Cliff Anderson

Calvin Actions Projects provide an opportunity for students to work with an organization to solve real business challenges. Cliff and his team consulted on a project for Stryker in the acute care setting by providing competitive analysis, market sizing, cost and margin analysis, after research discussions with the research and development, marketing, and sales teams.

How were faith, leadership, and ethics woven into your classes?

Faith, leadership, and ethics were integral parts of all my courses, whether it be through leading a group project or learning how faith and business intertwine. These courses, coupled with Calvin professors’ applicable industry experience, allowed me to learn how to think deeply and act justly in tough and unethical circumstances. Not only did I receive valuable information, but I was also able to cultivate life-long friendships in the process. The support prepared me for life and allows me to be Christ’s agent of renewal wherever I am.

What impact did your professors have on you?

Professor Van Drunen was my academic advisor and mentor throughout my time at Calvin. He is also the faculty advisor for a club I was involved in all four years of school, Knights Investment Management (KIM), a student-led investing club that manages a $3 million endowment. Professor Van Drunen constantly lends his listening ear and shares wisdom and passion for finance and faith with all his students. I love how he applies what we learn in class to real-world situations and does whatever he can to help us succeed and achieve our goals.

How did Calvin prepare you for your current career?

I’ve always wanted to be a businessman ever since I was a little boy, but I wasn’t sure if it was a worthy life calling. It wasn’t until I arrived at Calvin that I realized how business can be my vocation. I learned that God created businesses to help us obey the biblical mandates of stewardship, justice, and love. What I love most about the School of Business are the applicable experiences I gained—from managing an endowment to the opportunities to consult and work with real businesses. Calvin’s education and professors, along with the friends I made, equipped me to live out those mandates and be a good steward of the resources that He has entrusted me.