At Berkeley Haas, we believe that a fundamental step in redefining the business leader is to get our culture right, because this culture encourages students to develop the mindset and behaviors of innovative leaders. Berkeley Haas students, faculty, and alumni live our distinctive culture out loud by embracing our four Defining Leadership Principles:

Question the Status Quo: We thrive at the epicenter of innovation. We make progress by speaking our minds even when it challenges convention. We measure success not by incremental progress but by disruption of mindsets and markets. Confidence Without Attitude: We make decisions based on evidence and analysis, giving us the confidence to act without arrogance. We lead through trust and collaboration. Students Always: We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. This is not a place for those who feel they have learned all they need to learn. Beyond Yourself: We shape our world by leading ethically and responsibly. As stewards of our enterprises, we take the longer view in our decisions and actions. This often means putting larger interests above our own.

Our culture fosters new thinking and new tools to change careers—and markets. Across every dimension, Haas students, faculty, and staff are characterized by the high quality of their work, their exceptional talents and creativity, their diversity of experience, and their commitment to inclusiveness.

2020 marks the 10th anniversary since Berkeley Haas has codified these Defining Leadership Principles. However, the culture they exemplify has always been part of the school’s DNA. Since the 1950s, our school has been a pioneer in conducting research, offering courses, and advancing the dialogue on the impact of business on society. Today the Defining Leadership Principles are at the core of Dean Ann Harrison’s vision for our school: to forge entrepreneurial leaders who will rise, in the Berkeley spirit, to address society’s biggest challenges: innovation, inclusion, and sustainability.