Each year, Berkeley Haas recognizes alumni and business leaders who reflect our Defining Leadership Principles and excel in their respective fields. Whether their innovative thinking has disrupted an industry or their lifetime of achievements has advanced how we do business, Haas recognizes these leaders for their service and inspiration.
Business Leader of the Year/Lifetime Achievement Award
This Business Leader of the Year or Lifetime Achievement award is presented annually to one or more graduates or notable business leaders achieving prominence in their fields.
Awardees are selected for their career accomplishments, their dedication to and involvement with the school, and their stature as role models for alumni and students. These individuals have shown unfailing support and enthusiasm for the Haas School, including their involvement as advisors, speakers, and donors.
2019
Constance B. Moore, MBA 80
Former Director, President & CEO, BRE Properties, Inc.
Member, Haas School Board
Chair, Policy Advisory Board, Fisher Center for Real Estate & Urban Economics
Independent Board Member, numerous organizations
Lifetime Achievement Award
Honored for her distinguished career in the real estate industry and for her volunteer leadership at the Haas School and for numerous organizations, including the San Jose State University Tower Foundation, Bridge Housing, City of Hope, and the Urban Land Institute, among others.
2018
Margo Alexander, BS 68
Chairman Emeritus, Acumen Fund
Retired CEO and Chairman, UBS Global AM
Retired Executive Vice President, PaineWebber
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognized for being a pioneer in the world of finance and for blazing a trail for women in the financial services industry.
2017
Ikujiro Nonaka, MBA 68, PhD 72
Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognized for being a pioneer in the field of knowledge management and for transforming how people drive innovation together.
2016
Susan Chamberlin, MBA 87, and Stephen Chamberlin
Philanthropists, Chamberlin Family Foundation
Honored for their efforts bettering the lives of others and for redesigning the world of public education.
2015
Joseph Jimenez, MBA 84
CEO, Novartis AG
Recognized for questioning the status quo at Novartis to re-envision the pharmaceutical industry, positioning the company to anticipate future health care trends and to make momentous strides against various forms of cancer.
2014
Stuart Bernstein, BS 86
Managing Director and Partner, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Global Head, Clean Technology and Renewables and Venture Capital Coverage Groups
Advisory Board Member: Haas School of Business, Berkeley Energy & Climate Institute
Recognized for questioning the status quo throughout his successful career at Goldman Sachs, ultimately shaking up investment banking with his passion for clean energy and the environment, as well as for his impact on Berkeley and Haas.
2013
Douglas E. Goldman, MD, BA 74
Chairman and Founder, Certain, Inc.
Philanthropist
Advisory Board Member: Haas School of Business, Goldman School of Public Policy, and UC Berkeley Athletics Director
Trustee, UC Berkeley Foundation
Honored for his successful business career, philanthropy, and commitment to the University and the Haas School of Business.
2012
Janet L. Yellen
Vice Chair, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Former President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Professor Emerita, Haas School of Business
In recognition for her outstanding business leadership and support of the Haas School of Business and the University of California, Berkeley.
2011
Bob O’Donnell, BS 65, MBA 66
Retired Sr. VP and Director
Capital Research and Management Company
In recognition of his tireless commitment to public education at all levels; the enormous impact he has had at Berkeley and Haas; and his successful leadership role in the mutual fund industry.
2010
Warren Hellman, BA 55
Founder, Hellman & Friedman LLC
Banjo Player and Songwriter
Lifetime Achievement Award
In recognition of his countless accomplishments in business and generous philanthropic efforts.
2009
Richard Blum, BS 58, MBA 59
Chairman, Blum Capital Partners
Founder & Chairman, American Himalayan Foundation
Founder, Richard C. Blum Center for Developing Economies
Lifetime Achievement Award
Named for the enduring support, exceptional service, and strong leadership that he has shown to the Haas School and UC Berkeley.
2008
Shantanu Narayen, MBA 93
President and CEO
Adobe Systems Inc.
San Jose, California
Named for executing a vision that spurs financial prosperity, fosters employee development, and fulfills its responsibility to the community.
2007
Barbara Desoer, MBA 77
Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Bank of America
2006
Paul Otellini, MBA 74
President and CEO, Intel Corporation
2005
Barclay Simpson, BS 66
Founder and Chairman, Simpson Manufacturing Co. Inc.
