A student’s time at Haas doesn’t end when they graduate. The relationships formed with others last a lifetime and can make a big impact.
It’s not uncommon to lose touch with people after graduating from high school and even college. Graduate school relationships are the same as people get busy with life and move on to others within their newly established circles. But grads who come out of the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business MBA programs have a different story to tell. Part of the culture revolves around forging relationships that last a lifetime.
The personal bonds that are formed can mean the difference between just finding a job and finding that dream job. When hard times hit, the network springs into action to help someone who may have been laid off or just wants a change. Haas graduates understand the unwritten rule that “Haasies” help other Haasies, even when they don’t previously know one another. A simple introduction is sometimes all it takes to help someone achieve their dreams.
Collaboration Not Competition
Students at Haas are intelligent and motivated. The school also values diversity and drive. Although business can have a reputation for being cut-throat, Haas students learn to do just the opposite. They believe that it’s not all about self preservation. They can get further by helping instead of competing with one another.
“Honestly I was so shocked how collaborative the entire community was,” says Shweta Joshi Jordan, MBA 19, who pursued a career in consulting. “You see each other at events, you help each other out to network, obviously help each other case, and it’s just so supportive.”
Shweta’s classmate, Matt Hines, MBA 19, echoes her feelings, “I came in thinking that consulting recruiting was going to be this incredibly intense, competitive process and while it was difficult, it felt super collaborative in a way I was not expecting,” he says. Matt has been with Bain in Chicago since he graduated from Haas, “I remember going into my final round interviews with Bain and getting a bunch of texts from other people who were interviewing for the same job wishing me luck.”
Built-In Business Partners
Students and alumni who are a part of the Haas network know how important that collaboration can be, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. “As an entrepreneur coming to Haas there will be more open doors than you can walk into,” says Ludwig Schoenack, MBA 19, and co-founder of Kyte. “But you as an entrepreneur have to know why you’re doing what you’re doing and then step forward and take every opportunity.”
One of those opportunities that wasn’t around when Ludwig was a student is the Entrepreneurship Hub, or eHub. Opened in 2024, its mission is to connect students who have an interest in entrepreneurship, whether they’re Haas students or part of other majors at UC Berkeley. The eHub attracts students who are curious about entrepreneurship, those who have ideas, and those who are ready to start building a business. Advisors are available to help guide students.
Faculty Director Saikat Chaudhuri sees the center as a way to appeal to people who aren’t sure where to start. “We have a special focus on the entrepre-curious, because we need to lower the barriers for doing great things,” he says.
Even before the eHub was a thought, there are countless stories of partnerships that have been formed thanks to Haas connections. With the collaborative culture and heavy focus on teamwork, students often meet potential business partners. This is what happened with Brian D. Milovich, MBA 06, David Saxe, and Brian Chuck, both MBA 07. The three were members of the Berkeley Real Estate Club and stayed in touch after graduation. In 2010, they came together to start Calvera Partners, a real estate investment company. Their Berkeley experience meant enough to them that the “Cal” in Calvera is derived from UC Berkeley’s nickname.
I was amazed at the doors that the Berkeley email address opened for me. Almost everyone was willing to take a call, and I’m thankful for the access it provided.
Brian says that the culture at the school guided the ethical and transparent way the company is run. The three co-founders gained the knowledge they needed to be successful in real estate. And it helped them to know the right people, “Another benefit of Haas was the large network that we gained. As students, we had access to CEOs and executives of the largest real estate companies in the country.”
Although C-suite access is nice, the friendships are better, “My favorite perk of this network is that I constantly get to interact with my classmates 20 years later. Some of whom are investors in our many real estate funds,” says Brian. He continues, ”Others are in the real estate industry, and we get to reconnect at conferences each year.”
In 2017, Chip Malt, MBA 15, co-founded direct-to-consumer cookware company, Made In. The company grew quickly and by 2019, Chip knew he needed some extra help. He enlisted Chad Brinton and Matt Gunderson, both MBA 15, to help him and his business partner take the company to the next level.
Made In was named one of Inc. magazine’s best workplaces of 2021 and they currently work with several celebrity chefs. The Haas network is a big part of their success, “I was amazed at the doors that the Berkeley email address opened for me,” says Chad. “Almost everyone was willing to take a call, and I’m thankful for the access it provided.”
Francois-Jerome Selosse, MBA 18, and classmate Adrian Rodrigues, MBA 18, started Provenance Capital Group (PCG) in 2019 to focus on regenerative agriculture, a farming technique designed to restore health to the soil, water, and other resources. Although regenerative agriculture is an important part of ag, it’s difficult to fund using traditional finance structures such as venture capital and private equity funds.
Although both have moved on, their focus was to advise eco-friendly agriculture companies and farms by finding them much needed money. Haas alumni are active in every industry, including ag, so the network bonds are beneficial. One of PCG’s clients was Encina Farms, which was founded and is run by Helmut Drews, MBA 13.
Finding the Best Fit
Adrian is also credited with helping Kyle Rudzinski find his way in the ag finance industry. Kyle is the former vice president of operations at rePlant Capital. “[Adrian] helped guide me into the space of regenerative agriculture finance,” Kyle says. “I consider him my regenerative agriculture Sherpa.” Kyle still works in the eco-friendly finance industry.
The connection with Adrian wasn’t the first time that Kyle used his network at Haas to collaborate in order to find a role that fit what he needed at a certain point in time. After graduation, he collaborated with Desirae Early Oppong, MBA 15, to get the job it turned out she was vacating.
Knowing that the opportunity is there because others are there to help is one of the reasons that many people choose Haas to pursue their MBA. Amanda Parker, MBA 18, had no doubt that she would have the guidance she needed, “Being exposed to all different kinds of industries, being exposed to different roles, and functions, and alumni, and people, and our network of really interesting people doing interesting things,” she says. “I knew I’d be able to discover my own pathway through the pathways I was able to explore from others.”
If you’re looking to be a part of a network that understands the power of collaboration, Haas may be the place for you. Contact us to find out more about the program and how it can help you reach your goals.
