Alumna drives change through entrepreneurship, sustainability, and education

This Women's Equality Day, Poonam Shah (MS Information Management '02) shares how her non-profit Blutera is impacting education on a global scale.

When Poonam Shah (MS Information Management '02) first applied to her W. P. Carey master's degree program, she couldn't anticipate how it would change her life trajectory.

"ASU was a fabulous experience. It launched my career," says Shah, the co-founder and executive director of the non-profit Blutera, which is dedicated to driving environmental change through education. "I appreciate the opportunities ASU gave me, without which I wouldn't be where I am today."

Founded in 2021, Blutera empowers people to escape poverty through education while supporting advocacy and innovation in environmental sustainability. The organization also fosters youth leadership opportunities through international volunteer trips at partner schools focused on community service and sustainable farming. Additionally, it provides scholarships to students pursuing environmental science or related programs in the U.S. and internationally.

Shah manages Blutera's day-to-day operations, including overseeing marketing, partnering with board members on fundraising efforts, leading the organization’s philanthropic efforts, and supporting Blutera's partner organizations. Earlier this year, Shah also founded the W. P. Carey New Venture Challenge's Blutera Sustainability Award, which was presented to Jeff Watkins (MBA '24) and Roman Stephan (BS Business Entrepreneurship '17, MBA '24) for their venture Proper Pack, a sustainable paper beverage packaging product. An annual, application-based eight-week course, the New Venture Challenge aims to empower student entrepreneurs to grow successful businesses and culminates in a competition for financial investments in their businesses.

"We desperately need new ideas and businesses to come up with better ways of protecting our planet," says Shah. "New, sustainable products could have a huge impact on climate change."

In celebration of Women's Equality Day, W. P. Carey News caught up with Shah to learn more about how she co-founded Blutera and advocates for education and sustainability.

Question: Have you always been interested in entrepreneurship?
Answer: I spent over 15 years in various executive roles at Fortune 500 technology companies. I didn’t begin my career as an entrepreneur, but as my career progressed I wanted to help support students through job opportunities. This led me to co-found my first company Stuhire, which was focused on creating a gig economy specifically for students so they could support themselves while building their résumés with internships and full-time employment experiences.

Q: What advice would you give to students interested in advocating for education and the environment but don’t know where to start?
A: Start now, start small, and remember that every little bit and everyone’s voice counts. Educate yourself on the issues you're passionate about and start advocating by joining or supporting an organization that aligns with your values. Call your congressperson and senators to support environmental protection policies locally. Stay engaged in the conversation by volunteering at a local school or coordinating park clean-up days.

Q: You founded the New Venture Challenge's Blutera Sustainability Award. Why is it important to support student entrepreneurs passionate about sustainability?
A: We see a lot of negative statistics about the environment, climate change, and global warming, and people are getting tired of it. I wanted to create a message of hope. We can still help our planet and ourselves through innovative solutions, and what better way to combine education and new solutions than working with universities to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the environmental and sustainability space? Every business can be sustainable if it chooses to be, from how it sources materials to packaging to shipping products. There is a lot that can be done to improve sustainability in business.

Q: What advice would you give to students who aspire to be business owners?
A: You need to be adaptable and flexible while having perseverance and a strong work ethic. There will be ups and downs, but stay focused and strive to understand the market and the problem you are trying to solve. Having some prior work experience before starting your business is a huge plus. Start small but think big.

Q: What is the best piece of leadership advice you've received?
A: Lead by example and be a good listener. In my last corporate role, I managed a large global team, and it's important to practice what you preach by showing up and coming in with a can-do mindset. When working with customers, you need to actively listen to their questions and their needs so you can support them to the best of your ability.

Q: Is there a professional achievement or contribution that you are most proud of?
A: As a new non-profit, Blutera has already accomplished so much. Last year, we helped educate over 100 kids across the globe and are on track to reach that goal again this year. Each year, we've awarded a scholarship to a student pursuing environmental studies, and we've worked with ASU for two years to provide similar grants to students. I'm most proud of the impact Blutera is making in education and the environment. It's extremely fulfilling and has been an incredible journey. I can't thank our supporters enough for how they're impacting these children.