SIIF MBA Fellow Spotlight: Celeste Diaz and CapCityKids

During my summer internship with CapCityKids (CCK), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting students experiencing homelessness and housing instability, I was able to step into a role that combined business strategy with social impact. This intersection is one I hope to continue highlighting throughout my career. My work was made possible through the Social Impact Internship Fund (SIIF), which provided crucial financial support to pursue a mission-driven internship in a sector where compensation is often lower than traditional MBA pathways.

Founded in 2005 by leaders at Amherst Holdings, CCK is housed under the Amherst Foundation and has grown from Austin roots to serve multiple school districts nationwide. CCK’s mission is to support unhoused and at-risk students in accessing quality education.

I was first introduced to CCK during my social work practicum at Sanchez Elementary, where they partnered with Austin ISD and UT’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work. As a dual-degree MBA/MSW student passionate about bridging business strategy with social impact, I was eager to return to CCK for my MBA internship and further explore their philanthropy initiatives, particularly as they intersect with the corporate sector through Amherst’s leadership.

At CCK, I served as Program Manager for the organization’s annual multi-city backpack and school supplies drive, an initiative spanning Austin, Bastrop, Phoenix, and Nashville. In this role, I applied my MBA skills in procurement, market research, and operations to streamline logistics for large-scale distribution while also drawing on my MSW training in community engagement and equity-driven service delivery. Together with the CCK team, we distributed over 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies and 1,500 hygiene kits to students in need, ensuring that they could begin the school year with the tools and confidence to succeed.

This experience highlighted the ways in which philanthropy and the corporate sector can intersect to address systemic inequities. With CCK’s ties to Amherst Holdings, I was able to see firsthand how businesses can leverage their resources and networks to raise funds to make education more accessible for vulnerable populations. My internship not only deepened my interest in corporate philanthropy but also reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career where I can align business expertise with social work values to create sustainable solutions.

Thanks to SIIF, I was able to fully dedicate myself to this opportunity, learning lessons that extend far beyond a single summer. The program allowed me to continue charting a career path rooted in business for good, while giving back to the communities that inspire me and shaping my vision for a career in social impact.