VP of Admissions
Zainab Kumandan | MBA 26
Hometown: New York City, NY
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Undergraduate University & Major(s): Syracuse University, BS Biotechnology, Minor in Business Management
Prior Industry: Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals
Future Industry: Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals
Involvement: MBA Association, Consortium, Haas Healthcare Association, Haas Real Estate Club, Women in Leadership
Favorite thing(s) to do in the Bay Area: Trying local restaurants, going on scenic runs, and taking advantage of the outdoor lifestyle year-round!
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: The collaborative and supportive culture instantly resonated with me, particularly the way the Haas community fosters mutual learning and support. I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such intelligent, successful, and driven individuals!
Ask Me About: Navigating the pharmaceutical industry, East vs. West Coast living, and finding good eats in the Bay Area.
Student Ambassadors
Jeffrey Dagadu | MBA 26
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Undergraduate University & Major(s): Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Actuarial Science
Prior Industry: Retail Banking, Technology
Future Industry: Consulting, Technology
Involvement: Africa Business Club, Black Business Student Association, AI & Data Science Club, Consulting Club, Education Club, Product Management Club, Tech Club
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: I love immersing myself in nature, from hiking to enjoying coastal views! I also love attending tech events and exploring San Francisco!
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: Prior to coming to Haas, I was impressed by how easily I connected with everyone I engaged - from the Admissions team to current students and alumni. Everyone was very warm and welcoming, showing genuine interest in my background and the perspective I could bring. I interacted with individuals I knew were incredibly smart, yet very approachable. This combination of brilliance and humility was the kind of community I knew I wanted to be a part of.
Ask Me About: Consulting, technology, AI and business applications, afrobeats, spicy food in the Bay, living in Oakland and social life and events.
Meg DeMarsh | MBA 26
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Undergraduate University & Major(s): Colorado College, English Literature
Prior Industry: Entertainment
Future Industry: Technology or CPG
Involvement: Women in Leadership, Marketing Club, Technology Club, Food@Haas, Redwoods Club, Wine Club
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: The Grand Lake Farmers Market with a hot chocolate in hand!
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: Haas is a community of people driven by purpose! No matter the motivation, Haasies find a deeper meaning behind everything they do. It’s this thoughtful and reflective culture that continues to excite me about Berkeley.
Ask Me About: Non-traditional backgrounds, making a pivot, creativity and business, finding your home at Haas. 🙂
Aitana Felgueroso | MBA 26
Hometown: Moved a bit, longest time spent in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Pronouns: She/Her
Undergraduate University & Major(s): Purdue University, Biomedical Engineering
Prior Industry: Engineering in Medical Devices and Medical Technology
Future Industry: Healthcare and Life Sciences Consulting
Involvement: Consortium, Haas Healthcare Association, Association for the Latinx MBA Advancement, Women in Leadership, Consulting Club
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: I absolutely love trying all the great local food spots and running half marathons.There are so many course options! I also never miss scheduling a nice walk with my beagle, Mia!
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: Early in the process, when I looked at the Haas website and saw the Defining Leadership Principles, I knew Haas was the place for me. The principles—Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself—are unique criteria that define the school, professors, and students. This was further confirmed when I attended Days at Haas and saw these principles in action while meeting prospective students, current students, and faculty. Every day at Haas offers a unique opportunity to tackle new challenges, and I am grateful to be part of the Haas community.
Ask Me About: Consulting Recruiting, Moving to Northern California from SoCal, Healthcare and Life Sciences at Haas, living in downtown Berkeley.
Colton Hess | MBA/MPH 26
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Pronouns: He/They
Undergraduate University & Major(s): Princeton University, Public and International Affairs
Prior Industry: Big Tech, Civic Tech
Future Industry: Health Tech, Entrepreneurship
Involvement: Q@Haas, Wellness Club (Yoga Instructor), Haas Healthcare Association, Haas Tech Club, Berkeley Entrepreneurs Association
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: I love running all around the area, appreciating the nature, and catching beautiful views of the Bay.
