Asia-Pacific Region
Abhinav Mathur | MBA 27
Location: Bangalore, India
Future Industry: Technology
Haas Clubs: Haas Tech Club, Product Management Club, Haas AI Club, South Asian Business Association
Favorite memory about moving to the US: Watching the sunset over the Bay from the Berkeley National Lab viewpoint, with the whole city glowing beneath us.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: The small, close-knit feel. You meet people who are ambitious yet humble, and they genuinely invest in each other’s growth.
Fun fact: I love reading, so there’s always a book in my bag, and I can’t resist picking up another whenever I’m in an airport bookstore.
Ayoung Cho | MBA 27
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Future Industry: Technology / Education
Haas Clubs: Haas Entrepreneurship Association, Education Club, Haas Tech Club, Haas AI Club, Haas@Food
Favorite memory about moving to the US: Watching the sky turn pink and red during those West Coast sunsets, and realizing I was finally surrounded by people who shared the same passions and dreams as me.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: How supportive and uplifting everyone is. People genuinely want each other to succeed, whether it's sharing recruiting tips, testing startup ideas, or showing up for each other’s events.
Fun fact: I actually dropped out of three different schools as a kid.
Lara Jhaveri | MBA 27
Location: Singapore
Future Industry: Technology / EdTech
Haas Clubs: Haas Tech Club, Product Management Club, Mentor at Cameron Institute Mentorship Program, Team Lead for Social Sector Solutions
Favorite memory about moving to the US: I moved to the US for undergrad at UCLA, but my favourite memory of Haas has been hiking in Yosemite and visiting Peru.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: The power of connection - everyone is willing to help, find ways to make connections with you both personally and professionally. There are spaces where vulnerability and openness are welcomed and flourish; from Story Salones to in-class activities.
Fun fact: I love traveling and have visited the North Pole.
Suveer Daswani | MBA 27
Location: Mumbai, India
Future Industry: Consulting
Haas Clubs: Haas Pickleball Club, Haas Consulting Club, South Asian Business Association (SABA), Berkeley Board Fellow (serving on the Board of a local nonprofit)
Favorite memory about moving to the US: I moved to the US in 2014 for my undergraduate studies at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Since then I’ve lived in Boston, New York, and DC. Most recently, my favorite memory in SF has been taking a driverless Waymo ride! You gotta trust the process 😊
Favorite thing about the Haas community: Everyone is incredibly supportive and impressive. The Haas Defining Leadership Principles (DLPs) are real!
Fun fact: I skydived with my twin sister in Queenstown, New Zealand… I made her go first 😉
Xander Feng | MBA 27
Location: China / Canada
Future Industry: Technology
Haas Clubs: Haas Tech Club, Haas AI Club, 1GLI Club
Favorite memory about moving to the US: My favorite memory of moving to the US was taking a Waymo in San Francisco. The car showed my name on the screen, soft music was playing inside, and it quietly drove itself up the steep California Street hill. That simple ride ended up becoming a moment I still remember.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: My favorite thing about the Haas community is how genuinely caring people are, from classmates to the dean and program team. After our last Fall A exam, we were surprised with a popsicle treat in the courtyard, and that simple, warm moment captured exactly what the Haas community feels like.
Fun fact: I can’t eat avocado on its own as it makes me nauseous; however, for some reason, I’m totally fine with guacamole, one of my favorite dips, especially with tortilla chips.
Yuka Hamanaka | MBA 27
Location: Japan
Future Industry: Technology (Product / Strategy)
Haas Clubs: Haas Tech Club, AI Club, PM Club, Haas Consulting Club, Redwoods@Haas
Europe, Middle East, & Africa
Angel Ade-Oduntan | MBA 27
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Future Industry: Consulting
Haas Clubs: Haas Consulting Club, Haas African Business Club, Haas Tech Club, Fintech Club
Favorite memory about moving to the US: MMy first time taking the bus in Berkeley turned into a comedy scene. My friends and I sprinted after the bus, missed it, dashed across the road, hopped on another one, only to realize it was going the wrong way. We jumped off laughing, and even the driver was amused. It was the perfect welcome to the little adventures of life here.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: The “We Are One Haas” sign on the wall in the Bank of America Forum? Not a myth. People show up for each other in the best ways, and you can see the Defining Leadership Principles pop up in everyday interactions.
