Original article linked here and quoted below!

Jordan Swett

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth

"Servant leader empowering others to drive outsized impact in global sustainability, innovation, and equity."

Hometown: Littleton, MA

Fun fact about yourself: I was part of both my high school and college improvised comedy clubs, performing dozens of shows for crowds of up to 200 people. I can't tell a good joke on the spot, but my made-up comedy scenes still managed to get lots of laughs from large crowds back in my improv days.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Dartmouth College, B.A. in Environmental Studies with a Minor in Development Economics

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Fifth Wall Ventures, Climate Technology Venture Capital Fellow (New York, NY) 

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Powerhouse Ventures, Summer Investment Associate (Oakland, CA)

Where will you be working after graduation? Recruiting for a full-time role in early-stage climate tech venture capital.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Director, Tuck Social Venture Fund
• MBA Fellow, Revers Center for Energy, Sustainability, and Innovation
• MBA Liaison and Fellow, The Consortium for Graduate Students in Management
• Inaugural MBA Associate, Dartmouth Greenshot Climate Solutions Accelerator
• MBA Facilitator, Tuck Global Leadership Program's Inaugural Venture Pitch Competition in Nairobi, Kenya
• Advisory Board Student Representative to the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy & Society at Dartmouth
• CERAWeek Student Delegate for the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy & Society at Dartmouth
• Co-Chair, John Barley Corn Society (Tuck Beer Club)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of launching Greenshot, Dartmouth's inaugural climate solutions startup accelerator. As a founding team member, I worked closely with faculty and staff from Tuck, Dartmouth's Irving Institute for Energy and Society, and Dartmouth's Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship to support a cohort of early-stage climate ventures and develop programming that connects founders with investors and industry experts.

This experience has been deeply meaningful because it blends my passion for climatetech, entrepreneurship, and empowering founders. In the short term, it has given me hands-on experience in venture-building and founder support, reinforcing my ability to advise entrepreneurs and evaluate early-stage startups. Serving as a trusted advisor to our cohort founders has taught me invaluable lessons I'll apply to my own entrepreneurial journey someday. Over the course of the full-year experience, I learned firsthand from founders about the challenges of scaling climate solutions, which deepened my empathy for their journey. In the long term, it's a foundational step toward my goal of building an incubator that supports underrepresented founders in climate and social impact.

Beyond personal growth, Greenshot has established a lasting platform for Dartmouth and Tuck, enabling us to bring the school's resources to more incredible founders around the world and further expand its impact on the climate tech ecosystem. Knowing that I helped build something that will outlive my time at Tuck and support the next generation of climate entrepreneurs is incredibly fulfilling.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my biggest professional achievements was helping an organization affiliated with my tribe, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, secure solar energy for their workforce development and education office. In my career before Tuck, I worked for a solar impact investment fund that focused on bringing clean and affordable renewable energy to underserved communities in the U.S. We had the opportunity to partner with my tribe and I was asked to lead the project. I worked with the board of directors for the workforce development agency affiliated with the Lumbee Tribe to explore financing options, contract the project, and then develop and install the solar system on their roof.

The true accomplishment wasn't just completing the deal, but enabling an organization in my tribe to secure clean and affordable power that will generate more than $80K in savings on utility bills over the course of the solar contract. That's more than $80K that will be reinvested in programs for my family and other Lumbee youth to access better education and workforce development opportunities.

I have long been striving to find ways that I can leverage my skills and resources to give back to my tribe. I finally felt that I was able to do so with this opportunity. When it was time to turn on the solar system, Sunwealth flew me down to Pembroke, North Carolina (where my family is from) to speak at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Seeing some of my family and other leaders in the Lumbee community there and having the opportunity to share how important the project was to me and for our community was one of my proudest moments.

Why did you choose this business school? I was initially considering several peer MBA programs, but Tuck already held a special place in my heart from my undergraduate years in Hanover and my collaborations with Tuck students and faculty. I was also drawn to Tuck's reputation for allowing students to customize their MBA experience beyond core classes through endless extracurricular opportunities that would enhance my career trajectory.

