Lisa Nickels

Axe '25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Lisa via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Director of Admissions at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Immediate MBA Goals: I am utilizing this MBA to explore other careers within higher education and edtech in hopes of pivoting to a new career during the program.
Fun Fact: I rarely say no to a trip that involves hiking and camping.
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: I am most excited about getting to know the newbies of course!

Ben Niekro

Blue '25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Ben via LinkedIn
Current Occupation:Supply Chain Manager
Immediate MBA Goals: Sustainable Supply Chain and Operations
Fun Fact: I was the social chair for Blue’25
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Meeting all the incoming students and making sure everyone has a good time

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Ansu George

Gold ’25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Ansu via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Sr Product Manager
Immediate MBA Goals: Career growth/Entrepreneurship
Fun Fact: Spend a part of the summer in Peru embarking in the 4 day Inca trail expedition
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Working with fellow Hassies, getting to know more incoming Haas MBAs & excited to show them a great time!

Kevin Ong

Gold ‘25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Kevin via LinkedIn
Current Occupation:Sr. Environmental Program Specialist at Recology
Immediate MBA Goals: My immediate post-MBA goals are to leverage the skills and relationships gained through the program to advance meaningful change in the environmental sector, specifically the resource recovery industry.
Fun Fact: I have been studying and teaching kung-fu for over 20 years.
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Getting to know and building relationships with the EWMBA Class of 2026!

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Frank Itthipalkul

Axe '25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Frank via LinkedIn
Current Occupation:Software Engineering Manager
Immediate MBA Goals: Continue developing myself as an engineering leader
Fun Fact: I’m a huge Potterhead, and a foodie.
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: I’m most excited to meet you all and answer any questions you may have about the program, Haas, and anything else at all!

Karen Strolia

Axe '25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Karen via LinkedIn
Current Occupation:Chief Operating Officer at a nonprofit focused on ending homelessness in Marin County
Immediate MBA Goals: Consultant focused on nurturing front line staff and coaching mid-level leadership
Fun Fact: I can wiggle my ears!
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: I am so excited to get to meet new colleagues and can’t wait to help make them feel as comfortable as possible throughout a fun, fast-paced experience!

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Prachi Mehta

Oski ’24

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Prachi via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Manager, Energy Market Research
Immediate MBA Goals: Business development/PM at a battery/circular economy company
Fun Fact: My name means morning and I am a morning person!
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Witnessing the amalgamation of excitement, hopes, and dreams over one awesome fantastic weekend!

Vineeth Patil

Oski ‘25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Vineeth via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Product Manager
Immediate MBA Goals: Grow as a Product Leader
Fun Fact: I am great at puns and dad jokes!
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: I am excited to welcome the new Haas Class of 2026 and meet interesting people!

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Scott Diddams

Lux ’25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Scott via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Product Manager
Immediate MBA Goals: Move into international aid or refugee response organizations in an operations, finance, or program management role
Fun Fact: I got suspended from school in the 8th grade for taking apart my school-issued laptop and putting it back together…minus the school-managed restrictions…
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Making new connections and being part of such an energizing event

Kate Wiechmann

Lux ‘25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Kate via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: trust and financial advisor, wealth management
Immediate MBA Goals: continue working in same industry/company but at a higher level
Fun Fact: I’ve gone skydiving 3 times!
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Watching the incoming class get to know each other and have a great time!

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Chris Bernhart

Axe '25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Chris via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Program Specialist for Special Education @ Rocketship Public Schools
Immediate MBA Goals: Pivot to ed-tech strategy or operations
Fun Fact: I am an identical twin!
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: I am excited to support the facilitation of a memorable experience for incoming students so that they can build connections, understanding, and community at Haas.

Emily Harmon

Lux '25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Emily via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: HR Business Partner
Immediate MBA Goals:career advancement or career switching, my second year will decide!
Fun Fact:I love to bake! It started during Covid when I entertained myself by recreating the challenges from the Great British Baking Show
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Meeting the new class! I was part of the first EVER Lux cohort, we didn’t have other cohorts to talk to about our unique experience, and I am so excited to be that resource for the new Luxies and witness the expansion of our program!

Ayush Kalani

Axe ‘25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Ayush via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Product Manager
Immediate MBA Goals: Entrepreneurship
Fun Fact: I am a certified sky diver.
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: Meeting the class of 2026 and reliving the wonderful WE Launch weekend vicariously through them but most importantly, getting the class of 2026 excited about what lies ahead of them and what the Berkeley community has to offer. Go Bears!

Maeve Peterson

Lux '25

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Connect to Maeve via LinkedIn
Current Occupation: Marketing Science
Immediate MBA Goals: Career switch 🙂
Fun Fact: I love going to movies and then diving into the dirty details on Reddit
What I’m most excited about WE Launch: HANGING OUT WITH EVERYONE

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