Toby Gardner
MBA 10
MBA 10
Internship:
Investment Analyst (Real Estate)
CalPERS
Sacramento, California
Previous degree:
BS, Finance
Curtin University of Technology, Australia
Job prior to Haas:
Strategy & Special Projects
Columbia Winds, LLC (Venture Capital)
Portland, Oregon
Toby Gardner has kept busy pulling the curtain aside, writing candidly about his MBA experiences at Haas in his BusinessWeek MBA Journal. One of only nine worldwide MBA students selected to write for BusinessWeek, Gardner shares his personal insights to give prospective students a deeper understanding of MBA life at Haas.
Diverse Global Perspectives
"As a BusinessWeek MBA Journal writer, I am privileged to share my experiences at Haas with all of those future Haas students out there in countries around the world. And they are everywhere. Imagine, at the beginning of the year, I sat around a conference table and discussed entrepreneurship with an Egyptian, Russian, Japanese, Indian, and an American. With 40 countries represented among 240 classmates, I am always learning new things from my peers as well as my classes."
Creative Leadership
"An example of Haas students being given creative flexibility is the formation of the Haas Asian Business Association (HABA). We want to create a central communication line between the school and the Asian business community. Leading the Hong Kong Trek this year was another way to keep the Haas connection with Asia strong, to keep the focus on Haas as an international business school."
Gaining Knowledge, Building Confidence
"The core curriculum gives you a clear and concise approach to solving both qualitative and quantitative problems. It also gives you the confidence to recognize that your own opinions are valid."
Solid Preparation
"I'm looking to take my career in the opposite direction from many of my classmates: I've worked in the VC sector; now I want to move to asset management. Haas can give me the tools—in new disciplines and in new industries—to make that switch."
