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06 Mar 2017, 08:49
06 Mar 2017, 18:00
| FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Tale of a Modern-Day Robin Hood: An MBA Visit With Warren Buffett |
 On February 17th, a group of 20 Berkeley MBA students from the Investment Club trekked to Omaha Nebraska to meet Warren Buffett. We came to Omaha hoping to gain investment advice from Buffett, but left Omaha learning more about life. What struck me most about our visit was how Buffett embodied our four Berkeley-Haas Defining Principles. Students Always in 1951, Buffett travelled to Washington DC and knocked on GEICOs doors until someone opened them. It was a janitor, who took Buffett in to see the only man in the building that Saturday. Buffett got to meet a senior executive who shared with him the ins and outs of the insurance industry. Buffett later used this knowledge to invest in GEICO. This seemingly random circumstance turned out to be the single most transformative stock investment for Buffett’s career. He suggests, “Keep exposing yourself to situations where you get lucky.” Buffett seems to always be gathering knowledge, whether through interviews or through reading every investment book in his local library. Question the Status Quo When asked “What is he optimistic about?” Buffett responded, “What is there not to be optimistic about?” While the short-term oriented media paints a gloomy world, the reality is we are living better now than at any point in history. Buffett remarked, “In the span of one generation, [in the United States] we have gone from 30 million houses to over 100 million.” While we learned a great deal about life from Buffett we also learned about investing. Notably, Buffett mentioned, “You don't need an information edge. You need to have the willingness to act when everyone else is terrified.” In our lifetimes we will see three to five cycles where it is raining gold. Some people will go inside their homes to avoid getting hit, while others will bring buckets outside and collect the gold. Buffett urged us, “The market is there to serve you, not to instruct you.”  Haas students tested the merchandise during a tour of Nebraska Furniture Mart, part of the Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio. Confidence Without Attitude There is something about Buffett’s charming demeanor that makes him approachable yet confident. His memory is razor sharp, as is his intellect. Buffett recites stories and company fundamentals as though they were last week when in fact some were over 50 years ago. Furthermore, it is humbling to see Warren Buffett free up his calendar three times a year to host university students and share his knowledge with them. In addition, his sense of humor contributes to his approachable demeanor. From self-deprecating comments about his hearing to poking fun at BING (“But it’s not Google…”), Buffett kept us engaged with his humorous anecdotes. A sign of a leader is not being afraid to admit weaknesses: Buffett disclosed to us that growing up he had a fear of public speaking and explained how Dale Carnegie’s public speaking course helped him conquer his fear. It is hard not to be impressed by Buffett’s balance of confidence, approachability, and humor. Beyond Yourself In 2006, Warren Buffett donated over $30 billion to fight disease and reduce inequality through the Gates Foundation. He gave his fortune away to people who utilized and benefited from it. In a recent letter from Bill Gates to Buffett, Gates shares that 122 million children under age five have been saved over the past 25 years in part as a result of Buffett’s contributions. One of our classmates remarked, “Buffett is a modern-day Robin Hood.” After a jam-packed day of meeting Buffett and visiting two of Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio companies it was time to return back to Berkeley. As we sat in the airport awaiting our flight I thought back on Warren’s final piece of advice to us, “Find individuals who bring out the best in you.” We are fortunate to be part of a community at Haas that allows us to bring out the best in each other.  Related posts Rootbeer Floats With the Oracle of Omaha MBA Student Perspective: How I'm Leaning In to Become the One of the 7% of Women in Venture Capital MBA Student Perspective: I Am From Saudi Arabia and I Am a Feminist 
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07 Mar 2017, 11:51
08 Mar 2017, 16:00
| FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Conquering Sticker Shock: Insights Into financing your EMBA, Part II |
 Paying for an EMBA program can be a daunting prospect, sometimes requiring creative solutions. One of our students describes his solution, entering into a financing partnership with his company to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. These negotiations can be sensitive, with employers not necessarily wanting to set a public precedent, so for today’s entry, we’ve maintained our student’s anonymity. What led you to consider an Executive MBA program? I started my professional life as a scientist. As my career progressed, I found myself in positions that were increasingly business facing. It became clear that getting an MBA would be the best way to grow my capabilities. The focused nature of the Berkeley-Haas EMBA and the caliber of the students really appealed to me. How did the cost of tuition factor into your decision to apply? What funding options did you consider? This is a big investment; it’s not something you do on a whim. The EMBA tuition at any top program casts a financial shadow over your life. You need to figure out financing early on. Self-funding came to mind first—savings accounts and cashing in my company stock options—but I have children who will be applying to college soon, and I didn’t want to limit their options. