Dean’s Speaker Series

Before their first draft round on Dec. 6, Golden State Valkyries President Jess Smith and General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin have been working around the clock to secure sponsorships, develop strategies and set goals as they navigate the internal and external operations that come with introducing a new sports team. Golden State won the bid last fall to expand its franchise, and the Valkyries, meaning “warrior women” in Norse mythology, was announced in May and will make their debut on the court in 2025. They’ll be the first new WNBA team since 2008. In this episode of the Dean’s Speaker Series Podcast, Smith and Nyanin discuss the importance of learning from failure, representation in sports, and the future of the WNBA in conversation with Brittany Jacob and Becca Neteler, both MBA 25. This interview, co-sponsored by the Center for Social Sector Leadership, took place on Nov. 19 as part of the UC Berkeley Haas Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions. Read more about the Golden State Valkyries. Read more about the Center for Social Sector Leadership. 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  

Brian Gross, Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group, shares his journey from a dairy farm in Iowa as one of 14 siblings to leading a consulting powerhouse. He highlights the importance of emotional intelligence, adaptability, and listening in leadership. Gross discusses fostering inclusivity and psychological safety in the workplace, influenced by his experiences in the diverse culture at Berkeley Haas. He emphasizes self-awareness in career choices and the need for mental health support within organizations, offering valuable insights into the consulting world.

Before Jill Evanko was leading the company responsible for products that include the nitrogen systems that cool Starbucks’ Nitro cold brews and hydrogen fuel cells that could power massive cruise ships, she was working in finance at Honeywell and Sony. By taking risks and telling herself, “I'm going to take on opportunities that maybe look different than what I originally thought it was going to look like,” she took her career to new avenues and loves what she does. She’s now at the forefront of the transition toward clean energy as CEO of Chart Industries. Evanko kicked off the first Dean’s Speaker Series of the fall 2024 semester by discussing the future of energy and what it means to take risks. With $3.37 billion in revenue this year, Chart’s has a portfolio of cryogenic products used throughout liquid gas supply chain phases. Evanko joked that members of her own family don’t know exactly what her company does, but they're familiar with Chart’s customers, which include household names from McDonald’s to ExxonMobile to SpaceX. In this episode, Jill Evanko discusses her career journey in conversation with Olivia Halas-Dias, MBA/MPH 25, and Ashley Wong, MBA 25. Above all, she emphasized the importance of kindness in leadership, noting that she would “never want any one of our team members or customers to walk away and say, ‘Jill over at Chart wasn't kind.’” This interview took place on Sept. 9, 2024, as part of the Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with insightful perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions. 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

Tech journalist Kara Swisher, known for her sharp interviews since the '90s, shares captivating stories from Silicon Valley's elite, including Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. She emphasizes the importance of honesty in journalism and how it has shaped her career. Swisher discusses the urgent need for innovation in climate change technology, urging entrepreneurs to pivot towards meaningful solutions. With a focus on curiosity and adaptability, she reflects on the evolving media landscape and the necessity for diversity in tech.