In recognition of Earth Day, we’ve been speaking to entrepreneurs who have used their education to make a difference. These individuals have created start-ups that solve a business problem in a sustainable way.

After completing a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and gaining certificates in Entrepreneurship and Technology from UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET) and an Entrepreneurship and Small Business certificate from Certiport, Kelly Pan put these accolades to great use with the launch of Impact Food, where she serves as Co-Founder and CEO.

Impact Food is reinventing seafood in a way that allows our oceans to thrive. By leveraging plants and food science the company creates delicious whole cut vegan “seafood” with the taste and texture of real fish.

We spoke to Kelly about her entrepreneurial journey so far, her inspirations and ambitions, how her business school experience has supported her along the way, and her advice for others looking to use their entrepreneurial spirit to support the greater good.

What inspired you to start this business and tackle this issue?

We are consuming more fish than our oceans can support, so we need a more sustainable way to feed the world. While I was a student at Berkeley Haas, I took a class called the Alternative Meat Lab and was inspired to use scientific innovation to transform our food system.

How has your business school experience help to launch the venture?

My business school experience gave me a core foundation for entrepreneurship, through courses that taught business planning, and experiences that helped me refine my strategic and creative thinking skills. It also provided an extensive network of alumni and industry connections that opened doors and helped secure the first funding sources (grants from Berkeley Haas) for my venture.

What challenges have you encountered while integrating sustainability into your business operations, and how have you overcome them?

I have encountered challenges such as supply chain complexities, cost implications, and consumer education. We’ve overcome supply chain complexities by building strong relationships with suppliers and deeply understanding every step of our supply chain.

For costs, we’ve found creative ways to reduce costs while maintaining high quality products that are scalable. As for educating consumers, making sustainability the default takes continuous efforts (e.g. working with chefs) to integrate advocacy and sustainability initiatives into our business.

As a sustainability-focused entrepreneur, how do you navigate the balance between profitability and purpose?

I navigate the balance by using our sustainability mission as a guiding principle for my business and team, including incorporating sustainability into our business strategy/models, continuously measuring the impact of our work, and staying flexible and innovative to grow our business while staying true to our values.

I also find ways to stay connected to my original seed – the purpose for my work – and follow it towards making an impact while building towards sustainable profitability.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of your sustainable business?

We’re creating a new food culture that empowers people to eat food that is better for them and the planet. Working to redefine the seafood market entirely, we strive to make our food available globally and reduce the demand of overfished ocean resources.

“My business school experience gave me a core foundation for entrepreneurship… and experiences that helped me refine my strategic and creative thinking skills.”

Kelly Pan – Co-Founder and CEO at Impact Food

Looking ahead, we aspire to expand the impact of our sustainability efforts including mitigating carbon emissions from the conventional fishing industry, scaling our sustainable innovations, and collaborating with others to create a greater impact.

What advice would you give to other sustainable business founders?

Follow your why and embed sustainability into your core values to guide your work every single day.

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