Dean’s Speaker Series

Michael Stewart, Managing Partner at M12, shares his remarkable journey from semiconductor scientist to venture capitalist. He emphasizes the similarities between PhD research and VC work, focusing on curiosity and intellectual independence. Stewart discusses how M12 operates within Microsoft, sourcing insights from product teams to validate startups. He highlights the importance of distinguishing transformative tech from hype and reflects on industry trends like generative AI and Web3. Stewart also offers invaluable career advice for aspiring venture capitalists.

Ana Corrales, COO of Google Consumer Hardware and former leader at Nest and Cisco, dives into her career journey from startups to tech titan. She candidly addresses the challenges women face in tech and the importance of mentorship. Corrales emphasizes sustainability as a core principle, advocating for deep innovation in materials and design. She predicts a future where AI seamlessly integrates into consumer hardware. Her insights on balancing practical decisions with visionary bets provide a roadmap for aspiring leaders in the tech industry.

Trevor Traina, a serial entrepreneur and former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, shares his wealth of experience in tech and diplomacy. He discusses the contrasting leadership styles between startups and diplomatic roles. Traina elaborates on innovation waves and his insights into future tech trends, alongside the importance of authentic social impact in business. He also offers advice on building a resilient career in an AI-driven world and emphasizes the value of curiosity and continual learning. His commitment to blockchain and philanthropic projects underlines a desire to make a real difference.

Aravind Srinivas, Co-founder and CEO of Perplexity, shares his journey from notable roles at OpenAI, Google, and DeepMind to leading a major AI-driven search company. He discusses his motivation for starting Perplexity, emphasizing transparency and user curiosity. Aravind explores the balance between speed and accuracy in AI, the importance of asking better questions, and the challenges of building complex systems. He also reflects on leadership persistence, founding grit, and designing a browser experience that prioritizes personal relevance and privacy.

David Ko, CEO of Calm and author of Recharge, shares his transformative journey from investment banking to leading a wellness revolution. He introduces the 'battery check' for initiating mental health dialogues at work. Ko highlights the importance of purpose-driven leadership, tackling burnout through clarity and task management. He encourages incorporating quick mindfulness practices into daily life and discusses the varying stigma around mental health globally. With candid anecdotes, he underscores the need for open conversations to foster wellness in high-pressure environments.

Peter McGuinness, CEO of Impossible Foods, has over 30 years of experience transforming brands in the food industry. In this insightful discussion, he shares his journey from advertising to sustainable food innovation. McGuinness emphasizes the importance of persistence and learning from mistakes while navigating the challenges of marketing plant-based products. He addresses consumer misconceptions, the significance of nutrient density, and strategies for appealing to traditional meat eaters. Ultimately, he highlights the balance between sustainability and profitability in the evolving food landscape.

As managing director for the engineering and design consultancy Ramboll, Cheryl Ginyard-Jones oversees more than 2,000 professionals across the Americas dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies that mitigate climate change. Over her distinguished career, spanning roles at Worley, Advision, Verizon, and BP, Cheryl has significantly influenced growth, innovation, and operations within the green energy sector. In this fireside chat, Ginyard-Jones shares insights into her unique career path, her leadership in achieving sustainability goals, and the broad impact of Ramboll’s work across various communities. The session concludes with an audience Q&A. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Responsible Business Peterson Speaker Series. This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on April 16, 2025. Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers. Read more about the Haas School of Business.  Read the full transcript here. The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:  Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman  Berkeley AV Production Team

David Sabow joined HSBC as Head of Technology & Healthcare in 2023 to establish a dedicated banking practice focused on the innovation economy, empowering forward-thinkers, and future makers who are questioning the status quo. His two-decade career has centered on innovation banking. David previously held several roles at Silicon Valley Bank, which includes leading the Technology & Healthcare Division, focusing on venture capital relationship management and new opportunity organization, and running the Life Science & Healthcare Business. In a fireside chat format, David discusses his career journey in banking, how he works in the innovation space, the influence of AI on investment strategies, and gives advice to students who want to break into venture capital. This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on February 12th, 2025. Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers. Read more about the Haas School of Business.  The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:  Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman  Berkeley AV Production Team

In a fireside chat format, Interim Dean Jenny Chatman shares the origin story of the Defining Leadership Principles and how they have evolved over 15 years. She shares some of our community’s personal DLP stories, as well as our school's aspirations for the DLPs for the future. A panel of Haas alumni, Elena Gomez, BS 91, Chief Financial Officer, Toast, Inc.; Marc Singer, BS 86, Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company; and Sean Li, MBA 20, Founder, University FM and OneHaas Podcast Host, then discuss how the Defining Leadership Principles have resonated with their work and influenced their leadership journey. We want to hear from you! Please share your story of the Haas Defining Leadership Principles here: https://haas.org/DLPstories. Some of these stories will be shared during the event. This talk at the Haas School of Business was originally live streamed on February 5th, 2025. Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers. Read more about the Haas School of Business.  The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our:  Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman  Berkeley AV Production Team

Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, dives into the relentless innovation culture at his company, which revolutionized 3D graphics with the first GPU in 1999. He emphasizes the importance of creating new markets and adapting to challenges, sharing insights from his entrepreneurial journey. Huang discusses the future of computing, highlighting the balance between general-purpose and specialized technology, and the transformative potential of AI across industries like healthcare. He also touches on leadership qualities necessary for driving change and collaboration in tech.