Alyssa Gutner-Davis

With a bachelor’s degree in community studies and fine art, Alyssa Gutner-Davis might have seemed like an unlikely MBA candidate. But at Questrom there’s no such thing—our students come from every academic discipline you can think of.

Alyssa has always been a social justice minded person who believes in giving back to the community. After working with a cleantech start-up incubator in California, she began to see the industry as a way to change the world for the better. Questrom’s Social Impact MBA, located in one of the nation’s leading states for renewable energy, was the logical next step.

“I didn’t want to study to be an engineer or economist or a policy wonk, so going the business route made the most sense to me,” she recalls. “I loved the vibe I got from everyone I met at Questrom. It seemed so collaborative and supportive. That’s what won me over.”

Alyssa admits that her courses are challenging, so she really appreciates having access to a dedicated Social Impact program faculty advisor who is available to answer questions, help her choose courses, and connect her to other Questrom students and alumni.

“The Social Impact community here is very active, with a great newsletter and lots of events,” she says. In fact, over winter break, Alyssa used her new contacts to do some 40 informational interviews. As a result, she was able to refine her career focus to renewable energy product development, working at the intersection of technology and the environment.

“I believe that climate change is the most pressing issue of our time,” says Alyssa, a management intern with BU’s prestigious Institute for Sustainable Energy. “I’m passionate about contributing to the decarbonization of our electricity system. I hope to work with mission-driven businesses interested in expanding their networks, reaching new markets, or building products that will support our country’s transition to a carbon-free future.”