Entrepreneurial Wall of Honor
Esteban Arguedas ’15
Founder: Rainforest Beehive House
Major: Business and nonprofit management
Esteban’s entrepreneurial journey is a tapestry woven from childhood hustle and a passion for travel and food. It all began with selling fruit and bread and, at one point, even dog food in his neighborhood.
Esteban’s entrepreneurial journey is a tapestry woven from childhood hustle and a passion for travel and food. It all began with selling fruit and bread and, at one point, even dog food in his neighborhood. Those early lessons in sales and customer service laid the foundation for what was to come. As Esteban grew, so did his ventures. He dove into the travel and food industries, combining his love for both exploration and culinary experiences. The road wasn’t smooth—there were bumps, detours and even dead ends. Failed ventures became crash courses in resilience and adaptability.
Yet with each setback, he gained invaluable lessons—the importance of understanding the market, the significance of flexibility and the art of bouncing back. Those hard-earned insights transformed his approach. Today he proudly owns Rainforest Beehive House, a unique short-term rental inspired by beehives that overlooks the Eternal Children’s Rainforest private reserve. With earned resiliency and wisdom, he offers travelers a taste of the tropics and well-rounded service in the travel industry.
Anna Hetzel ’12
Founder and Owner: Strange Birds
Major: Spanish and Hispanic studies
Anna Hetzel (they/them) is the founder and worker-owner of Strange Birds, a marketing cooperative based out of Columbus, Ohio.
Co-founder: PB&Qs
https://pbandqs.ck.page/
Anna Hetzel (they/them) is the founder and worker-owner of Strange Birds, a marketing cooperative based out of Columbus, Ohio. Strange Birds has worked with hundreds of companies, helping to organize their marketing and communications needs from high-level strategy to discreet tactics, executing what we can and helping source and manage outside contractors on what we can’t. Outside of work, Anna can be found on the ultimate frisbee fields, cooking a meal for friends or curled up with a good book.
Rebecca Ogle, LCSW ’11
Owner and practitioner: Grounded Counseling, PLLC
Major: English
Rebecca Ogle owns Grounded Counseling, a private practice located in Indianapolis. After her graduation from Earlham, Rebecca’s career journey began with a yearlong AmeriCorps program located in Evanston, Illinois.
Rebecca Ogle owns Grounded Counseling, a private practice located in Indianapolis. After her graduation from Earlham, Rebecca’s career journey began with a yearlong AmeriCorps program located in Evanston, Illinois. There she worked closely with social workers and was inspired to return to school and obtain her master of social work, specializing in mental health. Rebecca worked in community mental health settings in the Chicagoland area for a number of years, then opened her private practice in 2019 and eventually left community mental health. Grounded Counseling currently sees therapy clients locally in Indianapolis and virtually in Indiana and Illinois. The practice specializes in trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming treatment of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Some of Rebecca’s biggest heroes include Marsha Linehan, Resmaa Menakem, Jon Kabat-Zinn and her own clients. Rebecca is married to classmate Lucas Williams ’11, and they have a daughter. A few years ago, they moved back near Rebecca’s hometown to be closer to family and get away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago. Rebecca and her family attend the North Meadow Circle of Friends in Indianapolis to stay close to their Quaker roots.
Abhinav Khanal ’16
Co-founder and Executive Director: Bean Voyage
Major: Politics
A social entrepreneur with a passion for reducing inequities, Abhinav has co-founded two ventures focused on creating positive impact in the world.
Co-founder with Sunghee Tark (2016) and executive director: Bean Voyage
https://www.beanvoyage.org
Co-founder and chief operating officer: Little Big Fund
https://www.littlebig.fund
A social entrepreneur with a passion for reducing inequities, Abhinav has co-founded two ventures focused on creating positive impact in the world. At Bean Voyage, he and former Earlham classmate Sunghee Tark build thriving businesses with smallholder women coffee farmers in Latin America. With his second venture, Little Big Fund, his team supports social impact leaders worldwide with training, microgrants and mentorship to help them realize their visions for a better future.
In addition to work as an entrepreneur, Abhi also facilitates workshops on entrepreneurship, innovation and social change, as well as design thinking at the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education. Having earned a BA in political science from Earlham College, he has also received fellowships and scholarships from numerous institutions, including the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, the Opportunity Collaboration, the Thompson Reuters Foundation, the Watson Institute, the Resolution Project, the British Council, and the Specialty Coffee Association. Abhi’s mission is to create a world that is more equitable, sustainable and just for all. He invites those who share his vision to connect with him and explore ways to make a positive impact together.
Sunghee Tark ’16
Co-founder and CEO: Bean Voyage
Major: Economics
Sunghee co-founded Bean Voyage with Abhinav Khanal ‘16 as a social enterprise in 2016, focusing on empowering
women involved in agribusiness in Costa Rica.
MSc in public policy and government, Peking University, 2017
MSc in public policy and government, London School of Economics, 2019
Co-founder and CEO: Bean Voyage
https://www.beanvoyage.org
Sunghee co-founded Bean Voyage with Abhinav Khanal ‘16 as a social enterprise in 2016, focusing on empowering women involved in agribusiness in Costa Rica. Right now, company operations span both Costa Rica and Mexico and engage with more than 900 female smallholders who have established successful businesses within coffee-farming communities. The organization’s efforts have resulted in these women earning up to four times more for their products compared to prevailing commodity market rates.
