Meet the Team: Team Tetris at your Service
When Alexey Pajitnov invented Tetris in 1979, he explained, “games allow people to get to know each other better and act as revealers of things you might not normally notice, such as their way of thinking.” Pajitnov’s sentiment resonated with Aaron, Mahima, Jacob, and Arpit — four MBAs from varying backgrounds, interests, and perspectives. They recognized early on that diversity was a strength. The team’s members were aligned in their mutual desire to aid small social ventures in developing community resilience through sustainability-focused business. However, the team was united by the opportunity to learn more about one another and America’s small business ecosystem. Each member is unique, but they fit well together — meet Team Tetris!
Like, comment, and subscribe to follow our journey this month as we traverse Muskegon, Cincinnati, St Louis, and Atlanta to work and learn with different sustainability-focused small businesses!
Aaron Friedman-Heiman
Aaron was born and raised in Atlanta, GA and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Tulane University. Upon graduating, Aaron conducted applied research in Israel for two years focusing on sustainable development technologies. Returning home, Aaron joined Rubicon Technologies as a Circular Economy Specialist, consulting Fortune 500 companies to design, implement, and track corporate zero-waste programs for three years. Now, pursuing his MBA and MS in Geospatial Data Science, Aaron focuses on climate tech venture capital and entrepreneurship to scale technologies to fight climate change rapidly. As a member of Open Road, Aaron is excited to see firsthand how startups and small businesses can improve resilience and social mobility in marginalized communities while helping them scale and increase profitability. Aaron enjoys experimenting with different ferments, mountaineering, and playing piano in his free time.
Arpit Sharma
Arpit was born and raised in the city of Chandigarh in northern India. After graduation, he pursued his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and worked in manufacturing operations. Throughout his childhood, Arpit was motivated by his parents’ passion for giving back to society, which he still carries. In one instance, he led a team of 40 people across 8 Indian cities to conduct cleanliness and sustainability awareness drives. Arpit also worked in advisory and impact investing roles before Ross, focusing on small to medium enterprises in India. Through Open Road, Arpit wants to use his experience to help enterprises enhance their value proposition and market it to customers and investors, augmenting their impact on the planet. Beyond work, Arpit enjoys soccer, Formula 1, motorcycling, running, music concerts, and hiking.
Jacob Kennedy
A Marine Brat, Jacob grew up moving frequently, instilling a strong interest in cultural differences. His time in South Georgia gave him an appreciation for rural communities. Naturally, he studied Anthropology with a minor in Arabic at the University of Georgia. After graduating, he taught English in Thailand. Upon returning to the US, Jacob spent five years advancing food and environmental justice in the nonprofit sector. Wanting to scale environmental and social impact, Jacob enrolled in the Erb dual degree program to pursue an MBA and MS in Environmental Justice. As a member of Open Road, Jacob looks to leverage his expertise in community engagement to help social entrepreneurs drive direct impact in their communities. Jacob enjoys fermenting and reviewing hard ciders, working out, and blogging about his NCAA 2014 University of Montana dynasty in his free time.
Mahima Obhrai
Mahima was born in Nagaland, India, and has had a peripatetic childhood due to her father’s transferable job. During her upbringing, Mahima lived in small, remote areas of the country and big cities. These experiences made her particularly cognizant of the importance of small businesses in society. She earned her Bachelors of Commerce (Finance and Accounting major) from the University of Delhi. After undergrad, she worked in research, analysis, and expert consulting at McKinsey & Co., helping businesses improve their processes, organizational discipline, and employee experience to sustain long-term performance. She worked with diverse clients such as environmental management services, packaging clients, and FinTech companies across Asia, the Middle East, and the UK. Now, pursuing her MBA at the University of Michigan, Mahima focuses on strategy and sustainability. As a member of Team Tetris, Mahima is excited to help small businesses achieve sustainable growth. Mahima is an avid dog lover who loves watching (and practicing) comedy.
