Alumni Stories
Discover how faith and business intersect through the lives of our alumni. These are the stories of Christian MBA graduates living out their calling—in boardrooms, startups, nonprofits, and beyond—as they seek to lead with integrity, serve with purpose, and make a redemptive impact in the world.
Stories Featured
-
Ace Patterson, "Navigating A Career As An Entrepreneur After IV Podcast
-
Greg Baumer, "What's My Financial Finish Line" After IV Podcast
-
Matt and Kelly Winquist, "Roles Reversed" Interview
-
Sam Choi, "Leadership Journey for BiB 22" Interview
-
Shang Saavedra, Multiple Episodes, After IV Podcast
-
Shang Saavedra, "Wealth is a Mindset" Interview
-
Sheeba Philip, "Building Redemptive Ventures" Interview
-
Vineet Rajan, "Building Mental Fitness with God at the Center" Interview
Ace Patterson
Hip hop artist, mobile game developer, and entrepreneur, and Alumnus Ace Patterson (Call Me Ace), joins the "After IV" podcast to share about his experience “doing what he’s got to do to survive.” And in his experience, survival is marked by the relationships you cultivate while finding joy in the process. Not by the accolades.
Greg Baumer
Have you ever wondered, “How much is enough?” Greg Baumer, a fellow MBA alumnus from Generous Giving, was featured on the InterVarsity Alumni Podcast, After IV, to discuss this topic.
In 2013, Greg Baumer entered Harvard Business School with the expectation of leveling up his business prowess and cementing his financial future. What he didn’t expect, was the transformation he was about to experience around money. However, after cross-registering for a course on God and money in Harvard Divinity School, transformation is exactly what he experienced. And after surveying thousands of passages of scripture about money, Greg was set on a trajectory that would forever change his financial future and lead to his family’s implementation of a thoughtful “financial finish line”.
Matt and Kelly Winquist
Is it against the Bible to be a stay-at-home dad while the mom is the family's breadwinner? It's a question Kelly (MBA, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and MPA, Harvard) and her husband Matt (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) have discerned as they've navigated life with their two daughters. After 12 years of learning how to operate in their "Role-Reversed Life," their heart has turned to helping others find a family structure that fits best for their family in their season and live out the calling and identity the Lord has placed on them. Matt, currently serving as a Discipleship Pastor and juggling responsibilities as a youth pastor, initially took on the role of stay-at-home dad for their daughters. This decision allowed Kelly to pursue her career, ultimately leading her to Dartmouth's Tuck School and Harvard's Kennedy School. Kelly would find a life-giving community from her MBA Fellowship. Navigating the uncharted waters of role-reversal was not without its challenges. In Christian circles, this felt counter to the traditional mold of the "Christian Family". In the secular world, there were not many resources to draw from. Yet, rooted in their faith, they found reassurance that their path was acceptable and purposeful in God's eyes. Matt and Kelly's journey has been transformative, not just for them but also for others in similar situations. Kelly has been a voice advocating for the value of men in caregiving roles, challenging societal norms and perceptions. Her message resonates deeply: whether it's the difficulties of stay-at-home parenting or role-reversal nuances, each person's contribution is valuable and worthy of respect. With the hope of releasing a book as a resource for others, they encourage others, especially those in graduate school or considering unconventional family dynamics, to find freedom in living a Role's-Reversed life if that would work best for their family, to know they are not alone and to find strength in their identity in Christ. This is especially true for dads who may feel the internal and external cultural tension of being a stay-at-home dad. Their ministry extends to supporting individuals and families navigating similar paths, offering guidance and a sense of community in a journey that's often solitary. As they continue to share their story and advocate for a broader acceptance of role reversal, Matt and Kelly envision a future where individuals are empowered to embrace their unique callings without fear or hesitation. They hope to inspire others to see beyond traditional boundaries and recognize the diverse ways God equips and calls each of us to serve and lead. In embracing role-reversed, Matt and Kelly want to be a resource for those considering what this may look like in their families. They invite you to go to their website (button below) to subscribe to their mailing list. Additionally, as Kelly leads a nonprofit to support, connect, engage, and advocate for "role-reversed families", she is always willing to connect and consult!
