CENTRAL POINT, OR – In late May, Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) learned that their application to the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business Fellows Program (Seattle, WA) had been selected to receive not one, but two prestigious board fellows.
Fellows Aradhana Gupta and Hannah Thornton have joined DBL and its national board for the 2022-23 academic year and will focus on several key projects for the national nonprofit. With an underlying theme on diversity, Aradhana and Hannah will also actively participate in the national board’s finance and board recruitment committees.
“The board is delighted to add Aradhana Gupta and Hannah Thornton as fellows for the 2022-23 academic year,” stated board member and mentor, Tim Cibula. “We hope to use their combined experience and skills, along with the most current teachings at University of Washington Foster School of Business, to guide our activities and complete initiatives that strengthen Dogs for Better Lives.”
The timing of fellows Aradhana and Hannah joining DBL’s national board comes at a critical period, as addressing diversity and further integrating this focus into the upcoming planning for a next four-year strategic plan, will be paramount to the nonprofit’s future success.
“We’re very excited to be partnering with the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and their Fellows program,” stated CEO Bryan Williams. “Aradhana and Hannah are two talented graduate students who will bring a fresh perspective to the Board as we continue to focus on growth, scale, and diversity.”
Aradhana Gupta
Aradhana Gupta
Aradhana is an MBA candidate at the Foster School of Business. She received her Bachelor of Commerce at Panjab University and Chartered Accountant credentials at The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Aradhana started her career as an auditor at KPMG before joining Bough Consulting, a start-up, as their 5th hire.
A couple of years on, her passion for education led her to apply to the Teach for India fellowship, where she served as an English and Social Science instructor for 10th graders. She led a training program to enable her school’s transition to online learning during the pandemic. The project helped her discover the potential of education technology in the classroom and drove her decision to pursue an MBA. Aradhana hopes to work at an Edtech company after completing her degree, driving the creation of products that enable meaningful and inclusive learning.
This summer, she worked as a Social Entrepreneurship Fellow at the University of Washington, conducting pre-launch research and creating a business model for an eLearning product serving stakeholders in the child welfare system. She also interned as a Marketing Consultant at Advanced Classroom Technologies.
“When my family first brought home a puppy to support a relative’s mental health, I witnessed the transformative power of a dog’s love,” stated Aradhana. “I believe that dogs do indeed create better lives! I am thrilled to further my learning at an organization that empowers individuals through the support of these animals.”
Hannah Thornton
Hannah Thornton
Hannah Thornton is currently working towards a Masters of Business Administration at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, with a focus on Technology Management. She spent the past four years at the equity management software company, Carta, focused on operational growth initiatives within the Investor Services and Fund Administration teams.
She brings a breadth of experience spanning strategic branding, public relations, and operational programming, with a keen eye for tactfully scaling growing teams. Hannah has a Bachelors in Spanish and Journalism from Mount Holyoke College where she also enjoyed four-years as a varsity equestrian athlete.
Her love of animals immediately drew her to Dogs for Better Lives and she is incredibly excited to contribute to such a wonderful cause. Hannah also acts as a wish granting volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and can be found roaming the Seattle area with her husband and 5-year-old Bernedoodle, Wiley.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the DBL team,” stated Hannah. “Furthering this cause is extremely personal and I’m honored to contribute to this special organization.”
To learn more about DBL’s National Board of Directors and/or with inquiries in joining the board, visit… https://bit.ly/2BrQZfU. You can also visit DBL’s profile on cariclub or BoardLead to learn more.
