Dean’s Speaker Series

From Facebook’s First Intern to Founder: Julie Zhuo’s Leadership Journey

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:04:39 -0700

Julie Zhuo, co-founder of Sundial and former Vice President of Product Design at Facebook, joins the Dean's Speaker Series podcast to discuss her journey from being Facebook’s first intern to helping shape some of its most iconic features, including the News Feed and “like” button.

Now leading Sundial, Julie shares her perspective on entrepreneurship, building products in the age of AI, and how leaders can stay grounded in integrity amid rapid technological change. She also reflects on the lessons behind her bestselling book, The Making of a Manager, and what it takes to lead teams effectively in today’s evolving workplace.

People First Leadership: How Cynt Marshall Transformed Culture at Scale

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:54:34 -0800

Tune in for an inspiring Dean's Speaker Series with Cynt Marshall—President & CEO of Marshalling Resources, consultant, author, and former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. A BA 81 graduate in HR Management, Cynt made history as the first Black woman to lead an NBA franchise, setting a new standard for inclusion and organizational culture.

Previously, as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T, Cynt championed equity and inclusion initiatives that helped earn the company a place on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Through Marshalling Resources, she continues to advise organizations on leadership development, culture change, and DEI strategy.

In this conversation, Cynt reflects on her dynamic career journey—from consulting to executive leadership—sharing lessons on inclusive leadership, people-first culture, and driving meaningful transformation at scale.

This episode is co-sponsored by the Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership and moderated by students Ravi Malhotra and Aman Tiku.

From Founder to Funder: Michael Stewart’s Path to Venture Capital

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:23:25 -0800

Join us for a conversation with Michael Stewart, MBA 15, Managing Partner at M12, Microsoft’s Venture Fund, recorded live on November 17 in the Spieker Forum at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Stewart leads investments across generative AI, gaming, and systems, and since joining M12 in 2021 has overseen 16 deals while serving on the boards of several portfolio companies, including Quantum.

Before entering venture capital, Michael built a diverse career spanning startups, semiconductor technology development, and innovation—earning more than 40 patents along the way.

A scientist at heart, Stewart expected to spend his career on the technical side of things doing hands-on research—a career that led him to Applied Materials, where he spent nearly a decade working in semiconductor process engineering and later in solar and cleantech.

“All I wanted to do for the rest of my life was work on clean energy,” said Stewart, EWMBA 15, in conversation with Haas students Gonzalo Vásquez and Rey Yruegas Almanza, both MBA 26. “I came to Haas to get to the bottom of how the various levels of that market might work.”

In this fireside chat, he shares his journey from founder to investor, breaks down his investment strategy at M12, and offers practical advice for students pursuing careers in venture capital. The session closes with an audience Q&A.

Read the article and find the full transcript on today's episode on the Haas Newsroom.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

Leading in Tech, Building for Tomorrow: A Conversation with Ana Corrales

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:37:25 -0800

In this episode, Ana Corrales, COO of Google Consumer Hardware, shares her journey from early-stage startups to leading global operations at one of the world’s most influential tech companies. She reflects on what it takes to lead in a male-dominated industry, how sustainability shapes her decision-making, and why responsible supply chains matter more than ever.

Drawing on her experiences at Google, Nest, Cisco, and HP—as well as her advisory role at Zero100—Ana offers a candid look at the future of sustainable hardware. The session concludes with an engaging audience Q&A.

Read the article and find the full transcript on today's episode on the Haas Newsroom.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

Entrepreneur, Diplomat, Innovator: Ambassador Trevor Traina on Leadership and the Future of Tech

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:27:06 -0800

Amb. Trevor Traina is a serial entrepreneur having founded and co-founded five successful technology companies, which were all sold to acquirers such as Microsoft, Mastercard, and Intuit. He is currently Head of Business Development and Partnerships for Tools for Humanity, a technology company focused on developing tools for digital identity and blockchain. Amb. Traina took a break from the tech industry to serve as the Ambassador to Austria from 2018 to 2021 and is credited with helping usher in an era of “new closeness” between the two countries.

In a fireside chat format, Amb. Traina discusses his entrepreneurship endeavors, the leadership lessons he has learned in both tech and public service, and where he sees the tech industry heading in the future.

From PhD to CEO: Aravind Srinivas on Reinventing Search with Perplexity AI

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 08:49:57 -0700

Aravind Srinivas co-founded Perplexity in 2022 because of his own curiosity about a more transparent and verifiable AI-powered search experience while he was a researcher at OpenAI, Google, and DeepMind. Through his leadership, Perplexity is one of the largest AI companies, with a base of over 30 million active users and 780 million inquiries. His work Questions the Status Quo in the constantly evolving landscape of AI.

In a fireside chat format, Aravind discusses his journey as a founder, shares insights on the expansion of the AI landscape, and reflects on the impact of Perplexity’s mission to support the world’s curiosity. The session concludes with an audience Q&A.

