Determined to make a difference in the world, Bishal Kafle began his journey with a 26-hour flight from Kathmandu to Denver. Then he added a two-hour drive to Fort Collins to gain a unique educational experience at one of the world’s premiere Global Social & Sustainable Enterprise MBA programs.
After receiving his undergraduate degree in Nepal, Kafle worked with local entrepreneurs for three years to help them grow their businesses. One of Kafle’s clients told him about the opportunity to work with a globally diverse group of CSU students motivated to create sustainable businesses addressing the challenge of poverty.
In Nepal, Kafle’s focus was on providing financing and marketing support for small-farm holders. Then he realized he needed to expand his network and learn about challenges and opportunities elsewhere. Kafle chose CSU’s GSSE program, and his quick transition from Nepal to Colorado shows his remarkable drive and determination.
This summer Kafle traveled to Central America for a venture research program, spending three months learning about social business challenges in the agriculture industry in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
“I really like the exposure to real-world problems,” says Kafle. “I’m not a theoretical guy; I like practical things in entrepreneurship. I wanted to get my hands dirty, and this program allowed me to do that.”
In the GSSE program, Kafle worked as a research assistant for Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Susan Golicic. She mentored him on his summer venture project and the Nespresso Sustainability MBA challenge, in which Kafle’s team was a semifinalist.
“Bishal is an incredibly sincere person with a passion for learning,” Golicic says. “He works hard, tells engaging stories, faces challenges with determination, and is simply a pleasure to work with. It is students like Bishal that make the GSSE program so great.”
When not traveling the globe, Kafle served as the Member and Student Support Specialist at CSU’s Everitt Real Estate Center.
“Through dedication and an ever-positive attitude, Bishal has excelled in both educational and professional development arenas,” says Chris Johnston, assistant director of the Everitt Real Estate Center. “Through his hard work to achieve his highest goals, Bishal embodies the true sense of Colorado State University’s mission as he rounds out his compelling journey to commencement.”
After graduating with his MBA, Kafle will attend the Middlebury Institute of International Studies for a certification in Impact Investing.
“I want to build a really strong network with investors who want to invest in social causes,” says Kafle. “It is my goal to link these investors to the projects back home in Nepal and create better economic opportunity there.”
Kafle plans to return to Nepal, but first wants to make his mark on the world.
“Wherever there is an opportunity and wherever there is a need, that’s where I want to be,” he says. “You have to make your life something meaningful.”
