Interview with IBD’s new IBD Program Coordinator: Precious Ward
The IBD program is excited to announce the newest member of our team, Precious Ward. Like our first year FTMBA students (Class of 2021), Precious joined Berkeley Haas last week and is now settling into her new role as the IBD Program Coordinator. In addition to supporting the IBD team of faculty and staff, Precious will work closely with IBD students and clients on all aspects of project travel, including the administration of overseas flights and accommodations. She will play an integral part in making sure that IBD students arrive in their project countries safely and on time, and that they have an exceptional experience while working on their projects and living abroad for three weeks in May and June.
We recently interviewed Precious to learn more about her, and to let the IBD community know what motivates her in her new position with IBD. Please see our interview with Precious here.
IBD Question: What made you want to apply for the IBD Program Coordinator role?
Precious Ward: “Learning that the Haas School of Business has a program that gives MBA students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom by helping businesses around the world intrigued me. Although the job description for the IBD Program Coordinator position demonstrated that there is a lot of work involved with orchestrating the success of this program, the responsibilities appealed to me. For one, I love working with students, plus I find it very rewarding and satisfying to coordinate programs. Not to mention, I love a challenge. I love positions that will not only challenge me, but also allow me to develop expertise in areas outside of my existing skill set. The IBD Program Coordinator position possesses all the elements I look for in a position. That’s what led me to apply.”
IBD Question: What are you most excited about in taking on this role?
Precious Ward: “I am excited about meeting the incoming IBD students and having the opportunity to sit in on class lectures. I am also excited about joining the UC Berkeley community. I am looking forward to exploring the campus and taking advantage of the resources available to me as a UC Berkeley employee.”
IBD Question: Tell us about your past roles or jobs.
Precious Ward: “My overarching professional expertise is in youth development, college counseling, and program management. My past roles have involved developing and teaching life skills curriculum; providing academic, financial aid, and college advisement; motivational speaking; running youth development programs; and managing programs in higher educational settings.”
IBD Question: What are your future career goals?
Precious Ward: My goal is to earn a PhD from UC Berkeley in either psychology or social welfare. I want my own private practice, and I plan to be a professor, researcher, author, and motivational speaker. Ideally, I will teach and do research at UC Berkeley. Ultimately, I want to work for UC Berkeley for the long haul and retire from Berkeley.
IBD Question: What do you like to do for fun? Do you have any hobbies?
Precious Ward: “I am very family oriented so I spend a lot of time hanging out with my family. My mother co-founded a social club on the motorcycle club set. We don’t ride motorcycles though. The men are required to ride motorcycles but the women are not, that’s why female clubs are predominantly called social clubs or SC’s. Our SC is comprised of my mom, my aunties, and my sisters (all family). We party and travel together, and we do community service. Every third Sunday of every month we go to an impoverished community and serve food to those in need. We’ve been doing this for over five years consistently. We pay for everything out of our own pockets and we only serve home cooked meals. Our motto is: if we won’t eat it, we won’t serve it. I love serving my community: it’s a lot of fun. In addition to hanging out with my social club, I enjoy playing with my nieces and nephews, and spending time with friends. I also enjoy reading self-help/personal development books, watching motivational videos on YouTube, relaxing near water, meditating — oh, and taking naps when I can. I love naps!”
End of Interview:
Thank you Precious. We look forward to working with you at IBD!
