This year’s scholarship winner is Krishna Shah of Los Angeles, California. Krishna graduated from the Marshall School of Business at USC in 2006 and then joined Wells Fargo Bank as Financial Analyst. After working for Wells Fargo for 2 years she joined her family’s firm Harris Freeman, a private labeler of teas and spices where she continues to work as a Product Development Manager.

Krishna’s immediate goal after she earns her MBA is to return to Harris Freeman and develop their own brand of tea and spices. Krishna plans to differentiate this brand using a socially responsible procurement model initiated by her company’s nonprofit foundation. Under the new procurement model, the firm pledges to enhance the communities from which it sources its raw materials. As a Director of the Harris Freeman Foundation, Krishna has already set the stage for her further philanthropy by donating funds to build classrooms in communities in southern India, Vietnam and Argentina. Her future plan is to continue donating funds for improved education and sustainable farming programs. Krishna hopes her experience at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business will provide her the opportunity to validate her business model and plans. Please join me in congratulating Krishna Shah.