A few months before Round 1 applications were due, I visited a friend who was enrolled at Tuck and spent a full day experiencing life as a Tuckie, both on campus and on a nearby farm. What stood out beyond the academic rigor and career opportunities was the way classmates truly treated each other like family. I saw firsthand how Tuck fosters an immersive, around-the-clock experience where lifelong relationships are built. After that visit, I was convinced that Tuck's unique combination of academic excellence and extraordinary tight-knit community was the perfect fit for me. I scrapped my other applications, applied only to Tuck, and never looked back.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Ramon Lecuona Torras stands out as my favorite professor because of his unwavering commitment to his students and the broader impact of business on making the world a better place. More than a brilliant academic, Ramon is a mentor who deeply cares about his students as individuals and future leaders, ensuring we are empowered with the tools, experiences, and networks to make meaningful contributions to the world through our careers. His teaching extends far beyond the classroom—he actively brings global leaders to us and takes us to them, creating immersive learning experiences that challenge our perspectives and deepen our understanding of complex markets. Ramon's Strategy in Emerging Markets course exemplifies this approach, making learning tangible by curating up-to-date, real-world case studies and bringing to class the high-profile leaders they feature, allowing us to actively work on evaluating problems alongside the very people the cases are about.

I have had the privilege of working with Ramon across multiple touchpoints at Tuck: from Core Strategy and Strategy in Emerging Markets to three independent studies on venture capital in emerging markets and startup go-to-market strategy, traveling with him to India for a Tuck Global Insight Expedition course, facilitating the Tuck Executive Education Global Leadership Program in Kenya, and working with him through the Tuck Social Venture Fund. One of our most impactful experiences together was in Kenya, where we collaborated with high-growth startups tackling critical challenges in housing, food, and education. This experience reinforced my belief that education should be experiential, immersive, and transformative. Ramon is a genuinely amazing person to work with—thoughtful, humble, and deeply invested in his students' success. He challenges us to think critically, supports our professional aspirations, and pushes us to engage with complex, meaningful problems outside of the classroom. His mentorship has been invaluable in my journey at Tuck, and I'm grateful to continue learning from him long after I graduate.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? While I have loved so many courses at Tuck, my favorite was Social Entrepreneurship, as it allowed me to turn my undergraduate thesis on solar energy access in rural South Africa into a concept for a social venture. My research focused on key reasons for unaffordable electricity in rural South Africa and highlighted the strength of community savings groups, which I was able to address through the venture I developed in class. I designed a community-driven solar access platform leveraging crowdfunding to cover installation costs and pay-as-you-go technology to make energy access affordable.