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: Haas’s Defining Leadership Principles, particularly the commitment to Questioning the Status Quo, resonated with me. These deeply held values attract the type of leaders that I want to be learning, working, and having fun with. When first stepping foot on campus, I felt surprisingly comfortable and confident bringing the fullest expression of myself into the experience, which I knew would make it the best place for me to grow and thrive as a leader. Additionally, the vast (and growing!) array of entrepreneurial resources and support, as well as the school’s location in the hub of global innovation, were a huge draw for me.
Ask Me About: The MBA/MPH program, queer life at Haas/in the Bay, wellness/sports culture, the entrepreneurial scene.
Christopher Tennow | MBA 26
Hometown: Antioch, CA
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Undergraduate University & Major(s): University of California, Davis B.A. in Political Science; Minor in History
Prior Industry: United States Army
Future Industry: Technology
Involvement: Haas Veterans Club, Digital Media and Entertainment Club, Haas Tech Club, Haas Product Management Club, Haas Partners Club, Haas Beer Club, Sports Business Club
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: Exploring San Francisco (and the greater Bay Area) for the best bowl of ramen!
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: When I met my future fellow students during Days at Haas. Everyone was incredibly friendly, accomplished, and excited to start this two-year journey. Haas truly lived up to its Defining Leadership Principles in a collaborative and innovative way!
Ask Me About: Transitioning from the military with a spouse and three dogs!
Julian Turner | MBA 25
Hometown: Paradis, LA, Los Angeles, CA
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Undergraduate University & Major(s): University of Southern California, Industrial & Systems Engineering
Prior Industry: Consulting, Technology
Future Industry: Technology
Involvement: Haas Student Ambassador, Consortium Co-President, Q @ Haas Co-President, BBSA
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: Dancing, attending live-music events, and taking scenic drives around the beautiful Bay Area.
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: For me, culture fit was everything. Every conversation I had with Haasies as a prospective student made me feel like I belonged here. Everyone was so easy to talk to and I even had a few current students tell me they thought I was already a Haas alum! Getting to know the students and feeling a sense of belonging let me know Haas was the right place for me.
Ask Me About: Consulting, tech, strategy and operations, dancing, bar-hopping, and live entertainment in the Bay.
Shan Vijay | MBA 26
Hometown: Moved around the world, originally from Guruvayur, India
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Undergraduate University & Major(s): National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Electronics & Communication Engineering
Prior Industry: Technology
Future Industry: Technology/Entrepreneurship
Involvement: Haas Product Management Club, Haas Tech Club, Redwoods@Haas, South Asian Business Association, Graduate Student Instructor
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: Exploring the great outdoors!
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: I knew Haas was the right place for me because of the people. Every conversation I had showed me how passionate, kind, and collaborative the community is. It felt like I’d found a group of people who not only share big dreams but are also grounded in a genuine desire to make a difference. It just felt like home.
Ask Me About: Moving to a new country, social events and activities, exploring tech or entrepreneurship, life in Berkeley and the Bay Area.
Margo Wilwerding | MBA/MCS 26
Hometown: Omaha, NE, Chicago, IL
Pronouns: She/Her
Undergraduate University & Major(s): Iowa State University, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design with Emphases in Product Development and Sourcing
Prior Industry: Consulting, Retail
Future Industry: Sustainability Consulting, Consumer/Food and Ag
Involvement: Center for Responsible Business SAB, Food @ Haas, Net Impact, Redwoods @ Haas, Haas Partners Club, Forté, Wellness Club
Favorite thing to do in the Bay Area: Take advantage of all the nature! I’ve been loving casual, but long bike rides, weekend hikes, and generally spending time outside! I’m also always scoping out delicious pastries, ice cream, and coffees 🙂, some personal favorites are Fournee, Arsicault, Butter and Crumble, and Miharu!
How did you know Haas was the right place for you: Haas is so deeply committed to sustainability! From the school’s zero waste ambitions, to the fact that a large majority of my classmates care about making the world a better place to the launch of the MCS program, I knew I had to come here! Beyond that, the Haas community is supportive, kind, and passionate! I am incredibly grateful to learn alongside such inspiring individuals every day! At Haas, I feel I can wholly embrace my authentic, quirky self while continuing to grow both personally and professionally!
Ask Me About: Master of Climate Solutions, circularity, food systems, sustainable apparel, reimagining capitalism, consulting, non-traditional recruiting, moving from the midwest, living in North Berkeley!