Haas School of Business faculty do more than just teach. They also foster student success outside of the classroom.
The MBA programs at Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley are some of the top programs in the world. Students are prepared for their future careers by taking a variety of challenging classes. What they learn plays a big role in how they become respected business leaders. Who they learn from takes the experience to a higher level.
Berkeley faculty as a whole are a prestigious group. They research and publish about cutting edge topics and provide students the opportunity to learn from true experts, some who literally wrote the textbook on their subject.
The Haas faculty are no different. Not only are many of them academics, but they have real world experience to share with students. Their extensive knowledge combined with C-suite level contacts in the business world sets Haas apart from a lot of programs. The innovative thinkers that make up the faculty do more than just teach classes; they also mentor, guide, and make a difference in students’ lives.
Helping students find a role
One of the biggest reasons people decide to pursue an MBA is to enhance their careers. Every professor at Haas understands how important it is to have career resources and many bring in guest speakers to expose students to a variety of people with relevant experience. “The VC world is all about connections, and the teachers in our Venture Capital class; Terry Oppendyk, Sean Foote, and Kevan Desai shared their connections generously,” says Tanvi Lal, MBA 22. She continues, “We had amazing speakers and plenty of time to have real conversations with them.”
Those conversations can lead to connections that can eventually lead to jobs. Jake Wamala, MBA 19, got his internship and first job out of Haas thanks to a guest speaker in one of his classes. “One of my biggest breaks to get that opportunity was going to a class here at Haas called Investment Management Speaker Series, where the current CEO came and spoke on campus,” he says. “I was able to catch him for a short minute after class and was able to forge a bond there that helped kick me off in the recruiting process.”
Cleantech to Market director Brian Steel regularly invites speakers to his classes. After a presentation by Ashley Grosh, the director of Breakthrough Energy’s Fellows Program, Harshita Mira Venkatesh, MBA 21, asked for a personal introduction. Just asking led to a two year fellowship with the organization. Steel was more than happy to help one of his students, “Harshita clearly realized that this was one of those moments that if left unappreciated for its potential significance would pass her by,” he says.
Kyle Rudzinski, MBA 14, decided to wait for the ideal job instead of taking an offer for the sake of getting a job. Adjunct Associate Professor Kellie McElhaney used her network to recommend consulting clients so he could work as a freelancer until he found the right position. She believed in him and knew he would stay true to himself. “Kyle could have easily taken lots of jobs, but he is one of the most steadfast-to-his-true-north students I’ve ever met,” she says. “His decision to look for the right job was brave. It shows his belief in himself and his purpose in life, and it paid off.”
Knowing that professors are approachable and willing to help makes it easy for students to simply ask when they need something. First year MBA students spend a lot of their first year working to land the perfect internship. Matthew Bond, MBA 19, was able to find his internship by talking to one of his professors, “I connected with an entrepreneurship professor, Toby Stuart, who referred me to one of his VC contacts who sits on the board of this company.”
Advice for entrepreneurs
As the Faculty Director of the Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program, Dr. Stuart knows how important connections are for startup businesses. Another student he helped is Michael Ebel, MBA 17, founder of Atomosfy. “Toby was instrumental in helping us think about strategically raising our first round and how to avoid the various pitfalls of fundraising,” he says.
Dr. Stuart was impressed with the work Michael had already done, “He demonstrated a ton of conviction and an incredible work ethic.” He also liked the fact that Michael always spoke using “we” instead of “I” when talking about the business, even though he was working on his own. “I thought that was a great sign for someone who’s going to build and lead a team,” Stuart says.
Kurt Beyer is another entrepreneurship professor who has helped point students in the right direction for their fledgling businesses. Dustin Seely, MBA 18, was inspired to found Cryptonite and received a Trione Student Venture Fund grant in 2017.
Manny Smith, MBA 21, is the founder of EdVisorly. During his time at Haas, he took a class with Dr. Beyer that was invaluable for his startup. “I knew Dr. Beyer’s class would be catalyzing and provide a foundation for our company to thrive,” he says.
In 2023, Manny’s company received funding from the California Innovation Fund founded by Dr. Beyer. The two men are both veterans and Dr. Beyer felt that Manny’s military experience brought something to the table, “As a former Air Force officer, Manny brought far more leadership acumen than many MBA students. That military background makes him an outstanding entrepreneur.”
Students come to Berkeley Haas because they care about building businesses that create not just market value, but value for people and society.
Haas faculty provide other resources to entrepreneurs. Matt Parker, MBA 23, was taking a class with professional faculty member Maura O’Neill, BCEMBA 04, when he started Alokee. The company helps people buy homes without using a real estate agent. Maura saw potential with the company and provided advice based on her own experience as an entrepreneur. “She understands that being an entrepreneur is hard,” says Matt. “You have these valleys, and Maura is right there telling you these valleys are part of the process.”
Maura was such a fan of Alokee that she used the service recently when she bought a home. “That part of real estate was just waiting to be disrupted,” she says. “And here was somebody who actually had the knowledge and had been smart about putting the team together with different kinds of expertise.”
Haas students make it easy
People who teach at Haas are special, but most of them credit their students with giving them the motivation to do more than just lead classroom lectures. Maura keeps her finger on the pulse of what is relevant to her students. But there’s more, “The real secret sauce is that I care deeply about them personally and professionally. I’ve had 1,000 students and former students over the years, and hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear from more than one of them.”
Faculty know that students will deal with a wide range of dilemmas throughout their careers. Students truly appreciate that professors apply their own academic research into their lessons. “Professor Brandi Pearce drives home the science that backs up how to best lead and manage people,” says Jake McIntosh, MBA 22. He continues, “Turns out there is plenty of research in favor of an approach that encourages celebrating our individual identities to reach a team goal.”
Dr. Pearce says that Haas MBA students embody a special mix of traits, “They are looking for, and often creating, the next frontier. I appreciate that attribute and value it in a leader,” she says. “Students come to Berkeley Haas because they care about building businesses that create not just market value, but value for people and society.”
Professor and Interim Dean Jenny Chatman agrees, “Haas students don’t just want to do something exciting and lucrative for themselves,” she says. She is excited about their futures and proud she has the opportunity to work with them, “Many want to change the world in a significant way—either making things better for others or developing an idea that will accelerate other people’s quality of life. Our students are an inspiration.”
Learn from the best with an MBA from Haas School of Business. Explore top-ranked programs to find out how Berkeley Haas faculty can support you in your career.
