Kicking off the Berkeley Haas spring semester 2023 IBD program!
The Berkeley Haas spring semester 2023 IBD class kicked off on January 19th with a Chou Hall room packed full of 32 IBDers eager to discover their new project clients and locations. Individual IBD project details were announced in this year’s “Big Reveal” presentation, led by IBD faculty Whitney Hischier and Judy Hopelain. Drum rolls on the tables filled the room with great anticipation before each project was revealed. After each project announcement, an introductory video pre-recorded by the IBD project client was presented and received warmly by that project’s student team.
Last year marked the return to IBD international student travel after COVID restrictions, with IBDers once again getting back out into the world to complete their consulting projects. This year, following an excellent MBA student turnout to our 2023 IBD program information session, we doubled the size of the IBD class to include 32 total students divided into eight project teams. These IBD student teams now face the task of collaborating with organizations across Asia, Europe, and Africa in order to solve their highest level strategic business challenges. At the end of the spring semester, our IBD student teams will travel to their respective project countries for two weeks to conclude their research and deliver final presentations to their client organizations.
Recently we asked a few of our incoming IBDers what they thought about their newly announced projects, and what they are looking forward to in this year’s IBD program.
MBA candidate Michael LaFramboise is part of an IBD team working with a SaaS software company based out of Helsinki, Finland. When asked how he felt about his IBD project, Michael explained, “I’m very excited about my project and location. I come from an engineering and entrepreneurship background so an earlier stage SaaS company is right where I would like to explore. (The) location is great, I’m looking forward to working in and learning in a Nordic country.”
MBA candidate Lauren Zinser is working with her IBD team on an education technology startup in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She explained that over the coming months she is looking forward to working closely with her client’s team, and to gaining a deep understanding of the education landscape and opportunities in southeast Asia. Lauren is grateful for the opportunity to travel to Cambodia in May, especially given the travel restrictions over the last few years, and expects that working in-person will be particularly informative, impactful, and meaningful for both their client and their team. Lastly, she added, “I am also eager to learn from my IBD teammates, who bring impressive and diverse skills, and enhance my consulting skills in advance of my internship this summer.”
Working closely and providing insight and guidance to these students on their projects will be IBD Faculty Director Whitney Hischier and IBD Faculty Mentor Judy Hopelain. We are glad to see Whitney and Judy reunited this year to teach the latest IBD course.
The Berkeley Haas IBD program has enlisted an exceptional group of FTMBA students, faculty and project clients this year. We want to thank everyone involved in the current program, and wish all of you an incredible IBD experience in 2023!