2004
A.W. “Tom” Clausen, MBA 77
Former Bank of America and World Bank Chief
Lifetime Achievement Award
2003
Howard Lester, MBA 77
Chairman and former CEO, Williams-Sonoma
2002
Arun Sarin, MBA 78
Former CEO, Vodafone Group Plc
2001
Peter E. Haas, Sr., BA 40
Director & CEO Levi Strauss & Co.
Business Leader of the Year & Lifetime Achievement Award
2000
Stephanie G. DiMarco, BS 79
CEO & Chairman, Advent Software
1999
Thomas Schneider, BA 58, MBA 62
Executive VP, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
1998
Warren “Ned” Spieker, BS 66
Former Chairman & CEO, Spieker Properties, Inc.
1997
Richard A. Clarke, BA 52, JD 55
Former Chairman & CEO, Pacific Gas & Electric
1996
Thomas W. Tusher, BA 63
President & COO, Levi Strauss & Co.
1995
Paul M. Hazen, MBA 64
Chairman & CEO, Wells Fargo Bank
1994
Richard C. Blum, BS 58, MBA 59
Managing Partner, Richard C. Blum & Associates
Eugene Trefethen
Former President, Kaiser Industries Corporation
Lifetime Achievement Award
1993
William F. Cronk, BS 65
President & Director, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc.
1992
Paul H. Stephens, BS 67, MBA 69
General Partner, Robertson, Stephens & Co.
1991
Gerson P. Bakar, BS 48
President, Gerson Bakar & Associates
1989
Clarence W. Houghton, BS 60
Retired Partner, Deloitte, Haskins & Sells
1988
W. Michael Blumenthal, BS 51
Chairman & CEO, Unisys Corporation
1987
Theodore J. Saenger, BS 51
Former President & CEO, Pacific Bell
1986
Donald G. Fisher, BS 50
Chairman & CEO, The GAP, Inc.
1985
Steven V. White, BS 51
President, Bechtel Investments, Inc.
1984
Leo B. Helzel, MBA 68
Counsel, Jacob, Sills & Coblentz
1983
Robert A. Lutz, BS 61, MBA 62
Executive VP, Ford International Automotive
1982
James R. Harvey, BS 56, MBA 63
Chairman, President & CEO, Transamerica Corporation
1975
William Burns, Sr.
Professor, Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley
1974
E.T. Grether, MA 23, PhD 24
Former Dean & Professor Emeritus, Haas School of Business, University of California
Berkeley
1973
Michael N. Chetkovich, BS 39, MBA 40
Managing Partner, Deloitte, Haskins & Sells
1972
Daniel E. Koshland
Levi Strauss & Co.
1971
William M. Witter
Honorary Chairman, Dean Witter & Co.
1970
Stephen D. Bechtel, Sr.
Sr. Director, Bechtel Group, Inc.
Leading Through Innovation Award
This award celebrates Haas alumni who have achieved excellence as innovative leaders and who embody the Defining Leadership Principles, thus serving as exemplars to others in the Berkeley Haas community.
2019
Paul Rice, MBA 96
Founder & CEO, Fair Trade USA
Honored for his innovative and impactful work with the Fair Trade movement, which allows everyone along a supply chain to create positive social and environmental change.
2018
Brett Wilson, MBA 07
Vice President, Advertising, Adobe Systems
Co-Founder and CEO, TubeMogul
Recognized for co-founding TubeMogul and for revolutionizing digital advertising.
2017
John Hanke, MBA 96
CEO and Co-Founder, Niantic, Inc.
In recognition of his creation of cultural phenomena, including Pokémon Go and Google Earth, Maps, and Street View, that have forever altered the way we interact with the world.
2016
Albert Lee, MBA 04
Vice President, Under Armour Connected Fitness
Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, MyFitnessPal
Recognized for helping build MyFitnessPal into the world’s largest health and fitness community, making it easy for millions to lead healthier lives.
2015
Danae Ringelmann, MBA 08, and Eric Schell, MBA 08
Co-Founders, Indiegogo
Honored for permanently changing the financing ecosystem for the better by revolutionizing the crowdfunding industry and helping turn dreams into reality.
2014
Ralph Bahna, MBA 65
Founder and Chairman, Masterworks Development
Founder, Club Quarters
Chairman, Priceline.com
Awarded posthumously for his pioneering advancements in the travel industry as well as his revolutionary vision that continues to influence the Berkeley Haas curriculum.
