Shaurya N Khera has always been driven by curiosity, entrepreneurship, and impact. From launching travel-based learning programs in India to scaling startups across Asia and Europe, his career has been a journey of testing ideas and unlocking growth. But it was a growing interest in deeper, systemic change that led him to IE Business School’s Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation—and it’s what now fuels his work at &BLOOM, a leading sustainability and ESG advisory firm in New Zealand.
“Most of my career has been in the startup world,” says Shaurya. “But I found myself thinking more about impact and social entrepreneurship.”
Let’s see how the Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation helped him explore his new career outlook in depth.
From startup builder to sustainability strategist
Shaurya’s professional path began in fast-paced environments. At Ingenious Faces, he created travel-based education programs that connected students with international experiences. Later, as regional lead for Talk360, a Dutch telecom startup, he managed growth across Asia. He also consulted with ventures on go-to-market strategy and partnerships. But something was missing.
“I used to wonder about the challenges that businesses face to drive real impact and be profitable at the same time,” says Shaurya. “That curiosity led me to the Master in Sustainability and Business Transformation.”
At IE Business School, Shaurya found the right platform to dive deeper into the sustainability ecosystem. “It helped me build a language around sustainability that I didn’t have before,” he says. “Now, I feel like I can connect with different stakeholders and stay true to the message.”
The program gave Shaurya the tools and vocabulary to frame impact through an interdisciplinary lens—connecting ESG, systems thinking, behavioral science and strategic transformation.
Learning by building: Venture Lab and Coffee Loop
One of Shaurya’s most defining experiences at IE Business School was the Venture Lab. With teammates Alexander, Ana Lucia and Gabriela, he co-founded Coffee Loop, a circular venture that upcycles used coffee grounds into skincare products.
“That was the first time where everything we were learning suddenly felt very real. At first, it felt like a fun experiment. But the more we worked on it, the more serious it got.”
The pitched their project at IE Venture Day, where Coffee Loop was presented to investors, professors and peers. “It gave me the confidence to take ideas more seriously and reminded me that bold ideas often come from simple places,” says Shaurya. “We learned how to test assumptions, get feedback, refine messaging, and communicate value in a way that resonates with different stakeholders.”
A new chapter at &BLOOM
Today, Shaurya works as a consultant at &BLOOM. And he found the opportunity to work at this boutique ESG and sustainability advisory through connections in the IE community. “Like most good things, it all started with a conversation,” says Shaurya. “I was looking to get closer to the sustainability ecosystem in New Zealand and Australia… and eventually met Sydney Straver, the founder of &BLOOM.”
The collaboration was a natural fit due to their aligned values. “Right now, I am focused on supporting growth via building relationships, opening up new regions, and expanding our footprint,” says Shaurya. “I want to help the organisation become a go-to partner for companies serious about integrating sustainability into their DNA.”
Every day at &BLOOM looks different. Shaurya splits his time between business development, relationship-building and hands-on project work. “IE gave me the right kind of preparation for this,” he says. “The constant exposure to real case studies helped me build the confidence to navigate ambiguity and take ownership quickly.”
Lessons that last: The IE experience
And, for Shaurya, the program was invaluable for personal transformation. The diversity of the cohort, with students from over 20 countries, challenged his assumptions and broadened his thinking.
“It’s humbling and grounding when you are in a room with people who bring such different perspectives but are aligned on purpose. That environment pushed me to level up professionally and personally.”
He also credits the program with reshaping how he thinks about sustainability—not as a brand asset, but as a systems-level lens for decision-making. “I used to think sustainability was mostly about branding… but this program opened up so many more layers: governance, systems thinking, equity, reporting frameworks.”
And one lesson, above all, has stuck with him: “Good intentions aren’t enough. If you want to create change, you need to understand how systems work, who’s involved, and how to build bridges.”
Advice for future changemakers
Shaurya describes himself as “mission-driven”, and his advice to future students reflects that spirit: lean into the unexpected.
“Be open. This program will give you frameworks and structure, but the real value comes from what you choose to do with it,” he says. “Say yes to random projects. Go to events you know nothing about. Talk to people outside your comfort zone. The best parts of this experience are usually unplanned.”
At IE Business School, Shaurya found a place where passion met purpose—and where curiosity became action. “Everyone was doing something different, but there was this shared drive to make things better. It helped me stay focused on my ‘why,’ and made the whole experience way more real and personal.”
Benjamin is the editor of Uncover IE. His writing is featured in the LAMDA Verse and Prose Anthology Vol. 19, The Primer and Moonflake Press. Benjamin provided translation for “FalseStuff: La Muerte de las Musas”, winner of Best Theatre Show at the Max Awards 2024.
Benjamin was shortlisted for the Bristol Old Vic Open Sessions 2016 and the Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2023.