Fun Fact: I’m a legal-fiction nerd who loves listening to Spanish music even though I don’t speak or understand the language.
Eunice Delali Alomatu | MBA 27
Location: Accra, Ghana
Future Industry: Finance / Technology
Haas Clubs: Haas Finance Club, Haas African Business Club, Haas Tech Club, Fintech Club
Favorite memory about moving to the US: My favorite memory about moving to the US was experiencing those incredibly long summer evenings, seeing the sky still bright and illuminated well into the evening was amazing and my first ferry ride to Sausalito, watching the sunset over the Bay, made California feel like home.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: There is always someone willing to help, whether it's recruiting prep, coursework, or just navigating life at Berkeley. What makes it even more special is seeing how every student genuinely embodies at least one of our defining leadership principles, from the classroom to extracurricular activities.
Fun fact: Avid Grand Theft Auto player who has replayed the entire storyline 5 times; home chef who enjoys cooking and hosting friends and family.
Adedotun Kehinde Oluwafisayo | MBA 27
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Future Industry: Consulting / Technology
Haas Clubs: Haas Consulting Club, Haas Tech Club, Haas African Club
Favorite memory about moving to the US: My favorite memory about moving to the US was actually my first day here, when I arrived safely… but my luggage decided to take its own vacation. It was chaotic, but it perfectly captured the “welcome to America” moment and made me laugh at how unpredictable new beginnings can be.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: What I love most about Haas is the precision with which the school has translated its Defining Leadership Principles into an actual community identity. It’s rare to see an institution where cultural values are both aspirational slogans and observable daily behaviour. The way Haas consistently attracts MBA students who naturally embody these principles without forcing it deserves to be studied as a model for value-driven leadership development.
Fun fact: I love African fiction: I read about 10 books a month—and I’m a twin with very strong telepathy: sometimes we feel each other’s pain from completely different locations.
Mwengwe Mpekansambo | MBA 27
Location: Mufulira, Zambia
Future Industry: Corporate Finance / Strategy
Haas Clubs: Haas Finance Club, Haas African Business Club and Black Business Students Association
Favorite memory about moving to the US: I am a crafter by nature, and dove head first into so many wonderful and novel crafts from knitting to sewing to crocheting to book binding. It’s really expanded what I can do and make.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: There is always someone who has experience in something you want to explore, and someone who would love to walk that journey with you. From niche extracurricular activities to hobbies to job pivots.
Fun fact: I’ve spent every decade of my life living in a different country.
Tabea Anna Charlotte Spors | MBA / MPH 2027
Location: Berlin, Germany
Future Industry: Something to do with life science / healthcare—still working on finding my niche!
Haas Clubs: Haas Healthcare Association, Redwoods at Haas, Haas Women in Leadership
Favorite memory about moving to the US: It’s truly impossible to choose a favorite! I’ve loved everything from making s’mores at Yosemite and visiting a classmate’s vineyard to beach picnics, lively dinners, and inspiring healthcare talks. Most of all, I cherish the people and conversations that have made my time at Haas so meaningful.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: The people! When visiting campus as a prospective student, I was struck by the “problem-solving” mentality and the contagious can-do attitude of those around me. There’s a unique energy – one that celebrates bold ideas and collaboration across all disciplines. After a few months of studying here, I can add that the classmates consistently have a humble, down to earth attitude. People truly live the four defining leadership principles of questioning the status quo, being a student always, confidence without attitude and beyond yourself.
Fun fact: Although I’ve lived in Switzerland for the past 7 years, I’ve never skied!
Taofeeq Ilufoye | MBA 27
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Future Industry: Consulting
Haas Clubs: Haas Consulting Club, Haas Veterans Club, Haas Soccer Club, African Business Club
Favorite memory about moving to the US: Landing in the US for the first time and having to be in school just 12 hours later, I relied on Haas to shape my first impression of the country. It didn't disappoint! On my very first day, I found myself having lunch with classmates from four different countries. We spent that hour sharing stories about our journeys here, each one completely different yet driven by the same hunger for growth. That moment made me realize that my move wasn’t just a change in geography, it was the start of a global family of like minds.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: One thing that struck me right away is that the Defining Leadership Principles aren’t just words on a wall at Haas, they genuinely show up in how people treat each other. I’m surrounded by some of the smartest people I’ve ever met, yet everyone carries themselves with a quiet confidence that feels welcoming, not intimidating. My classmates don’t just strive to excel; they show up for one another, often using their strengths to lift others up. It’s rare to find a place where excellence and humility sit side by side so naturally, and being part of that kind of community has been one of the highlights of my Haas experience.