2013
Kristin Groos Richmond, MBA 06, and Kirsten Saenz Tobey, MBA 06
Co-Founders, Revolution Foods
Honored for their success improving the lives of school children nationwide by providing healthy food that gives them the energy they need to excel as students.
2012
Patrick Awuah, MBA 99
Founder, Ashesi University, Ghana
Recognized for his bold, innovative leadership in the founding of Ashesi University, a private liberal arts university that is educating future ethical, entrepreneurial leaders who possess the courage to transform Africa.
2011
Bob Lutz, BS 61, MBA 62
Retired Vice Chairman of Global Product Development, General Motors
Author, Car Guys vs. Bean Counters
Named for his efforts to foster a culture of creativity in the automotive industry and to develop processes for continuous innovation.
2010
Tom Kelley, MBA 83
General Manager, IDEO
Author, The Art of Innovation
In recognition of his contributions to advancing the understanding and practice of innovation.
2009
Henry Chesbrough, PhD 97
Adjunct Professor, Haas School of Business
Author, Open Innovation
Selected for his pioneering scholarly efforts in open innovation, innovation in the services sector, and the processes of industrial research and development.
Raymond E. Miles Service Award
The Raymond E. Miles Service Award was created by the Cal Business Alumni Association in honor of former Dean Raymond Miles (1982–1990). Dean Miles believed in the value of the alumni network and was a strong supporter of the Cal Business Alumni Association, now known as the Haas Alumni Network.
2019 – Anthony “Tony” Chan, BS 74
2018 – Abbey Breshears, MBA 15 and Brandon Doll, MBA 14
2017 – Monica Stevens, MBA 96
2016 – Tony Brekke, MBA 03
2015 – Lucky Sandhu, BS 96, EMBA 15
2014 – George A. Willman, MBA 93
2013 – Marty McMahon, MBA 01
2012 – Ann Hsu, MSEE 91, MBA 98
2011 – David R. Eckles, MBA 73
2010 – Marcelo Vasquez, MBA 02
2009 – Martha Gerhan, BCEMBA 03/04
2008 – Jack Russi, BS 82
2007 – Dean Suzuki, MBA 69
2006 – Steve Peletz, MBA 99
2005 – Edward J. (BS 40) & Mollie Arnold
2004 – Ernie G. Bumatay, MBA 73
2003 – Jonathan Harris, MBA 96
2002 – William Ledeen, MBA 86
2001 – Nancy L. McKinney, BA/BS 82; Tom Broderick, BS 73, MBA 74
2000 – JoAnn Dunaway, MBA 92; Rick Holmstrom, MBA 88
1999 – Andre Marquis, MBA 96; Steve Etter, MBA 89
1998 – Wendy Larson, MBA 93; Matthew Lempres, MBA 82
1997 – Marc Desoer, MBA 77; Carl Welte, MBA 64; William Cannady, MBA 60
1996 – Kathleen Correia, BS 76; Allan Herzog, BS 61; Lawrence Jones, BS 69
1995 – William Ledeen, MBA 86; Lawrence Johnson, BS 73; Scott Erickson, BS 77
1994 – Theodore J. Zouzounis, BS 72
1993 – Peter Meeks, BS 68; Ken Cohen, MBA 77; Karen Aaker, MBA 83
1992 – Stan Breitbard, BMA 63; Brad Howard, BS 79; Howard Karr, BA 60
1991 – Ted Evans, MBA 64; Ben Priest, BS 58; Merrell Skeels, BS 39
1990 – Rick Rickard, MBA 62; Schuyler Bailey, BS 64, MBA 65
Cora Jane Flood Award
The Cora Jane Flood Award was established in 2007 and recognizes an alumna, friend or volunteer who has made a significant impact on the Haas School of Business through her philanthropy.
Flood provided the seed money for the College of Commerce on September 13, 1898 when she donated a Menlo Park residence and 550-acre tract of land to UC Berkeley. This gift was the largest private contribution in the university’s then 30-year history and established the college now known as the Haas School of Business.
2017 – Margo Alexander, FTMBA 68
2015– Gail Maderis, BS 78
2014 – Roslyn Payne
2013– Carol Meyer, BS 69, FTMBA 71
2012 – Susan Chamberlin, FTMBA 87
2007 – Jennifer Maxwell