Over the summer, T’25s Alison Nordell and Dan Carlson interned at the Maine Venture Fund, working with tech startup BlueTrace, and brewery client, Orange Bike Brewing, respectively. With support from the Tuck GIVES fund—a student-organized initiative backed by the Center for Business, Government & Society and Career Services—Nordell and Carlson focused on areas such as market strategy and new deal flow, gained insights into leadership in the nonprofit sector, and enjoyed the beautiful summer scenery of Maine.
What project/meeting/experience from your internship was most impactful and why?
Over the summer I primarily worked with one of MVF’s portfolio companies, BlueTrace, a B2B tech startup that has designed a mobile and web software platform to revolutionize seafood operations. In July, I was invited to present at BlueTrace’s quarterly Board meeting. Beyond the welcomed opportunity to share my project work and discuss implications for their evolving go-to-market strategy, I appreciated the first-hand exposure to productive founder-investor partnerships evident amongst the board members. Looking back on my notes from this summer, a clear theme of reflection each week was admiration and appreciation for the growth mindset of the leaders and board members at BlueTrace. Their open-mindedness to feedback from customers, colleagues, and other stakeholders was heartening and directly impactful to their steady growth.
Did your internship change or shape how you see your role as a future leader? Was there anything that surprised you about the social impact/nonprofit space?
I was encouraged by how everyone I met in the social impact investing space actively balances mission with profit. I’ve often heard that this needs to be a tradeoff, that one cannot achieve true social impact if financial returns are even part of the conversation. However, stewarding a business with a triple bottom line requires growing the bottom line, as much as it requires having a leader with a clear impact-driven agenda. Increasing revenue, lowering costs, expanding the pie, driving growth in new areas—these cannot be deprioritized simply because the goal is to “do good.” This summer, I was impressed by the business-savviness and altruistic outlooks of the MVF board members, founders, and other small business owners I met. I left the experience feeling reinvigorated that impact investing can drive real, measurable, lasting change in society via sustainable business practices and people who believe in their cause.
The cold room at one of BlueTrace’s clients, a seafood distribution company in Seaport, Boston. | Photo by Alison Nordell T’25
Why do you feel Tuck was the right place to pursue your goals and interests? What were you doing prior to Tuck and what do you hope to do after?
I remain convinced that I made the right choice coming to Tuck. When I describe my MBA experience to friends and family, I say, “I feel like I’m where I’m meant to be right now, and I’ve never felt that way before.” It’s a privilege that I appreciate and do my best to honor every day. It’s also just one step in life’s long journey. Before Tuck, I worked in brand strategy consulting and applied to business school determined to develop my financial acumen and expand my professional network. I wanted to expand my aperture on the world and allow myself to envision working in roles I didn’t know existed. After a year at Tuck and my summer with MVF and BlueTrace, I am excited to explore opportunities that enable me to support small businesses, define their strategy, and build differentiated brands that resonate with uniquely targetable audiences. I would love my work to have a big impact someday, and I believe that the most sustainable, lasting change happens when you focus on local communities first.
Tell us your best Tuck story so far or what’s something that’s still on your Tuck/Hanover/Upper Valley bucket list?
I still haven’t been to a Dartmouth Cabin for an overnight trip! The top of my “Tucket-List” this year is Moosilauke Cabin, hopefully with a big group of friends for a beautiful hike, a delicious family-style meal, and an evening of exchanging stories around the fire.
Alison graduated from Yale University where she majored in American Studies and rowed on the Yale Women's Crew Team. After college, she worked for four years in brand strategy consulting at Kantar, driving growth initiatives for global Fortune 100 companies across a range of industries. She came to Tuck to pivot into PE/VC, applying her growth mindset and strategy expertise to help small- to mid-size portfolio companies operate through critical periods of transition.
In addition to her role as Class President, Alison is involved with the Centers for Entrepreneurship and PE/VC, supports as a Career Mentor for Tuck’s Business Bridge and NextStep programs, co-chairs as a Leadership Fellow, and captains a Tripod (club) ice hockey team. Her daily joys include exploring the Upper Valley's outdoor activities, including hiking, running, cycling, and skiing.
