From Consulting to Cleantech: Jeff Shibata 26MBA Finds Purpose in Impact Investing
This past summer, MBA student Jeff Shibata 26MBA put his passion for impact investing into action through the Business & Society Institute’s Summer Social Impact Stipend. As an Associate with the Cox Cleantech Accelerator, Jeff helped source, evaluate, and support startups driving innovation in sustainability while positioning Atlanta as a hub for cleantech growth. Discover more as we chat with Jeff in this Q&A.
Let’s start with an introduction. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I am a second-year MBA student (2026), and I worked as a consultant for the past six years. I came to Goizueta Business School to formalize a career transition into one of investing and alternative finance.
What inspired you to pursue your current internship or project this summer?
While consulting was great experience to start my career, I wanted to ensure this next phase is not only meaningful to me but also impactful for society as a whole. During my first year of the MBA program, I searched for opportunities that were really in service to this mission. I applied for Goizueta’s team for the Turner MIINT challenge, which is a year-long impact investing competition in conjunction with the Social Impact Initiative at UPenn’s Wharton School. This competition was by far my favorite experience in business school, and I knew I wanted to continue this kind of mission-driven work into the summer.
Tell us about the organization you’re working with and your role there.
I am an Associate with the Cox Cleantech Accelerator powered by gener8tor. Our goal is to build Atlanta as the premier hub for cleantech innovation through investments in startups and growth of the Atlanta ecosystem. Between the partnerships at Cox, gener8tor, and the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub, the experience has been incredibly invaluable.
What impact are you hoping to make—or already seeing—through your work?
When I started this summer, we were in the process of sourcing, researching, and interviewing hundreds of startups for the fall cohort. Throughout selection, I got to voice my perspective on these companies, the founders, and the broader industry outlook to the investment partners at Cox and gener8tor. The 5 startups are now onboarded and in office at the accelerator, as we’ve now begun the process of helping them scale and find commercial pilot partners.
How has Goizueta prepared you for this experience?
In so many ways – some apparent to me now and some that – I’m sure – will become apparent throughout this next phase of my career. As an investor, you put yourself in the shoes of CEOs and evaluate all parts of the business. Many of the classes from my first year helped refine these skills that I needed to be successful – from analyzing industries in Professor Dye’s strategy class to calculating valuations for IMPACT with Professor Crowley. Just this week, we helped the founders work on their value propositions – a conversation I was fully prepared for because of my all-time favorite class: marketing with Professor Omar.
Why did you choose Goizueta, and what has the experience meant to you so far?
For me, choosing Goizueta was an incredibly meaningful decision based on where I was in life – both personally and professionally. I got the sense very early on that Goizueta seemed to be the place that truly understood the magnitude of that decision. There was a familial aspect that assured me that I would find people who would be my champions, and I certainly did. This summer would not have been possible without those very people, and I am forever grateful.
What advice would you give to future students who want to pursue social impact or climate-related work?
There are so many things I would’ve done differently, but I would say the biggest thing is to spend a lot of time refining what you’re passionate about and what you bring to the table. If you don’t know what that is yet, then great! Volunteer, start talking to other professionals (or me!) – explore everything that sounds interesting. As you are able to better articulate what it is you’re looking for, the road will get a lot clearer. You’ll more easily find your advocates, and you’ll become much more focused on what you’re trying to achieve.
What’s next for you after the internship ends?
My internship is extending through October to continue providing support for the startups until the end of the accelerator program, which culminates in a showcase at Cox’s headquarters. Meanwhile, I am looking for a career at VC funds and investment firms, ideally with a focus in impact investing.
Interested in exploring Full-Time MBA opportunities? Learn more about Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA program.
