Berkeley Haas EMBA grads urged to ‘hold dreams big enough to change the world’

The 2025 Berkeley Haas MBA for Executives class was urged to take risks and “hold dreams big enough to change the world” at commencement last Saturday.

A jubilant crowd whistled and cheered as the 75 grads filed in for the ceremony, held at Hertz Hall. Interim Dean Jenny Chatman welcomed the graduates and their families and friends, praising the cohort for investing in an MBA to enrich the next phase of their lives. 

A lifelong marathon runner, Chatman also urged graduates to learn from what she took away from her coach as a competitive runner struggling during one particular marathon.

“In the age of social media, where it’s so easy to compare yourself to your peers and even people you don’t know, I encourage you to continue to run your race,” she said. “Berkeley Haas has prepared you to be ethical and agile business leaders who will address the biggest challenges of our time. Without a shred of doubt, we know that you will succeed.”

Scott Douglas Jones, a retired rear admiral in the United States Navy Reserve and a current United Airlines captain—who classmates described a “moral compass, a trusted advocate, and a cherished friend”—served as student class speaker.

Jones offered grads an inspiring story about rock star Bono’s challenge when he was recording “The Joshua Tree.” His producers urged him to record the entire album at the top of his vocal range, which left him “uncomfortable, fearful, and vulnerable,” Jones said. Yet the album catapulted U2 into rock legend status, he said, adding that Bono went on to found DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade Africa) and the ONE campaign, mobilizing millions to help Africa fight extreme poverty and the spread of AIDS.

“Why? Because he was willing to be vulnerable, he was willing to take a risk, he was willing to sing at the very top of his range,” he said, noting that the graduating class, who are at midcareer, have lived long enough to know the stakes and still hold dreams big enough to change the world.

“In just a few minutes, we will be graduates of the finest business schools on this planet,” he said. “Business may not single-handedly rescue the world on fire, but MBAs from Haas, guided by our Defining Leadership Principles, might be the compass in the chaos that this world needs. I believe it’s only possible if we go beyond ourselves.”

While EMBA classes are known for being close-knit, commencement speaker Malini Singh, EMBA 19, vice chief of emergency services at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, said the 2025 class had taken it to the next level—with students who compiled a weekly newsletter, a podcast, a video diary, and even a cohort song playlist.

“You’ve really epitomized what the student experience at Haas aspires to be,” she said. “You did it, and you also raised the bar for all of the classes that are going to follow you to do more for and with each other.”

Singh described the experience of working as an emergency doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic, which she called “a great time for innovation and leadership.”

“What I learned during this time is that teams have to show a rowing of everybody moving in the same direction under an overarching mission that you feel deeply, deeply about, and all of that just brings out the best in people,” she said.

Elizabeth Stanners, executive director of the EMBA program, then introduced Lokesh Mandava, MBA 22, named outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, who received a standing ovation. Mandava, lead product manager at PayPal, emphasized the real connections the students built in the program.

“Those friendships, those late-night texts, the support, the laughter, that’s what makes this journey incredible,” he said. “No AI or app can actually beat that.”

Here’s the list of EMBA program award winners:

Faculty Cheit Award: Assistant Professor Matteo Benetton

Inclusive Faculty Award: Distinguished Teaching Fellow Maura O’Neill

Outstanding GSI: Lokesh Mandava 

Valedictorian: Stefanie Weinstein 

Question the Status Quo: Brian Screnar

Confidence without Attitude: Gillian Smart

Students Always: Scott Douglas Jones

Beyond Yourself: Vijay Ramakrishnan

Berkeley Leader: Gillian Smart