Anna Reves (MBA '23) is one of this year's Impact Business Buff Award Winners, recognized by her peers for empowering them to use business to solve social, environmental and ethical challenges.
Anna's dedication to sustainability and collaboration is evident in her work with CESR, where she focused on strengthening programs that had lost momentum during the pandemic and building connections between students, clubs, and alumni.
Anna's impact, as told by her peers:
"From day 1 of our program, Anna has been invested in learning as much as she can and using it to make a difference in the world. She is incredibly motivated, passionate, and professional at everything she puts her mind to. Our cohort is lucky to have such a great classmate! I have no doubt she'll change the world for the better in her future."
"Anna is intelligent, driven, and tenacious. She truly wants the program to be the best it can and to have the students and the institution rise to the occasion. She cares about the cohort and our education as a whole and fights to make things better for all, while still staying deeply involved in networking, case competitions, student clubs, and being a true friend."
In this interview with CESR, Anna discussed her experiences and the impact she hopes to leave on Leeds.
CESR: When you were looking for places to get your MBA, why did you choose Leeds?
Anna: I originally wanted to work in the outdoor sustainability industry, so I mapped out company headquarters and looked closely at schools that were near more companies. I then narrowed down my search to CU because of its high-ranking program and proximity to the mountains.
CESR: What was your involvement with CESR and how has it shaped your knowledge of sustainability and ESG?
Anna: With CESR, the main things I did were reviving programs that were diminished by COVID, building connections within and between clubs, and focusing on sharing information with students. I did this by taking classes related to sustainable business with the SRS division, getting involved with the Net Impact Club (Board Fellows, Leeds Social Impact Consultants), competing in the Net Impact Case Competition (NICC), bringing in guest speakers, visiting relevant company headquarters, coordinating an alumni reception, and more. There is power in focusing on filling in the gaps left by the curriculum.
"A generational-scale innovation is going on right now, and education in ESG is a great way to capitalize on it,"
- says Reves
CESR: Why is ESG education important for business students?
Anna: The number one reason is that jobs are in demand. Economies of scale have made mining and unethical business practices cheap, and sustainability is on the cusp of achieving those same economies of scale. The common knowledge is that sustainability is expensive, but this is quickly changing. A generational-scale innovation is going on right now, and education in ESG is a great way to capitalize on it.
CESR: What will you miss most about being a student at Leeds?
Anna: I truly believe that I learned as much from my classmates as I did from my professors. I will miss learning from such a diverse group of students from all walks of life, with whom I have created lifelong friendships and professional relationships.
"Nothing is more beneficial than getting as involved as possible with all the clubs that might interest you,"
- says Reves
CESR: What do you hope your legacy will be at Leeds?
Anna: I built connections between the Center, academics, and students so that all three groups can succeed together and grow synergistically. I hope that I have built lasting connections between organizations, not just people.
CESR: What advice do you have for the current and future Buffs coming up behind you?
Anna: Nothing is more beneficial than getting as involved as possible with all the clubs that might interest you. It’s a great way to build connections, learn new skills, and be open to new ideas and career pathways. Along with that, always be hungry to learn.
Anna is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. While completing her MBA at Leeds, she also earned her Certificate in ESG Strategy through a Leeds executive education program.
Learn more about sustainable business students and opportunities at Leeds through our MBA Stories.