Sign in with Google
Sign in with Apple
University of California Berkeley's Haas School of Business announced last week in a press release that they'd be revamping its core curriculum, emphasizing it's more defined goal of "developing innovative leaders."
The term can be vague—after all, don't all business schools want to churn out innovative leaders?
Haas' definition of innovative leaders goes as follows: "individuals who drive growth by putting new ideas into action in every corner and every function of their organizations, and who do so responsibly."
How does Haas expect to achieve this? By implementing changes in the curriculum as well as emphasizing the school's new cultural focus, explains Haas Dean Rich Lyons, "[w]e want to prepare leaders who define what's next for our markets and our societies." He describes the role of the new Haas leaders as "path-bending," especially when it comes to manipulating and creating more sustainable "paths" in areas like education, healthcare, and energy.
The new curricular changes and the redefined school culture and goals have been in the making for the last 18 months. The new strategies all fall under the school's new curricular approach, Berkeley Innovative Leader Development (BILD).
While core courses remain the same, the classes have been reviewed and slightly redesigned to ensure that each course includes the BILD element, that along every step of the learning process students are encouraged to "think critically and flexibly, and to recognize and foster creative ideas…and to influence others."
Of course, says Dean Lyons, "[i]nnovative leaders will still need to know accounting, finance, and marketing." But, he continues, it's important to Haas that even the core courses are infused with leadership guidance. The BILD plan will also offer students with hands-on workshops and seminars (not for credit) as part of the Berkeley MBA Leadership Development Series.
"School culture" is of utmost importance to Haas; the press release goes on to lay out the defining principles of Haas' unique culture:
- "Questioning the Status Quo" – An innovative leader will be able to take risks to create a different reality. A successful leader is courageous, can speak his or her mind, is intelligent, and always learns from failures.
- "Confidence without Attitude – Acting without arrogance but with supreme confidence drives ideas to reality. Innovative leaders make decisions that are based on analysis and facts and lead through trust and collaboration.
- "Students Always" – Even after an innovative leader leaves the classroom, he or she should always maintain a student's mindset of curiosity, always seeking personal growth, always learning, and always teaching.
- "Beyond Yourself" – Our actions have long-term consequences and impact; we should learn how to put larger interests above our own.
Embodying these principles, explains Dean Lyons, is a mission for the faculty, adcoms, and student body at Haas (which is why these principles will be considered when admitting MBA students to the program). These goals, however, are made easier by the simple fact of the school's physical location in the San Francisco Bay Area, "the world epicenter for innovation and entrepreneurship."
Haas Resources at Accepted.com:
- UC Berkeley Hass B-School Zone
- UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Package
- UC Berkeley Haas Interview Database
Want our news sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to the Accepted Admissions Almanac by clicking here!
Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best