Fun Fact: I play four sports and decided that wasn’t enough, so I’m now learning pickleball. At this point, my friends think I’m collecting sports as a hobby. Pray for my schedule.
Latin America
Andres Felipe Torres Ramirez | MBA 27
Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Future Industry: Technology
Haas Clubs: Haas Tech Club, Product Management Club, Haas AI Club, Haas Consulting Club, LAHBA (Latin American and Hispanic Business Association), Q@Haas
Favorite memory about moving to the US: One of the most surprising (and honestly thrilling) moments since moving to the US has been visiting the offices of companies I’ve admired from afar, including getting to see the headquarters of giants like ServiceNow, Google, Airbnb, and Amazon. Walking through their doors and meeting the fascinating people who work there felt surreal, almost like I’d stepped into a dream. Suddenly, these "untouchable" companies became real, and I realized how much opportunity there is to connect and learn.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: Here at Haas, I’ve found friends for literally everything I enjoy! Whether I want to party, catch a movie, go trekking, taste new foods, practice a language, or even try a new sport (my first-ever badminton game!), there’s always someone ready to join or teach me. It’s magical to discover new interests together with such an open community.
Fun fact: I spent a summer as a lifeguard at the largest water park in America, up in Wisconsin Dells. So if you ever need a swimming buddy, or just hilarious water slide stories, I’m your person!
Carmine Maite Costoya Ruiz | MBA 27
Location: Santiago, Chile
Future Industry: Technology
Haas Clubs: Haas Tech Club, Latin American & Hispanic Business Association (LAHBA), Redwoods@Haas, Wellness
Favorite memory about moving to the US: Crossing the Golden gate bridge by bike. Berkeley and the Bay Area have surprised me in terms of nature and the incredible range of different outdoor activities.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: Definitely its community! totally supportive, willing to help everyone they can, authentic, inspiring and humble people.
Fun fact: I have visited the most recondite and isolated places of Chile, even the Antarctic.
Lucia Mir Cerda | MBA 27
Location: Santiago, Chile
Future Industry: Technology
Haas Clubs: Latin American & Hispanic Business Association (LAHBA), Women in Leadership, Haas Tech Club, Redwoods@Haas
Favorite memory about moving to the US: My trip to Yosemite, the mix of nature and sharing that experience with my classmates perfectly captures what I’ve enjoyed most. It wasn’t the first and I’m sure it won’t be the last adventure like this during my time here.
Favorite thing about the Haas community: How supportive it is. People here bring out the best in you, pushing and encouraging you, and make you feel you can truly be yourself.
Fun fact: I’m actually related to Pedro Pascal! Though we’ve met just a couple of times.
Luiza Leite Teixeira | MBA 27
Location: Rio de Janeiro / São Paulo, Brazil
Future Industry: Consulting / Technology
Haas Clubs: Haas Consulting Club, Haas Tech Club, Women in Leadership, Latin American & Hispanic Business Association (LAHBA), Redwoods@Haas
Favorite memory about moving to the US: Even before classes started, I committed to a trip to a national park in Utah with 20 people I had never talked to before, and it turned out to be one of the best I've done. I did come back with a doctor telling me I shouldn’t walk for a month, but honestly, totally worth it! Moving to Berkeley and having so many places to explore with this amazing community has been incredible!
Favorite thing about the Haas community: Is “the people” a cliche answer? Because people here make me feel at home. My essays were about wanting a tight, supportive community, and it’s been incredible to see that everything I hoped is actually true. People here are ambitious and really smart, but even more committed to helping each other succeed.
Fun fact: Although I’m terrible in the kitchen, I once cooked for a Masterchef jury, and no one got hurt 😊