The course's hands-on approach pushed me to refine the financial and impact model, test key assumptions, and ultimately pitch to an angel investor from the Dartmouth community who I deeply admire and respect. It strengthened my ability to think like an entrepreneur – taking a problem I am passionate about solving, designing a solution, and aligning financial sustainability with meaningful impact. The class reinforced my belief that social enterprises can drive both financial and social returns and enabled me to dig deeper into my commitment to supporting climate and energy solutions for underserved communities.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite Tuck tradition is Small Group Dinners, which perfectly embody the school's family-like community. From randomized dinners with new classmates to home-cooked meals with professors and their families, these gatherings have been a defining part of my Tuck experience. The warmth and openness in these settings foster connections that extend far beyond the classroom, often blossoming into new friendships within just hours. This tradition has become so meaningful to me that I now prioritize organizing Small Group Dinners every one to two weeks, bringing together both old friends and peers I want to know better. These gatherings continually remind me that Tuck isn't just a two-year MBA but a lifelong experience, built on relationships that will endure well beyond our time in Hanover.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you'd do differently and why? The one thing I would change about my time here is venturing more beyond Hanover. While immersing myself in Tuck, engaging with the broader Dartmouth ecosystem, and connecting with climate venture networks, I didn't have enough time to fully explore the Upper Valley's rich culture and history. With more time, I would have built connections with local business owners, discovered the charm of more nearby towns, and taken fuller advantage of the region's natural beauty. Though I'm unsure when or how, I hope to return someday and experience the Upper Valley more completely—with the time and space to appreciate all it has to offer.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? WeCrashed is a fascinating depiction of the volatility of startups and the power—both positive and destructive—of visionary leadership. While much of the WeWork story doesn't align with traditional business fundamentals, it highlights important realities: startups can be incredibly unstable; leaders can be overly emotional and steer their companies in the wrong direction; and sometimes ideas gain more traction than they deserve, misleading even the most seasoned investors and executives. Watching WeCrashed reinforced for me the importance of balancing creativity with discipline in business. It inspires me to remain open-minded and innovative while being highly attuned to leadership dynamics. A strong vision can propel a company forward, but poor leadership can just as easily derail it. I view the show and WeWork's story as a cautionary lesson—an incredible idea, without the right execution and governance, can still fail.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Tuck has integrated AI into its programming by providing students with access to OpenAI premium, which I've used extensively for quantitative analysis in my independent studies. I leveraged AI for pattern recognition, identifying word and sentiment commonalities across interviews and Pitchbook datasets with climate tech founders and investors in emerging markets. AI-assisted processing enabled me to transform unstructured text and conversations into a structured, coded dataset, allowing me to uncover recurring themes, cross-analyze responses, and surface nuanced insights that would have been difficult to detect through manual review alone. This experience deepened my understanding of how AI can enhance qualitative research by streamlining pattern recognition while still requiring human judgment for meaningful interpretation.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The Tuck classmate I most admire is Giovanni Baldini, who became one of my closest friends the moment I met him at Consortium's orientation before Tuck even began. Gio's pre-Tuck career is incredibly inspiring. He founded Proveedora Mar y Cultura, where he raised a seed round of $500K to launch the first sustainable cage-based marine fish aquaculture company in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico. There, he navigated the challenges of scaling a business that balances environmental responsibility with economic viability. He was also an international business professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. At Tuck, Gio has been my go-to partner on some of my most meaningful projects, including independent studies on climate tech venture capital in emerging markets, new market entry strategies for AI startups in climate, and an investment thesis on AI for voluntary carbon markets.

He is an incredibly hard worker, always bringing sharp insights and infectious energy that lifts up everyone around him. No matter the challenge, he finds a way to empower those around him to be their best. I also admire his leadership in extracurriculars, serving as Co-Chair of the Hispanic American Student Association, Co-Chair of the Tuck Food and Agriculture Club, and a Tuck Admissions Associate (interviewing prospective students). His ability to balance all these commitments while remaining such a thoughtful, driven, and supportive friend and teammate is remarkable.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I plan to build a business that directly addresses a critical climate change challenge with innovative, scalable solutions. Second, I eventually want to launch an incubator dedicated to supporting underrepresented founders in climate tech and social impact with the resources, mentorship, and connections they need to succeed.

What made Jordan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

"If you looked up "Tuck Student" in the dictionary, I'm pretty sure you'd find a picture of Jordan. He embodies everything this community stands for—he is personal and connected. In my five years of teaching at Tuck, I haven't met a student more fully engaged with every part of the MBA experience.

I first met Jordan in my core Strategy class, and he made an impression right away. He booked office hours—not to talk about course details, but to share his life story and his dream of building a better world through clean energy. That conversation was deeply personal, and I still think about it.

Jordan has a true gift for connecting with people—whether classmates, professors, or complete strangers. For example, he helped me organize a pitch competition with over 30 entrepreneurs in Nairobi, Kenya. Coordinating the entire event wasn't easy, but thanks to Jordan's dedication and rapport with the entrepreneurs, it was a big success.

What sets Jordan apart is how he's embraced every dimension of the MBA—not just academically or professionally, but personally. You can count on him to show up prepared for class. To turn in a stellar paper. To lead initiatives like the Tuck Social Venture Fund. To show up at the Latin American Club's asado. And to stop for a great conversation in the hallway.

Over the past two years, I've seen Jordan grow—and help others grow, too. We've worked on a research paper, organized events, and yes, even picked out a new dog for my kids. Ask anyone at Tuck and they'll have their own "Jordan story." He's a shining example of how an MBA can be truly transformative—not just for a career, but for the person you become."

J. Ramon Lecuona Torras
Clinical Professor of Business Administration
Faculty Director of Tuck Executive Education's Global Leadership Program
Faculty Advisor for the Tuck Social Venture Fund

 

Original article linked here and quoted above!