Humans of Haas: Joshua Tran
Why did you want to study business at Haas?
Throughout all my life, I’ve been really passionate about corporate social responsibility initiatives, and want to use my experiences to create a catalyst for positive social impact in my academic and professional future. After joining the Bay Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network (BEACN), a consulting organization focused on sustainable business solutions, I saw that by being a student in Haas, I would be able to tie in social responsibility with my passions in sustainability to revolutionize how businesses operate for the better. Integrating sustainability initiatives is important for businesses, because the ideas of sustainability and profits are not mutually exclusive but rather intertwined.
What’s your favorite class at Haas?
UGBA 107 (The Social, Political, and Ethical Environment of Business) was my favorite class, because it involved my passion for social responsibility as I examined current ethical issues that businesses can address in our society, which is becoming more progressive and socially-conscious. Being able to have industry leaders from corporate responsibility sectors come to class and talk about their experiences of running a business, while also driving forward social impact initiatives, was really inspiring.
Do you have other academic or career interests besides business?
I’m in a human-centered design fellowship called the Fung Fellowship for Wellness and Technology, which looks at how we can apply technology solutions to health issues that impact marginalized or low-income communities. I’m learning more about product design and how technology can be developed to be more accessible in the healthcare sector, which is something else I’m interested in.
What’s your favorite part of being a student at Haas?
Interacting with other Haas students. The students here are very driven and they’re apart of different organizations, so everyone comes from so many unique backgrounds and perspectives. It’s interesting to see how business is applicable to everyone’s own unique interests.