What project/meeting/experience from your internship was most impactful and why?
One of the most impactful moments during my internship at Orange Bike Brewing was realizing how unique the brewery is. I learned firsthand how businesses can leverage their platform to be profitable and scale, as we've studied at Tuck, and address the triple bottom line—a crucial consideration for modern companies. Tom Ruff, the founder, is an inspiring leader dedicated to making craft beer more accessible, especially for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance, and to improving the brewing industry overall. A standout moment was when we hosted a screening event for the Emmy-winning documentary One Pint at a Time, organized in partnership with the National Black Brewers Association. The event aimed to raise awareness about the underrepresentation in the craft beverage industry as less than 1 percent of U.S. breweries are Black-owned. Witnessing Tom's emotional connection to these causes was profoundly moving and underscored the significant role businesses can play in driving meaningful change.
Did your internship change or shape how you see your role as a future leader? Was there anything that surprised you about the social impact/nonprofit space?
My internship at Orange Bike reinforced the importance of committing myself to a cause I’m passionate about. Throughout my career, whether in soccer or on professional teams, a core tenet of my leadership approach has been to understand and prioritize the needs of my team. At Orange Bike, I saw how this kind of leadership can inspire change, not only within the immediate team, but across a broader community, affecting marginalized groups like gluten-intolerant beer drinkers, Black-owned breweries, and even a wider audience.
What stood out to me this summer was how leadership in the social impact space goes beyond top-down management. At Orange Bike, leadership isn't just about providing direction; it's about being actively engaged in the daily work that brings the mission to life. This hands-on approach, where every action aligns with the company’s social mission, deepened my understanding of leadership. I realized that, in the social impact space, a leader’s influence extends beyond achieving business goals; it’s about making a tangible difference for stakeholders. This demands a unique level of engagement and commitment that exceeds what is typically expected in traditional business settings.
Day one at the Maine Venture Fund office in Portland. | Photo by Alison Nordell T’25
Why do you feel Tuck was the right place to pursue your goals and interests? What were you doing prior to Tuck and what do you hope to do after?
Tuck was the right place for me to pursue my interests because the school makes a long-term investment in its people in a way that sets it apart from its peers. This commitment was evident as early as the moment I attended admitted students weekend, where I felt a sense of community that seemed possible only at a school of 600 people located in the middle of the woods. The environment at Tuck, with its philosophy of mutual support and a shared commitment to each other’s success across geographies and career paths, extends strongly into life after graduation. Witnessing the success of alumni and their ongoing willingness to support each other gave me the confidence to choose Tuck and fully pursue my interests during my time here.
Before Tuck, I worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Deals Transformation practice. There, I learned to lead complex projects, develop strategic solutions, and navigate the intricacies of client relationships. While my time at PwC was rewarding, I realized that my interests were stronger in the consumer product and food and beverage industries. After Tuck, I aim to transition into roles that allow me to help companies in these sectors craft growth strategies, whether through internal strategy or external consulting positions. In the long run, I aspire to start my own company, potentially a brewery, or to invest in social impact startups like Orange Bike within the venture capital space.
Tell us your best Tuck story so far or what’s something that’s still on your Tuck/Hanover/Upper Valley bucket list?
The Upper Valley is a place where you can always discover something new. Some highlights from my first year include Connecticut River dips, Killington ski days, and exploring nearby towns like Woodstock and Burlington. In my second year, I’m looking forward to checking off a few more items on my list, like visiting the Norwich Farmers’ Market and hiking Mount Moosilauke. I’m excited to experience these and more as I continue to explore everything this area offers.
Dan Carlson is a second-year student at Tuck. Before Tuck, he worked in consulting at PwC and spent the summer interning at Maine Venture Fund, where he worked on both the investing and operating sides with a local gluten-free brewery. Dan is passionate about exploring the consumer products space and hopes to pursue a career in strategy consulting and entrepreneurship post-MBA. Outside of class, he enjoys exploring recipes, tasting new wines, and hiking around New England.
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