Sam Choi
The Believers in Business (BiB) 2022 conference was led by Sam, a graduating second-year student at the Yale School of Management. While Sam had known of InterVarsity during college, his first real connection came when he attended BiB 2021 online. After a season of prayerful reflection that summer, Sam stepped into the role of Student Advisory Board director for the 2022 conference, held in New York City that February. At Yale, Sam was actively involved in student government, where he worked alongside faculty to strengthen the school’s leadership curriculum and helped students think intentionally about their own approach to leadership. A growing theme in his life was clear: God was nurturing in him a vision for developing stronger, more thoughtful leaders. That theme carried into his summer internship at Korn Ferry, where he focused on hiring and developing leadership talent in the tech industry. “When Mark Washington reached out about BiB, it felt like a natural fit—it aligned with what God had already been doing in my life.” Sam approached his leadership of BiB with deep intentionality, especially when it came to prayer. “Mark reminded me early on that this conference ultimately belongs to God,” Sam shared. “That shifted everything—we started each step of the process by lifting it to the Lord.” From team meetings to planning details, Sam led with a posture of dependence on God. Through the process, he also began to grow in personal prayer practices. He shared three simple but meaningful ways he trained that “muscle of intentionality in prayer”: Beginning the day in Scripture, using devotionals like Search the Scriptures by Alan Stibbs. Inviting others to pray with and for him, leaning on the support of friends, family, and the BiB team. Practicing moments of praise throughout the day, whether through music, art, or quiet reflection. Sam found these rhythms not only strengthened the conference planning experience but carried into other areas of life—his classes, internship, and conversations with peers. After graduation, he joined Korn Ferry full time, continuing his passion for leadership development and staying rooted in the values that shaped his time with BiB. As an undergrad at Harvard, Shang was involved with the Harvard Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship (HRAACF), a ministry of InterVarsity. Like many students, she was focused on achieving professional success, believing that her potential was limitless. However, HRAACF challenged her to consider a different path: “What if God doesn’t want you to be all that, but instead, He wants you to pursue Him?” This mindset shift was a turning point. After graduating from Harvard, Shang attended the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she sought to integrate her faith with her career and was a student leader of the InterVarsity MBA chapter there. By the time she arrived at Booth, she was determined to live a purpose-driven life. Shang’s passion project, Save My Cents, teaches everyday Americans the principles of personal finance and its relationship to mental health, sharing practical financial advice rooted in a spirit of service. She and her husband made the deliberate choice to live off one income, freeing them from the "two-income trap". Through social media, Shang’s personal finance tips resonated with a growing audience, which organically grew. After years of pouring into this project, she leaped to make it her full-time vocation in mid-2023. Published January 14th, 2025, Shang's journey came full circle with the release of her book “Wealth is a Mindset: Change Your Mind and Change Your Money”. From her book bio: "Drawing upon scientific research on psychology and neuroscience, as well as many mental health experts, Saavedra has developed a methodology called “Trigger, Action, Reward,” which identifies the root causes of unhealthy money behaviors, provides concrete suggestions on how to break those cycles, and guides readers toward an abundance mindset that leads to financial success and security. Through her online classes and coaching lessons in investing, saving for retirement, debt freedom, and more, she has helped thousands of clients implement the TAR strategy and achieve transformative change in their lives." While not overtly Christian, its principles are steeped in biblical wisdom. Shang encourages readers to confront their money problems and the mindset issues that fuel financial anxiety. She hopes that her story and teachings will inspire others to reframe their approach to wealth and walk in greater freedom.
Shang Saavedra
Shang Saavedra's story is one of bold faith, personal growth, and dedication to helping others navigate their financial journeys. Born in China and raised first in Europe and then in the US, Shang's family sought community in their new surroundings, which led them to Christianity. This pivotal moment shaped her early life and continues to influence her work today. As an undergrad at Harvard, Shang was involved with the Harvard Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship (HRAACF), a ministry of InterVarsity. Like many students, she was focused on achieving professional success, believing that her potential was limitless. However, HRAACF challenged her to consider a different path: “What if God doesn’t want you to be all that, but instead, He wants you to pursue Him?” This mindset shift was a turning point. After graduating from Harvard, Shang attended the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she sought to integrate her faith with her career and was a student leader of the InterVarsity MBA chapter there. By the time she arrived at Booth, she was determined to live a purpose-driven life. Shang’s passion project, Save My Cents, teaches everyday Americans the principles of personal finance and its relationship to mental health, sharing practical financial advice rooted in a spirit of service. She and her husband made the deliberate choice to live off one income, freeing them from the "two-income trap". Through social media, Shang’s personal finance tips resonated with a growing audience, which organically grew. After years of pouring into this project, she leaped to make it her full-time vocation in mid-2023. Published January 14th, 2025, Shang's journey came full circle with the release of her book “Wealth is a Mindset: Change Your Mind and Change Your Money”. From her book bio: "Drawing upon scientific research on psychology and neuroscience, as well as many mental health experts, Saavedra has developed a methodology called “Trigger, Action, Reward,” which identifies the root causes of unhealthy money behaviors, provides concrete suggestions on how to break those cycles, and guides readers toward an abundance mindset that leads to financial success and security. Through her online classes and coaching lessons in investing, saving for retirement, debt freedom, and more, she has helped thousands of clients implement the TAR strategy and achieve transformative change in their lives." While not overtly Christian, its principles are steeped in biblical wisdom. Shang encourages readers to confront their money problems and the mindset issues that fuel financial anxiety. She hopes that her story and teachings will inspire others to reframe their approach to wealth and walk in greater freedom.
