Urvi Parehk
MBA 09
MBA 09
Utility Sales Associate
SunPower Corporation
San Jose, California
Internship:
MBA Deal Team Intern
MMA Renewable Ventures
San Francisco, California
Previous degree:
BS, Mechanical Engineering
Stanford University, California
Job prior to Haas:
Engineer
Sentech, Inc.
Washington, D.C.
Urvi Parekh was excited when the Energy and Environmental Markets class she was taking at Haas offered students the opportunity to run their own version of the Independent System Operator, the group that manages the California energy market. Parekh knows about energy—particularly clean energy. She was named a 2008 Switzer Fellow by the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation for her achievements in environmental leadership.
Adding to Your Skill Set
"When I came to Haas I had never worked in the private sector; all of my experience was as a consultant to the US Department of Energy. My first goal here was to find out what I didn't know, then to figure out how to make myself more valuable to the industry."
The Power of the Haas Network
"When we launched the Berkeley Energy Resources Center Alumni Network, I was amazed to see the reach of Berkeley and Haas into major energy companies, as well as innovative startups. I seemed to find alumni in every energy company in the Bay Area."
Real-World Learning
"The courses on energy issues—at Haas and other schools at Berkeley—were a big draw for me. For example, the Project Finance class taught us the legal and regulatory side, the public policy side and the quantitative side of the subject. It mimicked the way a deal would be developed in the real world."
Career Advice
"I've probably had at least 15 informational interviews with Berkeley alumni this semester alone. Without fail, they have been reassuring and supportive."
Making an Impact
"One of my favorite activities lately has been volunteering with Grid Alternatives, an organization specializing in renewable energy for affordable housing, to install solar panels on peoples' homes. It was great to bring together my passion for renewable energy and my commitment to helping the community."
Student Leadership
"I like being a decision-maker. The courses and extracurricular activities at Haas are very action-oriented. I appreciate that students are encouraged to make decisions and deliver actionable results."
