Alumni

After five years as chairs of the HBS Fund, Anna and Tom Nelson (both MBA 1988) are stepping down from a role that demonstrates their enduring commitment to HBS. Through decades of volunteer leadership and generous philanthropy, they have helped advance the School’s mission and strengthen its community. In a recent conversation, they spoke about the importance of the HBS Fund, the impact of ongoing investment in the School, and the vital role alumni support plays in shaping HBS today and for future generations. Read more with the link in bio.

Two wonderful weekends with over 6,000 alumni back on campus = a great 2026 reunion season! Thank you, to all of you (our incredible alums!), for coming back to campus and reconnecting in such a meaningful way. We were so glad to see everyone. Share your favorite reunion memory in the comments!

Social mobility in Latin America is a roll of the dice, says Cristian Villamizar (MBA 2020). “I want to do something meaningful so that social mobility in Colombia is no longer based on luck,” he says. To achieve this, in 2022 Villamizar and Felipe Fierro cofounded Duppla, a Colombian real estate technology startup that enables families to purchase their own homes through an innovative rent-to-own model. In a country where only about 3 percent of adults have mortgages and high rates of informal employment limit access to traditional financing, Duppla lowers barriers by coinvesting in homes and helping families build credit over time. To date, Duppla has attracted nearly 1,000 investors, put more than 250 families on the path to homeownership, and enabled about 30 to complete the purchase of their homes. Villamizar’s goal is to make it possible for thousands of families to acquire what is often their most important asset—and a powerful engine of social mobility. Photo credit: Nadège Mazars #forceforgood #hbsalumni

Take it from John Jameson (MBA 1991), “Giving $5,000 to HBS by next Tuesday, June 30, could be worth $5 million!” For most alumni, a $5,000 gift will make you a member of the HBS Fund Investors Society and for recent MBA alums your membership can start at $1,000 (before 5th Reunion) or $2,500 (5-9 years out). Every membership counts in the race to unlock a $5 million challenge gift. Join the Investors Society by June 30 using the link in our bio.

Through HBS's Consulting for Impact Club, six MBA students volunteered this past academic year with School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA), a nonprofit supporting the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness. Inspired by stories of SOWMA’s life-changing impact, the students were committed to advancing the organization’s mission. Using data analysis, team members Anisha Vavilala (MPP/MBA 2028), Emily Fechner (MBA 2026), and Angela Cecilia, Ann Guzzetta, Kavya Hiryur, and Soumya Singh (all MBA 2027) helped SOWMA identify where student homelessness is most concentrated in Massachusetts, develop strategies for expanding tutoring and mentorship services, strengthen operations, and create tools to support future growth. “There are many interventions where you can support people," says Vavilala, "but education is the one thing where you can impact people for generations." Their consulting project was one of eight the club undertook with nonprofit partners this past academic year, with 38 MBA students collectively contributing more than 1,000 volunteer hours. PHOTO CREDIT: Ann Hermes #forceforgood #hbsalumni