Sheeba Philip
Since launching her global advisory practice in October 2022, Sheeba Philip, a Harvard Business School alumna (2003), has been on a mission to partner with visionary leaders to "unlock strategic growth, elevate brand purpose, and build organizations that are commercially excellent, culturally influential, and eternally significant." She comes alongside faith-driven CEOs leading both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, helping them develop the strategy needed to scale or navigate a turnaround. Her practice is rooted in the belief that business can be a vehicle for redemptive work in the world. Sheeba's career has had four major chapters, each one unique. After graduating from her program, she began her journey in the corporate world, spending a decade in leadership roles at Kraft Foods, where she developed expertise in global business strategy and brand management. She then made a radical shift into the nonprofit sector with International Justice Mission, a nonprofit organization working to protect vulnerable communities from violence and exploitation around the world. Her time at IJM sparked a passion for mission-focused work that advances dignity and opportunity for the poor, particularly in regions like Africa and India. Later, she joined JCPenney as a senior marketing executive. These experiences led to her third chapter, which took her into entrepreneurship as CEO of Akola. This globally inspired jewelry brand provides "life-changing job opportunities through vertically integrated manufacturing, employing women in Uganda." This example of a faith-driven venture revealed how business could be a healing force in broken communities. That experience planted seeds for her current work, where she now pours all of her learning—corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial—into organizations that aim to reflect God's kingdom and His values Sheeba’s faith deepened during her time at Harvard Business School. While she joined the HBS Christian Fellowship in her first year, she didn’t initially feel called to lead. That changed when Rachel Carriere, a second-year student and fellowship leader, invited her to step in and serve. That simple invitation became a turning point. It helped Sheeba realize she wasn’t meant to walk her faith journey alone, but in community, encouraging and building up others in theirs. Serving in the fellowship laid a foundation that reshaped her understanding of identity, not anchored in her work, but firmly rooted in Christ. It also prepared her to lead with God at the center, trusting Him through career pivots, setbacks, and big decisions. For aspiring redemptive entrepreneurs, Sheeba offers both caution and encouragement: “Don’t start building a vision God hasn’t given you.” She encourages leaders to remain close to God through prayer, Scripture, and community, creating space to discern whether their vision is truly aligned with God’s. Her most trusted resources? The Bible, the spiritual discipline of prayer, and Andrew Murray's Absolute Surrender, a short but powerful guide to abiding in Christ. Her advice rings clear: trust God through the unknowns, surrender control, and find joy—even in the struggle-by walking closely with Him. MBA Ministry is grateful for Sheeba's partnership, including inviting her to speak at the Believers in Business Conference on multiple occasions. Sheeba has noted that she has been deeply encouraged and inspired by her time at the conference. We know that the feeling is mutual for the students who have had the opportunity to hear her speak!
Vineet Rajan
Forte, a proactive mental fitness service whose mission is strengthening culture through human connection, interactive resources, and actionable data, began with a simple prayer while walking in the woods. As Vineet Rajan, a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, spoke with God, he sensed a clear call to start something new—something that would help people grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That’s how Forte, a mental fitness platform, was born. Today, Forte works with employers—including churches, nonprofits, schools, and businesses—to support their teams by pairing them with guides who help them slow down, reflect, and see how God is working in their lives. These guides serve as trusted companions, helping individuals navigate life and grow through it. Forte isn’t just about job performance—it’s about helping people become who God created them to be. The platform even provides helpful insights back to organizations, enabling them to better care for their teams. Forte’s unique approach caught the attention at The Lion’s Den pitch competition, where it was chosen out of more than 100 companies and won the top award for its combined financial and spiritual impact. Before joining Forte, Vineet served for 11 years in Marine Intelligence and subsequently attended graduate school at the University of Cambridge and Stanford. His faith deepened significantly during his military service, evolving from something he knew intellectually to something he felt in his heart. Business school became a season of asking God not just what to do next, but who God was shaping him to become. Through it all, he learned that our worth isn’t in what we achieve but in being made in God’s image. Today, while he admits he is a work in progress, Vineet strives to live this truth daily. He and his wife start each morning in quiet time with God—same chair, same time, same espresso. It’s a small rhythm that centers him before anything else begins, which he tries to model for his two children. His goal isn’t to do more for God but to be with God. And that’s the heart of Forte, too: reminding people that their value comes not from doing but from who they are in Christ.