James Bedford is a first-generation college student and immigrant who grew up on a sailing boat and alpaca farm in southwest England. He was awarded a full faculty scholarship to Harvard College (B.A. Stem Cell Biology), a Schwarzman Scholarship to Tsinghua University (MSc. in Global Affairs), and a Dias Fellowship to Harvard Business School (MBA) as a Forward Fellow and Propel Fellow. He founded or co-founded the flagship first-generation/low-income student/employee programs alongside the President and CEOs at Harvard College, Boston Consulting Group, and Harvard Business School, now collectively serving 1000 people per year. James’ background in venture philanthropy and social impact consulting has driven his work at Last Mile on SROI impact analysis, AI/ML-assisted grant making, and org-wide data and trends analysis. Outside of Last Mile, you can find him hosting dance workshops, long distance swimming, or behind sewing machine or pottery wheel.