Knowing the right people really can get you that dream job. Berkeley Haas MBA grads know first hand how powerful the alumni network can be.
Applying for jobs can be mentally and emotionally draining, especially when you can’t seem to get a response to applications you’ve sent out. Sometimes all it takes to get a foot in the door is by making a connection with someone on the inside. That can be easier said than done, unless you’re a part of a network of successful people who understand the value that you can add to their organization.
University of California, Berkeley has a massive alumni network spread out all over the world. People who have attended school here understand that the academic rigor and application of soft skills prepares students for the real world. There is a high level of respect for anyone who holds a Berkeley diploma, especially among the inner circle.
One of the more powerful and well respected networks is the one that comes out of the Haas School of Business. With over 45,000 alumni, a supportive community is in place to help students and job seekers. During their time at Haas, students learn how to network and make connections with business leaders. Actively networking is a major part of the program for those pursuing the Haas MBA.
Support from Within
The Career Management Group (CMG) plays a major role in training students how to network and setting up events and meetings to help facilitate those connections. Their methods work, as Haas boasts a 93.8% placement rate within 3 months of graduating. The CMG is focused on relationship based recruiting by connecting students with hiring managers and recruiters. They coordinate formal on-campus interviews as well as host industry firm nights, career panels, corporate visits, alumni mixers, and job fairs.
Participation in these events doesn’t end when students get their diploma. The CMG is available to all graduates throughout their career. If events are too much for a busy schedule, alumni can connect with other grads and hiring managers through CMG Bears, an active online job bank.
The CMG is a great resource, but students also benefit by taking advantage of everything that the business school has to offer. Patrick Drown, MBA 24, had a job lined up at McKinsey before graduation. He did a good job of using the networking resources available to him while he was a student. “I connected through the Haas network first through the on-campus consulting club which already has a lot of connections with existing alumni in different firms.” He continues, “Additionally, every recruiting event that I went to, there were Haas alumni there. So it was really easy to connect with the Haas network.”
Career preparation is also built into several classes at Haas. “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,” says Jake Wamala, MBA 19, a Global Research Analyst at Aristotle Capital Management. He continues, “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.”
Professors Take a Personalized Approach
The smaller class sizes within the Berkeley Haas MBA program means that students have the opportunity to really get to know their professors. When it comes time to start looking for a career, it’s not uncommon for these teacher-mentors to use their own networks to help students on the path to their next venture.
Some faculty have connections that can help students and alumni secure funding for their entrepreneurial pursuits. Professor Toby Stuart made introductions that helped Michael Ebel, MBA 17, secure financing for Atmosfy, an app that allows users to share videos of their experiences at local businesses so people can see what an establishment is like.
“Toby was instrumental in helping us think about strategically raising our first round and how to avoid the various pitfalls of fundraising,” Michael says. “He also provided sound advice on how to build a world-class team that would be critical to our success.”
Brian Steel, Director of the Cleantech to Market program at Haas, regularly invites speakers to his classes. One of those speakers struck a chord with Harshita Mira Venkatesh, MBA 21, and she asked Steel for a formal introduction. He says, “Harshita clearly realized that this was one of those moments that if left unappreciated for its potential significance would pass her by and she didn’t let that happen.”
That introduction led to a two year appointment at Breakthrough Energy where Harshita worked to help develop climate solutions in high-emission industries such as steel, heating, transportation, and food. During the program, business people like Harshita work with scientists and engineers to make the technology marketable. Although her appointment ended in September of 2023, she has continued supporting the environmental solutions she believes in as an investor at a firm that works with entrepreneurs focused on climate change.
Invaluable Alumni Connections
Haas MBA students are so focused on being a part of a vast network that when they graduate, it’s ingrained into their way of doing business. The alumni are always looking out for one another.
I got my job because of a conversation I had in the courtyard on my first day at Haas.
When Desirae Early Oppong, MBA 15, was preparing to leave her job at Levi’s, she was contacted by Kyle Rudzinski, MBA 14. The two met in class while both were students. He was interested in the position she was preparing to vacate. Deserae knew that Kyle would be a great fit because of his passion for sustainability innovation. “I wanted someone to take this work to the next level, so I turned to Haas,” she says. “I know that many of us balance business acumen with strong values—something that’s necessary in a role that blends environmental and social issues with core business strategy.”
Kyle has since moved on from a successful five year career at Levi’s, but he has continued to work in roles with companies pursuing social responsibility, “I pursue opportunities based on values and doing something good for the world.”
Alejandra Vergara, MBA 22, worked with Haas alumni in order to get her job at Bee Partners. “I do think the Berkeley network does have something really special,” she says. “There’s a willingness to help each other out just given that you share the same values and that you want people that are coming from that sort of core value system to succeed and to have more of a presence in industry.”
Henry Gordon, MBA 23, Strategy and Planning Manager at Skydio, is working a job he loves thanks to a connection he made as a student. “I got my job because of a conversation I had in the courtyard on my first day at Haas and formed a relationship with someone who became a really good friend of mine,” he said. “My job was a surprise to me. It was not a job that I really planned for but I’m really happy in it now and I wouldn’t have gotten here if I hadn’t invested time in my classmates.”
Paying attention to the people you’ve surrounded yourself with can lead to big things. “My dream was to work at Pixar. Before coming to Haas, I never had the courage to say that dream out loud because it felt so unattainable,” says Joanna Shujman, MBA 17.
“At Haas, I whispered that to some of my classmates and next thing I knew, they were action planning for me. They were identifying networking opportunities for me,” she says. “And through connecting with faculty, connecting with my classmates, identifying different ways that I could help the organization, I actually landed an internship at Pixar.”
Joanna sees herself as a storyteller with a passion for people. Her internship led to several creative roles in the business sector after graduation. She currently serves as Head of Research & Insights- Mobility at Uber where she focuses on consumer insights and development.
Although the Haas MBA is a high level prestigious business program, community is at its core. Many alumni feel that although they worked hard to learn the academics of business, forming the relationships and the network had just as big of an impact. As a Vice President of Finance at Zeitview, Maurizio Asperti, MBA 19, is able to look past the numbers and see the people he connected with. “Just, the plethora of experiences I’ve had with so many incredibly accomplished people from different walks of life.” He continues, “So, I like to think of them as a network of friends more than a network of contacts or colleagues.”
If you’re looking to expand your network in order to open doors, all while getting one of the best educations in the world, look no further than the Haas MBA. Learn more about our programs by contacting us or attending an information session.