Listen to the full conversation here.

How’s your battery? Calm CEO David Ko on normalizing mental health at work

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:59:51 -0700

David Ko, CEO of the sleep and meditation app Calm and author of the book Recharge, shares his leadership journey from investment banking to purpose-driven leadership. Since 2022, he’s guided Calm’s work in over 190 countries, supporting millions of people seeking to improve their wellbeing.

Ko describes “the battery check,” a simple framework for starting conversations about mental health, describes how burnout happens when leaders don’t explain the “why” behind decisions, and shares some candid personal anecdotes.

The conversation is hosted by Professor Sameer Srivastava and led by UC Berkeley Haas students Avanika Lal and Esa Tilija, both MBA 26. The joint Dean’s Speaker Series and Berkeley Center for Workplace Culture and Innovation event took place at the Haas School of Business on September 30, 2025.

Reimagining Meat: Peter McGuinness on Leading Impossible Foods and Transforming Brands

Tue, 13 May 2025 12:06:14 -0700

Peter McGuinness, CEO of Impossible, is leading the company in its goal to produce sustainable meat-replacement products. Over the course of his over 30-year career, including leadership roles at McCann Erickson, DBB, and Chobani—which he grew to the No. 1 yogurt brand in the U.S.—he has driven profits and transformed brands.
In this fireside chat, McGuinness discusses remaining persistent and learning from his mistakes as he leads Impossible’s mission to reduce the amount of meat people eat with food that is delicious, nutritious, and accessible. The session concludes with an audience Q&A.

This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on May 1, 2025.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.
Read the full transcript here.

Leading the Charge: Cheryl Ginyard-Jones on Innovation, Leadership, and the Future of Green Energy

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:11:31 -0700

As managing director for the engineering and design consultancy Ramboll, Cheryl Ginyard-Jones oversees more than 2,000 professionals across the Americas dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies that mitigate climate change. Over her distinguished career, spanning roles at Worley, Advision, Verizon, and BP, Cheryl has significantly influenced growth, innovation, and operations within the green energy sector.

In this fireside chat, Ginyard-Jones shares insights into her unique career path, her leadership in achieving sustainability goals, and the broad impact of Ramboll’s work across various communities. The session concludes with an audience Q&A.

This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Responsible Business Peterson Speaker Series.

This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on April 16, 2025.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.
Read the full transcript here.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Berkeley AV Production Team

HSBC U.S. Head of Innovation Banking David Sabow shares why he believes AI will play an outsized role in improving labor productivity

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:41:49 -0800

David Sabow joined HSBC as Head of Technology & Healthcare in 2023 to establish a dedicated banking practice focused on the innovation economy, empowering forward-thinkers, and future makers who are questioning the status quo. His two-decade career has centered on innovation banking. David previously held several roles at Silicon Valley Bank, which includes leading the Technology & Healthcare Division, focusing on venture capital relationship management and new opportunity organization, and running the Life Science & Healthcare Business.

In a fireside chat format, David discusses his career journey in banking, how he works in the innovation space, the influence of AI on investment strategies, and gives advice to students who want to break into venture capital.

This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on February 12th, 2025.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Berkeley AV Production Team

A Celebration of our Haas Culture 15 years and counting!

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:13:17 -0800

In a fireside chat format, Interim Dean Jenny Chatman shares the origin story of the Defining Leadership Principles and how they have evolved over 15 years. She shares some of our community’s personal DLP stories, as well as our school's aspirations for the DLPs for the future.

A panel of Haas alumni, Elena Gomez, BS 91, Chief Financial Officer, Toast, Inc.; Marc Singer, BS 86, Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company; and Sean Li, MBA 20, Founder, University FM and OneHaas Podcast Host, then discuss how the Defining Leadership Principles have resonated with their work and influenced their leadership journey.

We want to hear from you! Please share your story of the Haas Defining Leadership Principles here: https://haas.org/DLPstories. Some of these stories will be shared during the event.

This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on February 5th, 2025.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Berkeley AV Production Team

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on inventing new markets | DSS Archive Edition

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0800

Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, solved the 3D graphic challenge for the personal computer in 1999 with the company’s release of the first-ever graphics processing unit (GPU).

Now the company's powerful chips are a driving force behind the acceleration of AI and advanced computing.

In this archive edition of the Dean's Speaker Series podcast, Huang talks about the ways that Nvidia is constantly inventing itself. “Creating something out of nothing is a skill that I think every company or startup needs to have,” he said. “The energy of looking for something new—a new way of doing something—is always there.”

This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on January 31, 2023.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Berkeley AV Production Team

Golden State Valkyries' Jess Smith, Ohemaa Nyanin talk leading the newest WNBA team

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:18:10 -0800

Before their first draft round on Dec. 6, Golden State Valkyries President Jess Smith and General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin have been working around the clock to secure sponsorships, develop strategies and set goals as they navigate the internal and external operations that come with introducing a new sports team. Golden State won the bid last fall to expand its franchise, and the Valkyries, meaning “warrior women” in Norse mythology, was announced in May and will make their debut on the court in 2025. They’ll be the first new WNBA team since 2008.

