Schedule

Pick up your registration materials and enjoy light breakfast offerings in the courtyard with your fellow attendees.

Our Defining Leadership Principles (DLPs) have served as our moral compass and are deeply rooted in the fabric of our community. In honor of the 15th anniversary of codifying the Haas School’s culture, Chancellor Rich Lyons, BS 82, and Interim Dean Jenny Chatman, PhD 88, will engage in a fireside chat to share their perspectives on leadership and the enduring importance of culture in business today. Reflect on your leadership journey and explore how the DLPs have shaped your life and career. Through this engaging discussion, you’ll gain insights into the leadership challenges of today, uncover themes relevant to personal and professional growth, and see how alumni are embodying the DLPs in their successful lives and careers. Join us as Rich and Jenny bring us together for an inspiring start to our annual Alumni Conference.

View Bios: Richard K. Lyons, BS 82 | Jennifer A. Chatman, PhD 88

Morning break will take place in the O’Donnell Courtyard & Bank of America Forum.

Choose from four concurrent conference sessions. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

Prepare to be uncomfortable during this experiential workshop, which is aimed at empowering Haas alumni to navigate difficult conversations in the workplace based on role playing real world examples of workplace conflict. This workshop will include self-reflection and discussions on why we find conflict so challenging and offers key tools and strategies to reframe it as an opportunity to build trust. This workshop, introduced by Élida Bautista, PhD, is based on the Center for Social Sector Leadership elective Difficult Conversations: Conflict Lab, which is offered for MBA students at Berkeley Haas and was featured in the Wall Street Journal.

View Bios: Élida Bautista, PhD, Bree Jenkins, MBA 19 & Francesca LeBaron, MBA 19

UC Berkeley’s commitment to nurturing tomorrow’s leaders and empowering innovators is supported by a robust, interconnected ecosystem designed to cultivate entrepreneurial talent, commercialize cutting-edge research, and accelerate the growth of startups.

The Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Hub (eHub), the new and dynamic startup incubator, is central to making entrepreneurship accessible and empowering for all members of the campus community. Physically set within the newly renovated, elegant Julia Morgan-designed building, this space is poised to become a sanctuary for creativity, collaboration, and discovery. It’s here that some of the most disruptive ideas will take root, guided by expert faculty, researchers, and student innovators from across UC Berkeley and the Haas School of Business.

This interactive session will provide examples of how the eHub is helping students navigate the wealth of innovation and entrepreneurship resources across the campus. With a focus on fostering collaboration and connecting students with the right opportunities, we are building micro-communities around students' interests and their entrepreneurial stages. Through targeted events and data-driven matchmaking, we’re creating a vibrant ecosystem that supports entrepreneurial growth and nurtures community building.

Join us to learn how we’re reshaping the future of entrepreneurship and providing students with the tools, mentorship, and connections they need to turn their ideas into impactful ventures - and how you can help.

View Bios: Saikat Chaudhuri | Dawn McGee

Artificial intelligence is set to transform the future of healthcare. By using advanced technology in a field that requires deep human knowledge and personal interactions, we face some exciting challenges. This interactive session will explore how we can blend cutting-edge tools with a rich understanding of human behavior and healthcare policies in the U.S. Professor Kolstad will share insights from his research on improving health insurance choices for consumers and how mental strain affects doctors’ decision-making, using unique data from UCSF. We'll also look ahead at our vision for the next generation of AI in medicine, known as the Large Behavioral Model (LBM).

All of this work is taking place at Haas, within the new Center for Healthcare Marketplace Innovation (CHMI), where we’re combining top-notch computer science with innovative data and insights from behavioral economics to reshape the healthcare landscape.

Attending this lecture will provide you with a unique opportunity to explore the future of AI in healthcare, gain valuable insights into improving health insurance decisions, and understand the impact of mental strain on healthcare professionals, all while discovering groundbreaking research at the intersection of technology, human behavior, and policy.

View Bio: Jonathan Kolstad, PhD

Are you curious about how business can help tackle global challenges like climate change and inequality? Join us for the thought-provoking lecture and explore the powerful impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting. Learn how transparent and honest financial disclosures can not only improve corporate responsibility but also drive sustainable development and contribute to the urgent need for environmental and social change. Don't miss this opportunity to discover how the world of accounting is shaping a better, more sustainable future!

