant, which offers a suite of practice management products for law firms. Tommy was drawn to Georgia Tech for the "connections and learning opportunities that come from being in the Tech Square ecosystem with software and start-ups."

Scheller College of Business's sustainability offerings—including an immersive track, concentration, and consulting practicum—were also big selling points. They relate to a side project that captured Tommy's imagination for several years: a plan to create a sustainable arts and music venue in Atlanta. Tommy (also a big music fan) and his friend researched how to make a difference in the entertainment industry. They hope someday to retrofit an old building with green technology such as LED lighting and solar panels.

Tommy wants to change consumer attitudes by making sustainability a part of people's everyday lives. "Whether it's professionally or personally," he said, "I would like to bring sustainability more into the mainstream—to open up more doors for people to participate in the movement."

The two doctors who served the Pennsylvanian village in which Zachary Brown grew up had a special role, being held in high regard and "knowing your whole family." Zachary's grandfather, who was "a big inspiration," wanted this career for his grandson. Never having received an education beyond sixth grade, he longed for Zachary to reach what he considered the pinnacle of higher education.

To pursue this goal, Zachary first studied pre-medicine at Notre Dame University and then entered Dominican University's post-baccalaureate program in which his interest in public health grew. While taking part in the "eye-opening" experience of volunteering for an underserved community's health authority, Zachary facilitated educational outreach and organized data so the agency could better direct resources.

Zachary returned to Notre Dame for its graduate Global Health program, which included a six-week trip to Puerto Rico during which he worked on Dengue Fever prevention. Finally, Zachary entered medical school. Though his dream of becoming a doctor was within his grasp, during the first year of medical school, an emotional experience in the ER prompted him to step away from the path.

He made a "quick pivot," leveraging his full-time job of being a Starbucks manager (while in graduate school) into becoming a manager for a high-end restaurant group. Though he enjoyed the job, the amount of waste in the food industry appalled him. He found the apathy of upper-level management just as disturbing. The sustainability ideas he pitched—such as putting extra food to good use and turning off the lights—were shot down. He reflects, "When you're trying to do the right thing, and everyone is telling you it's wrong, it's really frustrating."

Zachary decided to pursue an MBA to gain leadership skills to help him create large-scale change. Now a first-year student in the Full-time MBA Program and 2017-18 Scheller Sustainability Fellow, Zachary says, "Running lean operations and sustainability go hand in hand. You can make money and save the world at the same time; that's my spirit right now."