• Program Overview
• Leading Through Innovation
  • Leadership Development Series
  • Haas@Work
• Curriculum
• Experiential Learning
• Schedule Options
• Degree Requirements
• Areas of Concentration
• Contact Admissions

Leading Through Innovation

Preparing leaders who know how to put new ideas to work is the core definition of Leading Through Innovation. Of the major learning experiences that make up Leading Through Innovation in the Berkeley MBA Program, you will encounter about half of them in the classroom, and the other half you gain in other ways through special extracurricular offerings, interactions with classmates and other people, and through your own initiatives.

Top-Caliber Students

The process actually starts with the careful selection of Berkeley MBA students, who have already demonstrated leadership and a spirit of innovation prior to their arrival. They have challenged convention, and they continually try to anticipate what’s coming next. They possess the independent, forward-looking thinking long associated with UC Berkeley. The culture of Leading Through Innovation at Haas reinforces these values, and the Bay Area’s creative, entrepreneurial energy provides unrivaled opportunities to test new ideas.

The core (required) part of the MBA curriculum covers the foundations of management and business, with an emphasis on developing leaders. A cutting-edge leadership course will develop your capacity to lead others by giving you an in-depth understanding of your own capabilities. You will also participate in experiential leadership exercises, read the latest advances in our understanding of leadership, and discuss cases offered by top leaders of organizations.

A Culture of Leadership

Learning how to lead at Haas involves more than motivational and people skills. You also learn how to set direction as a leader in your strategy course, and how to manage complex projects and enterprises in your operations course—both skills are critical to successful leadership. Finally, you are taught the lessons of "leading responsibly" through your coursework and out-of-class activities, such as the Haas-founded Global Social Venture Competition. All of this is backed by a strong school culture that actively promotes these values.

Fresh thinking and leadership is encouraged everywhere at Haas. The culture of innovation is continually enriched by faculty who study at the frontiers of knowledge and bring their insights into the classroom.

Innovative Programs and Seminars

Leading Through Innovation also includes of a series of experiential programs and executive skills seminars. Among the former is the acclaimed Haas@Work, an applied innovation program that sends large teams of Berkeley MBA students to work with top executives at brand-name firms such as Disney and Panasonic. The new Berkeley MBA Leadership Development Series will help you become a more effective leader through a collection of not-to-be-missed workshops delivered by well-known experts.

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