MBB consulting | What’s it like working at McKinsey, Bain and BCG?
Sarah Mertens, a former BCG project leader and Haas exchange student, discusses finding the best solutions for clients and how prioritization drives impact in MBB consulting.
The Trump administration has refunded $100B in tariffs. Will you get any of the money?
Matilde Bombardini notes that importers who paid 10% more due to tariffs typically passed on only about 3% to customers, suggesting consumers could reasonably claim that share. She also calls the scope of refunds unprecedented.
Americans Love Giant Trucks. But They’re Killing Us
The article cites 2014 research co-authored by Max Auffhammer on the external costs of vehicle weight, finding that European gas taxes may be closer to optimal levels than U.S. gas taxes.
What It Takes To Validate A Biomarker For Real-World, Post-Transplant Care
Yelena Bushman, BS 04, EWMBA 13, vice president of cell therapy and transplant at CareDx, discusses how to build scientifically sound and operationally reliable evidence for biomarker-driven surveillance in post-transplant care.
California Currents: Steve Hilton’s populist energy message
Karen Notsund, associate director of the Energy Institute at Haas for 25 years, is retiring. Severin Borenstein said she “has been at the heart” of building a supportive community for students, researchers, and faculty.
Multiple wars causing spike in gas prices, no end in sight for relief
Severin Borenstein explains that geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine are driving high gasoline prices, noting Saudi use of a pipeline to bypass a closed Strait of Hormuz.
Acceptance Rates, Yield & Apps At The Top 100 U.S. MBA Programs For 2026
UC Berkeley Haas reported 3,442 MBA applications for the 2025 admission cycle and an acceptance rate of 21.4%.
Culture Is Still King in the AI Era
With AI high on leaders’ lists of hopes and fears, company culture remains crucial. According to Professor and Dean Jennifer Chatman, AI can be used to help shape a strong culture aligned to strategy.
Breaking news: from north to south (translation)
Neuroscience research by Ming Hsu demonstrates that the human brain processes digital information using the same dopamine-reward pathways associated with money, food, and drugs.
Trump wanted interest rate cuts to be ‘Rocket Fuel’ for the economy. He is losing that fight so far
Research by Professor Francesco Trebbi suggests that voters are primarily concerned with whether their income growth is outpacing inflation, helping explain why interest-rate messaging may struggle when debt service costs remain a burden.
On the Mic: Newsom nominates popular podcaster for board role at UC Berkeley
Scott Galloway, MBA 92, a marketing professor and prominent podcaster, is nominated to the UC Board of Regents, which oversees 300,000 students across 10 campuses.
Gautam Mukunda: AI can create startups, just not good ones
Research by David Holtz, Solène Delecourt, and Nicholas Otis finds AI tools acting as business mentors for Kenyan entrepreneurs did not increase average profits, underscoring AI as a tool rather than a replacement for human judgment.
How Founders Are Using AI To Critique Their Work, Not Just Create It
Haas Professional Faculty member Jeff Eyet uses AI to analyze recordings and slides of his talks, asking what critique an MBA student would offer—an uncomfortable but high-return practice.
AI Adoption In B-Schools Shifts From Experiment To Institution-Wide Strategy
UC Berkeley Haas reports a Business of AI core course and stronger governance, reflecting a broader shift from pilots to standing AI platforms and concentrations across business schools.
Admissions Director Q&A: Sabah Khan of Berkeley Haas School of Business
New Assistant Dean Sabah Khan discusses Haas’s evolving admissions, focus on AI education, and leadership principles, advising applicants to be authentic rather than AI-generated.