SIIF MBA Fellowship Spotlight: Andrew Kress & ReJoule
This article was written by Andrew Kress and edited by Olivia Ring
During my time as a financial strategy intern for ReJoule (a leader in the EV battery diagnostic space), I was able to experience and contribute to the fast-paced nature of an early stage company in cleantech. This internship was only possible due to the generosity of the Social Impact Internship Fund (SIIF), which allowed me to work for a company with a mission I believed in, but without the liquidity to typically afford a graduate level internship.
In my time with ReJoule, I aided in the preparation for a SEED round by using the skills that I had learned as a part of the winning MIINT (MBA Impact Investing Network and Training) fellows team from UT in 2025. I researched investors and noted which approaches and strategies would be most likely to succeed for specific funds. I was also able to help on a number of ad-hoc tasks which introduced me to some of the unique problems facing early stage companies; for example, creating a model for warranty and O+M pricing for a new product, a second life Battery Energy Storage System (2LBESS). Working with a for-profit company that has potential for social and environmental impact drove home the theory I learned in my time with MIINT and has reinforced that business for good is good business.
Working as a strategy intern, I was able to develop professional skills while also reflecting on the types of roles I would enjoy for my career. I thrive in quickly moving environments with a strong team dynamic and enjoy working with a close team. I look forward to taking the lessons I’ve learned due to the unique opportunities the GSLI (Global Sustainability Leadership Institute) program and SIIF have offered me in my time as a McCombs MBA student and applying them throughout my career. I also feel more prepared for the possibility of future entrepreneurship due to my firsthand experience with fundraising and soliciting investment, which is often fumbled by first time founders who are unsure how to go about it.
SIIF is a program that allows students to develop skills and reach professional goals without having to give up on making an impact on the world around them. Exposing students to the intersections of the causes they care about and private sector companies working to find solutions is invaluable and helps change the assumption that business is only concerned with the bottom line. By continuing to support and participate in GSLI and SIIF, I hope to continue personal development while aiding the next generation of students to broaden their own perspectives and explore the burgeoning world of private sector impact.
Interested in becoming a SIIF Fellow in our 2026 cohort? Applications will be posted in the GSLI newsletter and on GSLI social media in March 2026!