The Specialty Coffee Association and Youth Solutions Report have both recognized Bean Voyage for its entrepreneurial efforts. Additional accolades for Bean Voyage include the One Young World Emma Watson Scholarship, the Facebook Social Enterprise Award and a Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals Fellowship. Strategic partnerships with influential organizations, including the Starbucks Foundation and MiiR, and with governmental entities, such as the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, exemplify their commitment to channeling resources towards the advancement of farming communities. Among Bean Voyage’s significant initiatives is a collaboration with the Coffee Institute of Costa Rica, which contributed to research and advocacy that led to the passage of the first gender policy in that country’s coffee sector.
Nathan Schorsch ’09
Founder: Head to Toe Financial Planning
Major: History
Nathan has always been drawn to entrepreneurship and the appeal of creating something from the ground up.
Behavioral financial advisor: Think2Perform, 2023
Nathan has always been drawn to entrepreneurship and the appeal of creating something from the ground up. After graduating from Earlham, he partnered with a close friend to create a sports company, which provided valuable learning experiences despite failing four years later. The idea of wearing all the hats in the company was a tough lesson but proved immensely helpful later in his journey. Most people who launch their own ventures do so because they’re passionate about the work involved; however, Nathan acknowledges that being responsible for everything from marketing to IT can be daunting.
Working in financial services at a multinational following his initial venture, he loved helping guide people along their financial journeys but absolutely hated the large company. Deciding to leave that company with no clients was not the most conventional approach, but Nathan felt strongly about building a relationship with clients centered on mutual respect. In 2018 he opened Head to Toe Financial Planning, focused on working with young people to improve their financial literacy and helping people avoid financial pitfalls instead of trying to recover from mistakes. For Nathan there’s nothing better than the feeling of being in control of your destiny and having freedom in your work.
Daniel Kibet ’19
Co-founder: Mashinani Farmers Initiative
Majors: Economics, Global Management
Through Mashinani Farmers Initiative, Daniel’s goal is to empower Kenyan farmers, fostering thriving agricultural communities.
Masters of international business – Fletcher School, Tufts University, 2023
Co-founder: Mashinani Farmers Initiative
https://www.mashinanifarmers.org
Through Mashinani Farmers Initiative, Daniel’s goal is to empower Kenyan farmers, fostering thriving agricultural communities. In the first five years, he raised $35,000 to fund innovative solutions, including testing new crops, optimizing land use and integrating farming systems. Training 25 partner farmers has resulted in increased productivity, reduced costs and enhanced resilience. In addition to providing consultation and logistics services, the company introduces climate-resilient methods, including high-value crops like strawberries, herbs, spices, honey and poultry products. Techniques such as drip irrigation, mulching, and composting promote sustainability. A cooperative network among farmers facilitates resource sharing and market access. Daniel’s vision is to scale up this initiative, creating a sustainable agriculture model that impacts millions of lives.
Co-founder and program logistics coordinator: Blesser Breakers
https://www.blesserbreakers.org/
Blesser Breakers aims to improve the lives and prospects of teenage girls in Zambia by educating them about sexual exploitation and risky sexual behavior. Blesser Breakers won the 2022 Fletcher D-Prize competition, which awards $15,000 to launch a summer pilot that addresses poverty in the developing world. Based on a UNICEF sexual awareness program, Blesser Breakers was successfully piloted to 500 girls and is being evaluated by tracking the number of girls who drop out due to pregnancy. Market research was conducted by talking with community members, and a collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Curriculum Development Center helped tailor the program to local needs by translating it into native dialects.
Will Alderfer ’11
Founder and Owner: W.R. Metalarts
Majors: Fine arts (metalsmithing), Human development and social relations
Will is a metalsmith, jeweler, designer and owner of W.R. Metalarts, located in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Will is a metalsmith, jeweler, designer and owner of W.R. Metalarts, located in Brattleboro, Vermont. At Earlham College, Will double-majored in fine art metalsmithing and human development and social relations. He combined these two passions when he created W.R. Metalarts, a values-driven company committed to transforming the jewelry industry to be more ethical, transparent and inclusive. Since its founding in 2016, W.R. Metalarts has flourished into a thriving e-commerce business, which employs six people across the globe.
Will’s love for blending traditional and modern metalsmithing techniques remains at the heart of each handcrafted piece of jewelry. As the W.R. Metalarts team grows, Will continues to reimagine conventional business structures, striving to have a positive impact not only in the lives of his colleagues and clients but also on the individuals and communities up and down the supply chains that make his work possible. W.R. Metalarts is proud to be both a Fairmined Licensed Brand and new Fairmined Supplier.
Diane Lupke ’80
Founder, president and CEO: Diane Lupke & Associates, Inc.
Major: Business Management
Minor: Nonprofit Management
“Amazing examples of entrepreneurship were all around me,” Diane says. “There was nothing extraordinary in this.”
MPA, Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, 1982
International Economic Development Council:
> CEcD – Certified Economic Developer, 1995; renewed every 3 years
> FM – Honorary fellow member, 2005
> HLM – Honorary life member, 2012
“Amazing examples of entrepreneurship were all around me,” Diane says. “There was nothing extraordinary in this.” Both sets of grandparents had started their own businesses, and her parents each started nonprofit organizations supporting their passions while early in their careers. It was how you supported your family, how you made things happen, how you made a difference. After working in economic development from both the government and university perspectives, Diane was eager to work from the private sector, assisting a bank to gain greater impact from its investments in communities. However, when the bank she worked for was bought out and she was made redundant, it was an easy choice to start her own business. Diane felt she was making a difference through her work at the bank and wanted to continue that work. She chose to set up her own consultancy, Diane Lupke & Associates, and now describes her thirty-five-year journey as a great experience—following, refining, learning and reinventing economic development for communities facing major economic change. Strongly mission driven, the company is centered on the belief that economic opportunity exists within every community. “Communities have the power to act on those opportunities, reinvent themselves, and change a negative trajectory by fully engaging the talents and potential of their citizenry.”