In this episode of the Dean’s Speaker Series Podcast, Smith and Nyanin discuss the importance of learning from failure, representation in sports, and the future of the WNBA in conversation with Brittany Jacob and Becca Neteler, both MBA 25. This interview, co-sponsored by the Center for Social Sector Leadership, took place on Nov. 19 as part of the UC Berkeley Haas Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions.

Read more about the Golden State Valkyries.
Read more about the Center for Social Sector Leadership.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Berkeley AV Production Team

Boston Consulting Group’s Brian Gross on going from a dairy farm childhood to global consulting leader

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:06:04 -0800

Growing up as one of 14 children on a dairy farm in Iowa, Brian Gross had never heard of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). While he never expected to become a leader at one of the world’s largest consulting firms, he did learn a lot about solving problems in complex environments by watching his dad work on the land. Now the chief operating officer of BCG’s North America region, he’s responsible for 1,800 employees across the continent and tackles new challenges every day.

Gross, MBA 08, didn’t always think he’d end up working in human resources. In fact, he started at BCG as a consultant during the 2008 financial crisis while an MBA student at Berkeley Haas—a program he chose for its inclusive culture and the Q@Haas club, which made him feel encouraged to “come out” personally and professionally. It wasn’t until he took a leadership role at the company’s San Francisco office that he discovered a passion for helping others with their own career journeys.

In this episode, Brian Gross discusses the importance of listening, learning, and adapting in conversation with Jash Padhiar and Sarah Intoccia, both MBA 25 and co-presidents of Q@Haas. This interview, co-sponsored by Q@Haas, took place on Sept. 19 as part of the UC Berkeley Haas Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions.

Read more about Q@Haas, the organization for LGBTQ+ MBA students, partners, and allies at Berkeley Haas.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Berkeley AV Production Team

Chart Industries CEO Jill Evanko on the importance of taking risks, developing cleaner energy

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 17:55:00 -0700

Before Jill Evanko was leading the company responsible for products that include the nitrogen systems that cool Starbucks’ Nitro cold brews and hydrogen fuel cells that could power massive cruise ships, she was working in finance at Honeywell and Sony. By taking risks and telling herself, “I'm going to take on opportunities that maybe look different than what I originally thought it was going to look like,” she took her career to new avenues and loves what she does. She’s now at the forefront of the transition toward clean energy as CEO of Chart Industries.

Evanko kicked off the first Dean’s Speaker Series of the fall 2024 semester by discussing the future of energy and what it means to take risks. With $3.37 billion in revenue this year, Chart’s has a portfolio of cryogenic products used throughout liquid gas supply chain phases. Evanko joked that members of her own family don’t know exactly what her company does, but they're familiar with Chart’s customers, which include household names from McDonald’s to ExxonMobile to SpaceX.

In this episode, Jill Evanko discusses her career journey in conversation with Olivia Halas-Dias, MBA/MPH 25, and Ashley Wong, MBA 25. Above all, she emphasized the importance of kindness in leadership, noting that she would “never want any one of our team members or customers to walk away and say, ‘Jill over at Chart wasn't kind.’”

This interview took place on Sept. 9, 2024, as part of the Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with insightful perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions.

Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Berkeley AV Production Team

Tech journalist Kara Swisher gets candid about Silicon Valley and (what should be) the next obsession for entrepreneurs

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:00:34 -0700

Journalist Kara Swisher started reporting on tech in the 1990s at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Since then, she’s conducted interviews with nearly every tech executive you could think of, from the late Steve Jobs to Bill Gates to Mark Zuckerberg, many of which she recounts in her latest New York Times bestseller, “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story.” Understanding that “everything that could be digitized would be” early on and always having “been super curious about whatever I happen to do,” she is highly regarded for her quick wit—seasoned with salty language—and her willingness to ask powerful leaders the tough questions. Swisher herself has become her own media entity and currently puts out four podcast episodes a week, in addition to hosting “HBO’s Succession Podcast” until the end of the show’s run last year, as well as various stints on networks like CNN. Moving forward, she says she’s interested in the evolution of climate change technology, which she plans to cover in her next book, which will focus on the link between analog and digital.

In this episode, Kara Swisher discusses her encounters with some of the most powerful tech leaders in the world, how being “dead honest” has aided her career, and the future of climate change technology in conversation with Fernanda Kasper Ortolan, MBA 25, and Ashley Wong, MBA 25. This interview took place on Oct. 1, 2024, as part of the Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with insightful perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions.

Read the full article on today's episode on the Haas Newsroom.
Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
Read more about the Haas School of Business.

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:

Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman
Writing Support: Emily Gordon
Berkeley AV Production Team