Continuing Inspiration

When James Bender, MBA 10, was awarded a Brian Maxwell Fellowship, he knew it came with generous funding, but he didn’t know it would continue providing a different kind of fellowship 17 years later. “It’s a really tight-knit community,” he says. “I could call any one of them, and they’d pick up the phone or call me back that day—and I do that often.”

Bender is one of 34 Haas students awarded the fellowship since its founding 20 years ago by Jennifer Maxwell, BS 88 (nutrition and food science), to commemorate her husband, Brian, BA 75 (architecture), a world-ranked marathoner and entrepreneur who died in 2004. Together in their Berkeley kitchen, the Maxwells co-founded PowerBar, the first energy bar designed for athletes.

The story of PowerBar’s founding was inspiring to Maxwell Fellow Francis Wong, MBA/MPH 14, an aspiring entrepreneur who arrived at Haas from London in 2012 and attended a cookout with current and former fellows. “It was like meeting my new California family,” Wong recalls. Through that community, he met Brad Kittredge, MBA/MPH 09, then at 23andMe, which led to an internship. This kind of networking, along with both formal and informal mentorships, regularly occurs.

Genevieve Wang, MBA 12, also considers the Maxwell Fellows to be family. “Any Haasie who reaches out to me for advice or help—that’s already a special community,” she says. “But if they’re a Brian Maxwell Fellow, that’s just another level of connection.”

The unique kinship felt among Maxwell Fellows is carefully fostered by Jennifer Maxwell and Scott Sowry, who runs the program. They stay in touch with fellows through gatherings, phone calls, and an annual lunch with Haas’ dean. They also serve as sources of insight and feedback, along with more seasoned Maxwell Fellows.

It all adds up to lifelong community 

“Quite frankly, it’s the most meaningful Haas connection I have,” Bender says.