A CoBA Alum’s Impact on Water Conservation

The Urgency of Water Sustainability

Water is one of our most critical resources, yet it faces increasing threats from drought, climate change, and inefficient usage. Businesses play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges by developing solutions that conserve water while promoting economic growth. At ��, sustainability is a key focus with initiatives such as the Water Conservation Program and the Sustainability Projects Fund supporting responsible water management on campus. The College of Business Administration (CoBA) is also contributing to this learning area by offering courses like MGMT 474 Business Sustainability, on top of foundational business courses delivered through its AACSB accredited education program. In addition, the entrepreneurial spirit of many CoBA graduates is driving innovation toward solving the many resource challenges facing society. Recent reports identify water as one such scarce resource with the UN describing current water challenges as, “…careening toward a global crisis”.

CoBA alumni are doing their part in tackling water-related issues and helping move our society toward a more sustainable water future. Cristina Ahmadpour ’10, president and managing director (Americas) for Isle Utilities, is helping organizations build water resiliency through water technology innovation. Ahmadpour was awarded the 2023 AACSB Influential Leaders award for her sustainability leadership and impact on society.

Another CoBA alum, friend, and partner who is building a sustainable water future through technology innovation is ’04. A.J. is president and CEO of Calsense. We talked to A.J. about his company, its part in addressing society’s water challenges, and to learn more about this forward-looking business leader.

Innovation in Action: Calsense and Water Sustainability

Founded in 1986, Calsense is a leader in smart irrigation technology, helping cities, schools, and businesses optimize water usage through data-driven solutions. With California and other drought-prone regions facing increased water scarcity, Calsense provides real-time analytics, AI-powered irrigation systems, and IoT-enabled monitoring to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. Saving billions of gallons of water domestically each year, their work aligns closely with ��’s commitment to sustainability, reinforcing the role of business innovation in solving environmental challenges.

Beyond environmental benefits, Calsense’s technology has also contributed to professional growth and social mobility within the industry. "To me, working with someone who recently entered the irrigation industry and teaching them how technology such as ours works and improves their ability to be both effective and efficient in their role is incredibly rewarding," says van de Ven. "Over my 19 years at Calsense, I have many such stories of landscape maintenance crew members who were able to elevate from field worker to supervisor, to manager, to director, by learning to use our product effectively. It shows how technology can be a catalyst for social mobility. And, in each of the examples, their respective entities saw incredible water and labor savings as a result."

A CoBA Alum Making a Difference

A.J. pursued a degree in business administration with an emphasis in high technology management. Today, he applies sustainable practices in business as the president of Calsense and has been a member of the company for 19 years, “I became enamored by how Calsense leveraged technology, including ground-level weather devices, flow monitoring devices, and various communication technologies to help save the world's most precious resource: water.”

Van de Ven credits CoBA with providing essential knowledge and experiences that have shaped his career. "As I reflect on my journey, there are many ways CoBA prepared me for the challenges facing all businesses, including Calsense," he shared. "For example, my organizational behavior course taught me the importance of collaborating with others to achieve a common goal. And that doesn’t just mean working with people within the organization, but also all our external stakeholders including vendors, channel partners, landscape architects, contractors, customers, and so on."

Beyond leadership skills, CoBA’s coursework provided practical tools for operational excellence. "Similarly, Operations Management showed how important it is to build and maintain continuous improvement within the organization’s structure and the tools and frameworks to use to get there. That course inspired me to bring in a lean enterprise transformation consultant years ago to help work with our manufacturing team to analyze and improve our entire manufacturing process."

Outside of the classroom, CoBA’s experiential learning programs played a vital role in professional development. "Aside from coursework, the opportunities to network and connect with others, through student organizations, In the Executive’s Chair, and Senior Experience significantly improved my ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships in all sorts of environments."

Through this combination of academic preparation, real-world application, and professional networking, van de Ven was able to translate his education into meaningful business leadership—advancing water sustainability through innovation at Calsense.

Additionally, van de Ven shared that there were many faculty and services that inspired him during his time in CoBA citing David Bennett, in particular. “He was my instructor for BUS 302, my first introduction to the college.” He was intrigued by Bennett’s path and left a lasting impression on van de Ven. “His story and his passion for education are a large part of why I plan to do the same - become an instructor - once I complete my career at Calsense.”

Recognizing Excellence: The 2025 AACSB Influential Leader Award

For his outstanding contributions to sustainable business practices, A.J. van de Ven was recently honored with the prestigious 2025 AACSB Influential Leader Award. This recognition highlights industry leaders who are driving meaningful change in their industries and communities.

“Van de Ven’s work demonstrates how business schools can fuel solution-minded leaders to create new business ventures and solve complex challenges,” said Lily Bi, AACSB president and CEO, “Through entrepreneurial approaches and visionary thinking, van de Ven is creating meaningful change in the world.”

Giving Back: Inspiring Future Leaders

For van de Ven, success goes beyond business—it’s about mentorship and community impact. Van de Ven, a member of the CoBA’s Dean’s Advisory Council, involvement with CoBA reflects this commitment.

"The CoBA staff and faculty are also top-notch... everyone I've had the pleasure of working with at CoBA are so passionate about enhancing the student journey and preparing them for the world beyond university," he shared. "This is clear through numerous programs including Business Professional Development (BPD), Senior Experience, In the Executive’s Chair, and more." Beyond CoBA, van de Ven is dedicated to mentoring and nonprofit work. "Aside from my role at Calsense, I have become incredibly involved with non-profit organizations that align with my personal goal of inspiring the next generation of leaders while leaving a positive impact on our society."

His belief in giving back is simple yet powerful: "The size of the commitment isn’t what’s important – it’s the fact that you make and stick with the commitment that matters. Every life we touch has the potential to inspire others."

As businesses and colleges like CoBA continue to prioritize sustainability and societal impact, leaders like van de Ven and companies like Calsense are proving that profitability and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand—building a more sustainable future for all.

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