Stay up to date with all the pertinent email communications as we gear up for WE Innovate!
This is a living page and will continually be edited.
Bear Necessities
Click here to find copies of previous Bear Necessities, our weekly Thursday newsletter.
Make sure to check it out each week, or read the archives to ensure you stay up to date.
Program Office Emails
Hello, everyone!
In preparation for the WE Innovate check-in sessions, we are asking for you to fill out a short survey about your preferences and other pertinent logistical questions for the WE Innovate weekend at the Meritage Resort & Spa from Friday January 13 – Sunday January 15.
Please fill out our brief survey by Monday November 7 at 11:59PM PT** (CalNet authentication required). The WE Innovate team will work to assign students to the area of interest that excites you most (see below), however we cannot promise you will be placed in your top choice.
** If you do not fill out the survey by the deadline, the WE Innovate team will randomly choose your domain assignment. **
WE Innovate Domain Selection
The WE Innovate weekend course focuses on using strategic foresight work to identify how technology (and other) changes might disrupt industries and direct innovation in the next decade. Whether thought of as exponential change, digital transformation, or a fourth industrial revolution, tools for assessing and responding to accelerating change are more important than ever.
Rather than focusing on doom and gloom scenarios, we’ll be working on how we might drive innovation towards supporting a “good life” future, where both our own communities — and the 9 billion people on the planet — live well.
You are being asked now to choose the area you would like to focus on for WE Innovate. You will work in this domain with others in your class that share your interest, in both the check-in sessions and in Napa. These areas are purposefully broad so that your team has room for a creative and original work stream. Please familiarize yourself with the domain options for imagining the good life.
You will be notified of your domain and associated pre-work in advance of the check-in sessions. Please watch your email for more information. If you do not fill out the survey, we will randomly assign you to an area of focus.
Check-In Session
As a reminder, we expect that you will attend the virtual check-in session on the same day of the week that you attended Fundamentals of Design Thinking.
- Wednesday November 30, 6-8PM PT
- Thursday December 1, 6-8PM PT
- Sunday December 4, 2-4PM PT
If you need to switch sections, please let us know by filling out this form by Sunday November 27 at 11:59PM PT.
Thanks,
The WE Innovate Team
Hello EWMBA students,
I hope you are all doing well. Congratulations for nearly finishing your core portion of the program! As you all know, the final core requirement is the WE Innovate weekend in Napa.
Domain Assignment
The domain you have been assigned to for both the check-in session and the WE Innovate weekend is: [Domain Assignment]
Check-In Session
As a reminder, we expect that you will attend the virtual check-in session on the same day of the week that you attended Fundamentals of Design Thinking. Zoom link will be shared closer to the date.
- Wednesday November 30, 6-8PM PT
- Thursday December 1, 6-8PM PT
- Sunday December 4, 2-4PM PT
If you need to switch sections, please let us know by filling out this form by Sunday November 27 at 11:59PM PT.
Please look out for an announcement from the WE Innovate teaching team on bCourses with more information about the assignment that will be due prior to the WE Innovate check-in session. This assignment will involve some thoughtful research about your domain.
During the mandatory WE Innovate check-in session, you will be identifying key signals and drivers of change in your domain using a strategic foresight framework. Once in Napa, you will be working on a team in a “Sprint” format, using this information to identify a particular opportunity, and develop disruptive innovations that could move us in a positive direction while creating new business opportunity.
Weekend Preview
The academic focus for WE Innovate weekend is “Innovation and Foresight” work – which involves planning for exponential change, and applying human centered design and other tools to potential long-term industry disruptions and transformation. Working in teams, you’ll be using foresight methods to develop concepts that support the “The Good Life” – a “preferred future” scenario where innovation, growth, and transformation lead to a better world for our communities, society, and the planet. While your teams will be formed in January, you will be working with others in your domain during our check-in sessions.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the WE Innovate check-in session!
The WE Innovate Team
Hello,
I hope you are all doing well. We are gearing up for WE Innovate, scheduled for Friday January 13, 2023 (AM) – Sunday January 15, 2023 (PM) held at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, CA.
To prepare for the academic retreat, you will be required to attend the WE Innovate Check-In Session, which will be held virtually on the same day of the week that your Fundamentals of Design Thinking course took place. For you, the date and time for the session will be:
Wednesday November 30, 2022
6PM – 8PM
Please Register to the Zoom session here (with your @berkeley email address).
If you need to switch sections, please let us know by filling out this form by Sunday November 27 at 11:59PM PT. If you have already requested a switch, we will send confirmations on Monday November 28.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
The WE Innovate Team
Hello,
I hope you are all doing well. We are gearing up for WE Innovate, scheduled for Friday January 13, 2023 (AM) – Sunday January 15, 2023 (PM) held at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, CA.
To prepare for the academic retreat, you will be required to attend the WE Innovate Check-In Session, which will be held virtually on the same day of the week that your Fundamentals of Design Thinking course took place. For you, the date and time for the session will be:
Thursday December 1, 2022
6PM – 8PM
Please Register to the Zoom session here (with your @berkeley email address).
