CRB Student Reflection: Forging My Own Path Through Berkeley-Haas
As I approach the end of my undergraduate journey at the Haas School of Business, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the path that brought me here and the road ahead—not just for myself, but for the broader community of students navigating today’s evolving business landscape. Coming from a non-traditional background as a community college transfer student, my experience at UC Berkeley has been nothing short of transformative. As a mixed-identifying Filipino-American, and the daughter of an immigrant, I always believed in business as a force for opportunity, but I wasn’t always sure where I fit in that picture. Cal changed that. Haas changed that. And working at the Center for Responsible Business (CRB) deeply changed that.
At Haas, I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in conversations around purpose-driven leadership, to work alongside some of the most inspiring managers, faculty, and students I’ve ever met—individuals who showed me that business can (and must) prioritize accountability, impact, human rights, and equity. As a finance-focused student heading into the asset management industry, this work expanded my perspective: I began to see how these principles aren’t fringe—they’re reshaping entire industries, investor behaviors, and consumer expectations.
But today’s business students are also stepping into a world that’s turbulent and often contradictory. The job market today is defined by dualities: booming sectors like AI and clean energy coexist with hiring slowdowns in tech, consulting, and traditional finance. Economic forecasts continue to warn of a potential recession, and political rhetoric—such as renewed efforts to defund DEI and ESG initiatives—has made some companies more hesitant to engage publicly on values.
Job-seeking students are feeling that tension acutely. Risk tolerance has gone down. Conversations are more pragmatic. Still, there’s a through line of resilience, with students making thoughtful choices about long-term fit, value alignment, and impact. Yet the lens of responsible business continues to influence decision-making at every level. The conversations I was a part of expanded my view of finance, showing me that sustainability, human rights, and environmental impact aren’t separate from business strategy—they are the strategy. João Ricardo Kumelys, an MBA student, noted during our CRB and BEACN Graduate Student Panel Event:
“Sustainability is a risk conversation now. It’s not just environmental—it’s labor risk, union risk, reputational risk. Once you frame it that way, people pay attention.”
This kind of framing is essential. It reminds us that sustainability and ethics aren’t add-ons, they’re integral to long-term business strategy and profitability. Impact isn’t just a metric to be reached, nor is it just a buzzword that fuels conversations, it’s an important contributor to success. Whether through investment criteria, firm engagement, strategic partnerships, or industry research, we all have levers we can pull. That kind of framing helped me understand that values-based work isn’t just morally right, it’s strategically smart. And it’s happening everywhere.
Still, pursuing purpose in your career isn’t always easy. Progress can feel slow, especially when you’re trying to influence systems from within. One of the most moving quotes I heard during my time at the CRB came from Smruti Govan, during our Human Rights and Business series. Her message, especially for students hoping to drive impact, was simple yet powerful:
“One of the most important skills is the ability to influence… It’s this unit of organizing change, whether that’s advocacy or awareness-based internal change.”
She reminded us that progress, whether that’s personal or professional, doesn’t always look fast or flashy—but it still matters:
“Sometimes it can feel like you’re moving uphill very slowly, but it’s still progress.”
As a woman of color breaking into a male-dominated industry, and community college transfer finding her way within a huge four-year institution, my path at Haas didn’t exactly follow the traditional route. I’ve faced moments of doubt, of not knowing where I belonged, of wondering if there was space for my voice in the world of business. But my involvement in the CRB reminded me that belonging isn’t just about fitting in, it’s about showing up fully, and helping shape the spaces you’re in.
Haas taught me that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about having confidence in yourself without attitude. It means questioning the status quo when others may not; it means creating opportunities for growth and learning as a student always, even surpassing the boundaries of the classroom. It’s about knowing your values and having the courage to act on them. It’s about impact—going beyond yourself.
To anyone feeling unsure about their next step: you’re not alone. So many students are navigating doubts, pivots, and pressures behind the scenes. But this is also a moment of possibility. Whether you’re going into finance, tech, consulting, or social impact—don’t let fear crowd out your values. Don’t settle for work that doesn’t make you feel proud. The world needs business leaders who care, who question, who build with integrity. And the path toward that kind of leadership doesn’t begin once you’re hired—it starts now.
About the Author: Caitlyn Richardson is CRB’s 2023-25 Student Administrative Assistant. She is a 2025 Haas graduate majoring in Business Administration.