View Bio: Omri Even-Tov

Enjoy lunch in the courtyard with fellow attendees and conference speakers. Over lunch, visit tables in the Courtyard to learn more about your alumni benefits with representatives from the Career Management Group, Berkeley Executive Education, Haas Alumni Chapter & Affinity Groups, and more!

Choose from four concurrent conference sessions. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis

In this lecture, we'll explore the key economic and macro trends shaping both the national and Bay Area economies. We will dive into critical topics such as inflation, interest rates, and the evolving labor market. We'll discuss the lasting impact of tax policies under the Trump administration and what their influence on business growth and investment could be. Looking ahead, we'll examine the future of the tech industry, with a particular focus on emerging technologies like AI and the growing demand for data centers. Finally, we'll analyze the Bay Area real estate market, with shifts in housing and office spaces, as well as the Los Angeles area, with the impact of the most recent fires - and talk about what these changes mean for businesses and residents alike. Whether you're a business leader, investor, or policymaker, this session will provide valuable insights to help you navigate the rapidly changing economic landscape.

View Bio: Kenneth Rosen

In 2024, UC Berkeley was ranked #1 worldwide by PitchBook for producing the most venture-backed founders, startups, and female entrepreneurs. Berkeley SkyDeck, one of the largest global accelerators, has been a driving force behind this success. With a dedicated investment fund and over $2 billion raised by its alumni, SkyDeck stands out as a leader in entrepreneurship and combines hands-on mentorship, a network of 800+ advisors, 70 industry partners, and the power of the UC Berkeley ecosystem. Join Executive Director Caroline Winnett, MBA 90, and other alumni panelists to learn how Haas alumni can engage as advisors or leverage SkyDeck’s resources as founders to amplify their entrepreneurial journeys.

Featured Alumni:

Lindsey Hoell, EWMBA 2021, Founder, Dispatch Goods

Ciaran Quinn, FTMBA 90, Founder, VEO2

View Bio: Caroline Winnett, MBA 90

Seize this time to reflect on your career, what might be next for you, and how Haas can help. This interactive workshop facilitated by Dr. Nora Silver, Haas faculty and founder of the Center for Social Sector Leadership, will feature alumni leaders sharing their experiences and tips on changing careers and incorporating purpose. Discuss pivots, second act or “encore” career moves, board or public service, and new ways of incorporating purpose-driven work in your life.

Featured Alumni:

John C. Dwyer, BS 84, Retired Partner, Cooley LLP

Charles "Chappie" Jones, Jr., FTMBA 1990, Director - Lighthouse Public Affairs, Former Vice Mayor, City of San Jose

Beth Scanlan, CFP, MBA 00, Managing Director | Family Wealth Director| Senior Portfolio Management Director, The Scanlan Wealth Management Group, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth

The biggest impediment to devising, curating and implementing game-changing improvements and innovations is recognizing and combating our own narrow-mindedness. This session describes why we are wired from birth to be narrow-minded, what huge benefits in business and life it provides us and also the massive mistakes that can occur by being hostage to this way of thinking and action. It will teach participants a three-step method for overcoming their narrowmindedness and becoming a disruptive innovator.

View Bio: Maura O'Neill, BCEMBA 04

Afternoon break will take place in the O’Donnell Courtyard & Bank of America Forum.

The pace will be fast! The ideas will fly! Emceed by Professor Kellie McElhaney, join an extraordinary group of Berkeley Haas alumni who will conclude the day with personal stories that inspire, engage, and provoke conversations that matter.

Featured Alumni:

Chris Fong, BCEMBA 10, President & Co-Founder, Key

Zach Knight, FTMBA 15, CEO & Co-Founder, Blue Forest

Bhavin Parikh, FTMBA 10, Co-Founder, Magoosh, Inc.

Marcy Porus-Gottlieb, FTMBA 95, Executive Leadership and Transition Coach

Charlene Son Rigby, FTMBA 00, Chief Executive Officer of Global Genes

Leah Sutton, FTMBA 05, Chief Portfolio Talent Officer, Balderton Capital

View Bio: Kellie McElhaney

Conclude your day on campus with invigorating conversation and a cold drink. Meet fellow alumni and featured speakers.