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my employer and I would have to be all in if I were to succeed in the program. After all, you’re asking for a substantial amount of time away from the job. Certainly, we both would benefit in the long run, though, so why not share the financing as well? How did you approach getting employer sponsorship for your EMBA? Very carefully and thoughtfully. A key opportunity lies in clarifying the value that your professional development can mean for your company. Because the cost of an EMBA is an order of magnitude greater than a typical tuition reimbursement program, you need to make a strong business case and present it to the key decision makers in your organization: your manager certainly, and probably directly to relevant senior C-suite executives. Ideally, these will also include one or more individuals who will write a reference letter for your admission. In my situation, I was able to deliver a strong signal that the EMBA experience would align my career with the path that my company is on and demonstrate how gaining a formal business education would allow me to bring additional value to the company. In the end, my employer and I shared the cost. That gave all of us skin in the game—an excellent motivator for both sides. You want your company to be genuinely interested in what your EMBA experience teaches you and to provide opportunities for you to put classroom learning into real-world practice. What advice would you give to people about financing an EMBA? Look at all the financing options, including scholarships. Applying for an EMBA scholarship at Berkeley-Haas is as simple as writing another essay on your application. It’s worth the effort; consider the value per extra hour of essay writing time. In the bigger picture, once you’ve decided to do this, don’t let the cost deter you; there are more ways to solve the funding challenge than you might think. The experience has more than paid off in terms of the people I’ve met, the network I’ve acquired, the experience and knowledge I’ve gained, and the insights and tools I was able to put to use on the job, right from the very first study block. Looking back on the program, I’ve been able to complete my studies without depleting my children’s college funds, and know that they will have the chance to attend their dream colleges, just as I’ve done at Berkeley-Haas. Get assistance figuring out your options for financing your EMBA by scheduling a consultation with a member of our Admissions staff.  
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09 Mar 2017, 09:29
09 Mar 2017, 17:00
| FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Meet two Berkeley MBA Students named "Women to Watch" |
 In recognition of International Women's Day, Poets & Quants issued a list of women to watch from the MBA class of 2018 that includes Full-time Berkeley MBA students Kasey Koopmans and Amanda Parker (pictured above). Finding a Career of Meaning: Kasey Koopmans  Previously interviewed by Poets & Quants, Kasey is a Seattle native who has hiked from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail, interned with Save the Children in Nepal, and conducted market research in Myanmar. She told Poets & Quants that she has spent her early career "seeking displacement," and says, "These experiences opened doors to positions and responsibilities that compelled personal and professional development." Her dream job is with a company "on the cutting edge of innovation, solving a messy problem in an unprecedented way, with an explicit mission related to social and environmental impact." The Berkeley MBA and social impact >>More She describes Berkeley-Haas as "overrun with ambitious and down-to-earth humans" and a place to be her "unabashed self. Kasey told Poets & Quants, "More than any other school I considered, I believed the earnestness behind Haas’ commitment to help me find a career of meaning. Turns out it was a slam dunk." Solving Food System Issues: Amanda Parker Passionate about innovation and education in the food industry, Amanda Parker told Poets & Quants she is often known as "cheese girl." Amanda is one of nearly 600 Certified Cheese Professionals, and has developed a national training program to prepare others for the certification. On her career aspirations, she told Poets & Quants she would be thrilled to work in the food innovation space in a strategic, creative way. "I look to places like IDEO and its food and beverage group, or to the many companies...looking to solve issues in our food systems." A connection to the Berkeley MBA Program's emphasis on "impactful, selfless leadership and personal transformation" attracted her to Berkeley-Haas, as did the Bay Area location for her future in food: "Amazing restaurants, farms, and innovators just minutes away!"  
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Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tuck at Dartmouth
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