We head to California to meet new members of the Berkeley Haas MBA Class of 2027 in this Real Humans: MBA Students.
The Berkeley Haas MBA Class of 2027 brings together a dynamic cohort of builders, community advocates, and innovators who reflect the school’s signature values of curiosity, humility, and impact. This year’s class includes leaders like Akintunde Ahmad, an Oakland-born entrepreneur whose ventures span sustainable fashion, hospitality, journalism, and community development—and who came to Haas to scale climate-focused innovations with global reach. Haley Carruthers, an urban planner turned MBA, is leveraging her background in affordability, equity, and city design to explore new paths in consulting and real estate while championing diverse perspectives in business.
From the healthcare arena, Graciela De Leon brings product management and digital innovation experience across biotech and pharmaceuticals, now pursuing the MBA/MPH to reimagine how healthcare systems deliver value, technology, and equity. Rounding out this group is Nikolas Ortega, a Colombian American tech leader and venture fellow whose passion for geopolitically consequential technologies drew him to Haas’s values-driven culture and its proximity to world-class research and entrepreneurship. Together, these students exemplify the ambition, purpose, and collaborative spirit that define the Haas community—each ready to question the status quo and lead meaningful change in their fields. Read on for their stories.
