Pausing, Pivoting, and Reimagining Impact: Reflections from the CRB x BEACN Grad Panel
On March 5th, BEACN and the Haas Center for Responsible Business (CRB) co-hosted a panel that went far beyond the typical graduate school Q&A. João Ricardo K., Francesca Bitton, Margo Wilwerding, and Katiza Mitrovic—graduate students in the Haas MBA, MBA/MCS, and MPP programs—offered candid reflections on navigating impact-driven careers, confronting institutional inertia, and the difficult but worthwhile journey of investing in oneself.
For those of us in the room, their stories underscored a powerful truth: career growth is not a ladder, but a winding road. Grad school, they suggested, can be both a catalyst for transformation and a space to recalibrate your compass.
From left to right: graduate students Margo Wilwerding (MCS ’26), Ricardo Kumelys (Haas ’25), Francesca Bitton (MPP ’25), Katiza Mitrovic (Haas ’25), and Missy Martin (Haas ’26) pose with undergrad BEACN Co-Presidents, Rohin Juneja (far left) and Emma Azhan (second to the right), at a CRB grad student panel co-hosted with the BEACN leaders.
Grad School as a Strategic Pause
One of the first threads to emerge was how graduate programs serve not just as academic environments, but as intentional pauses from the relentless pace of professional life. Ricardo shared, “Undergrad was for academic skills. Grad school—at least the MBA—is where you test areas you’re not able to test when working.” That testing ground, he explained, allows students to probe their values and try “hypotheses” about their interests in low-risk settings like classes or club leadership roles.
Francesca built on this idea, describing the shift back to academia as jarring—but valuable. “School is not nine to five, it is 24/7,” she said. “But it’s also a space where you can step back and think about what you want to solve, what you don’t think you can learn anymore on your own.”
Margo echoed the importance of making space for reflection, calling graduate school a time of deliberate trial and error. “Grad school opened 1,000 doors,” she said. “Even though I had an initial idea, it was overwhelming. But testing things helped me narrow down. And learning what isn’t for you is just as valuable.”
Culture, Community, and the Power of People
Across the board, the panelists emphasized that people—not just programs—make the grad school experience worthwhile. Katiza noted, “The best part is the community—you’re surrounded by brilliant people who are excited about their fields.” Ricardo added, “My classmates are the program. I’m inspired by them. Motivated. Every class, I learn from them.”
The panelists encouraged students not to overlook culture fit when choosing where to go. “Don’t feel guilty for choosing a program based on culture,” Ricardo said. “We say the best part of the experience is the people—but that’s because we fit in the culture.”
This sense of belonging and shared purpose, especially among peers who care deeply about social and environmental change, came up repeatedly as the ‘X-factor’ of a meaningful graduate experience.
Making Change From Within
While the panel touched on many challenges, a unifying theme was how to drive change from inside the system—whether through corporate sustainability, supply chain ethics, or social impact consulting.
Francesca shared a powerful example from her work at Levi’s, where she helped reshape their global worker well-being strategy. “We made the case that what’s good for workers is good for business,” she explained. “You spend less money on recruiting, fewer mistakes get made… the business case matters.”
Ricardo emphasized the importance of framing, especially when business leaders aren’t initially aligned. “Sustainability is a risk conversation now,” he said. “It’s not just environmental—it’s labor risk, union risk, reputational risk. Once you frame it that way, people pay attention.”
Margo highlighted another strategic insight: “Every job can be a climate job. Whatever you’re doing, there are levers you can pull to support more sustainable outcomes.”
Career Paths Are Not Permanent
For students feeling pressure to “figure it all out,” the panelists offered reassurance that career decisions can—and often should—evolve. “Your professional decisions aren’t permanent,” Ricardo said. “You can pivot. And you should.”
Francesca reminded students that even in well-established organizations, things aren’t always completely figured out behind the scenes. That ambiguity, she noted, is a normal part of most career paths—and a good reason to stay grounded in your values and build a network you can rely on through moments of change. Whether it was navigating an unsuccessful internal pitch, as Margo recounted, or switching industries entirely, as several panelists had, the consensus was clear: flexibility and self-awareness are more important than having a flawless plan.
The Real Cost of Growth
The panel also offered frank and practical advice on funding grad school—a concern top-of-mind for many students in the room. Francesca received a significant scholarship, but cautioned that not everyone is so lucky. “Don’t just go to grad school to have fun for two years,” she advised. “You need a clear reason. It’s worth it—but it’s not feasible for everyone.”
Katiza and Margo spoke about using roles like graduate student instructors (GSIs) and campus researchers to defray costs and build professional relationships. Others shared about fellowships, nonprofit support, and even retroactive employer sponsorship. The overall message: it’s doable and worthwhile, but it requires strategic planning.
The Long Game of Impact
Ultimately, what this panel made clear is that there’s no one-size-fits-all path to doing meaningful work. For some, grad school is a bridge into new sectors; for others, it’s a much-needed pause to re-center values and retool. But for all four panelists, it was a choice driven by purpose—not prestige.
Yes, it can be expensive. Yes, it’s intense. But as Francesca reminded us, “The things you want will happen—as long as you keep growing and building.” Whether that growth happens in grad school or on the job, the important thing is staying open, self-aware, and unapologetically committed to your impact.
Want to get involved with BEACN?
BEACN (Bay-area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network) is UC Berkeley’s premier student-run undergraduate sustainability consulting group. Founded in 2006, BEACN partners with Fortune 500s, public agencies, startups, and nonprofits on semester-long projects that span everything from climate policy and financial modeling to market research, GIS, and environmental justice—all grounded in sustainability.
Whether you’re passionate about business, data science, engineering, policy, or social justice, there’s a place for you in BEACN.
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About the Author: Rohin Juneja is an undergraduate double majoring in Computer and Atmospheric Sciences (’25) and Co-President of BEACN.