If you need to switch sections, please let us know by filling out this form by Sunday November 27 at 11:59PM PT. If you have already requested a switch, we will send confirmations on Monday November 28.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
The WE Innovate Team
Hello,
I hope you are all doing well. We are gearing up for WE Innovate, scheduled for Friday January 13, 2023 (AM) – Sunday January 15, 2023 (PM) held at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, CA.
To prepare for the academic retreat, you will be required to attend the WE Innovate Check-In Session, which will be held virtually on the same day of the week that your Fundamentals of Design Thinking course took place. For you, the date and time for the session will be:
Sunday December 4, 2022
2PM – 4PM
Please Register to the Zoom session here (with your @berkeley email address).
If you need to switch sections, please let us know by filling out this form by Sunday November 27 at 11:59PM PT. If you have already requested a switch, we will send confirmations on Monday November 28.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
The WE Innovate Team
We hope you had a great holiday break! We look forward to seeing everyone and starting the Spring semester next week at WE Innovate on Jan 13-15 at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley. Please review the following details below:
1. Weekend Schedule
Click on the link to review the WE Innovate 2023 Weekend Schedule (subject to change).
This year, we will be going digital, utilizing bCourses for information about the weekend! On the WE Innovate bCourses site, you will find everything you need for the weekend, including a schedule, logistics, information about the faculty and speakers, and any relevant announcements.
Make sure to download the “Canvas Student” app on your phone before the weekend. To do this, follow these steps:
- Download the app on your smartphone (Apple App Store, Google Play)
- Click “Find my school”
- Search for “UC Berkeley”
- Login with your CalNet ID and Passphrase
- Find the course “EWMBA 296-4: WE Innovate”
- Under settings, make sure to enable push notifications to ensure you don’t miss any announcements over the weekend.
Please note that the schedule is tentative and may adjust slightly before the weekend, but please plan on arriving at the resort no later than 10AM so our first session can start on time. Transportation to the hotel is not provided but we encourage you to carpool with your classmates.
2. Academic Requirements
WE Innovate is a requirement for graduation and attendance at ALL sessions from Friday through Sunday is mandatory to receive a passing grade. Students arriving late or leaving early will not pass. Other grading criteria for your work at WE Innovate are posted on the bCourses site.
3. Event Liability Waiver
As the event is off-site, all students are required to complete the WE Innovate 2023 Event Liability Waiver prior to check-in. Please digitally sign by Thursday Jan 12 at 5PM PT.
4. Hotel Accommodations
Hotel Check-in: Rooms will NOT be ready for check-in immediately upon arrival. Please keep your luggage stowed in your vehicle when you arrive at the resort. Park in the main lots adjacent to the main entrance of the resort.
Rooms will be made available for check-in Friday evening. Valid government issued ID (e.g. driver’s license) will be required by the hotel for check-in.
Self parking is free of charge at the resort for this weekend. Most rooms are within a few minutes walking distance. Per the Meritage Resort FAQ, there are six ChargePoint charging stations for EVs. Please inquire with the hotel valet for more information and parking spot location.
5. Dress Code
Dress code for the academic portion of the WE Innovate weekend is casual and comfortable. See below for more details on the suggested dress code for the WE Innovate dinner and party on Saturday Jan 14.
The current weather forecast predicts rain over the weekend in Napa. While most of the sessions will be held indoors, you may need to occasionally be outdoors as you walk through the property. Please be prepared with comfortable layers and umbrellas.
6. Saturday Night Back to the ‘90s Party
Remember tracksuits, platform shoes, spiky hair, Backstreet Boys vs NSync and West Wing? Come dressed in the last of your ‘90s digs, your perfect Ally McBeal look, or channel your inner Freaks and Geeks. Need inspiration? We’ve got your back with some cult classics and key pop culture moments of the ‘90s.
7. Guests & Significant Others
Unfortunately we cannot allow guests, significant others, children, etc. during this weekend, as it is an academic course and space and resources are limited.
8. #EWweinnovate and #BerkeleyHaas
Don’t forget to tweet and post about WE Innovate weekend on social media! Be sure to use #EWweinnovate and #BerkeleyHaas and @haasewmba to show the spirit of the weekend!
If you have any questions in the meantime, please let us know and we look forward to a fun and memorable weekend!
Regards,
Avni & the EWMBA Program Office Team
Hello
We hope you enjoyed spending time with each other at WE Innovate this weekend in Napa!
WE Innovate Survey
We regularly seek feedback on our major events and would appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete a short survey about your WE Innovate experience.
WE Innovate Photos
Once we receive the photos from the photographer we will share those in a google drive with you so you can enjoy the memories you’ve made during WE Innovate.
In the meantime, if you have any photos from the weekend, please share them in this google folder so we can all reminisce about the weekend (CalNet authentication required)!
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at [email protected].
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Avni and the EW Program Office