Berkeley Sparked My Career in Tech
Hello! I’m Fernando Mattos and I am currently working as a product operations analyst at UTP (Universidad Tecnológica del Perú), the same university where I earned my bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. But the path that led me into product and technology really began thousands of miles away—in Berkeley.
Before working at UTP, I was completing an internship at Pluspetrol, a company based in Cusco that extracts natural gas in Camisea.
My interest in technology is one of the most important things I brought home with me after participating in the Fall 2023 semester in Berkeley Haas Global Access Program (BHGAP).
Top-notch professors taught us key insights from their own experiences working at major companies, along with a real feel for the Bay Area's innovation culture. That environment helped me see technology and business differently.
Finding My Way to Berkeley
I’ve always loved working in teams and staying up to date with emerging technologies. While studying industrial engineering, I was fortunate that my university offered a scholarship to study abroad for one semester and Berkeley was one of the options.
I went through several rounds of tests and interviews and was awarded the sponsorship to attend.
At Berkeley, I took courses ranging from business communications to Special Topics in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where we had the opportunity to do hands-on work with real companies.
I also took:
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Opportunity Recognition: Technology and Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley
Grammar and Vocabulary of Written English
I loved the environment: Top-notch professors taught us key insights from their own experiences working at major companies, along with a real feel for the Bay Area's innovation culture.
That environment helped me see technology and business differently.
In Opportunity Recognition, for example, we examined decisions made by different companies and what happened afterward. I learned a lot from that experience and how a single decision can shape the entire route of a company.
Some of my classmates started a group that met every week to share experiences about personal growth, our fears and open debates in a safe space. I loved that.
Finding My Voice
One of the biggest differences between my Berkeley classes and those at my home university was how much students were expected to participate.
Professors tended to engage a lot with students, organizing rounds of participation and debates. In my case, this fit perfectly because it gave me a great opportunity to practice my English even more.
That willingness to get involved extended beyond the classroom.
I joined Latinx Business Student Association, a group of Latino students who organized activities to help one another grow and prepare for the future. Through the group, I participated in conferences, social activities and a site visit to LinkedIn in San Francisco.
Our BHGAP cohort also created its own community. Some of my classmates started a group that met every week to share experiences about personal growth, our fears and open debates in a safe space. I loved that.
One of my favorite professional experiences was visiting Plug and Play. It was a great experience because in my country we don't really have companies that collaborate with others to maximize profit or inject capital the way they do there.
Learning that Plug and Play had helped Rappi—a company I describe as the DoorDash of Latin America—made the experience even more meaningful.
Exploring the Bay Area
Of course, studying at Berkeley wasn't only about classes and professional development.
I still miss San Francisco. There were countless activities every week: cultural walks, shopping, taking photos, visiting the ocean and Pier 39.
Some of my favorite memories are surprisingly simple: walking down University Avenue in Berkeley, experiencing the energy of Market Street, exploring Golden Gate Park and riding Bay Area public transportation.
Get involved in activities, and don't worry about your English or making mistakes. We're all from abroad, we all speak different languages, and that's actually the fun part: We learn from each other.
Bringing Berkeley Home
Before Berkeley, my routine had started to feel repetitive: studying and working every day. Spending a semester abroad changed my perspective.
After this experience, I feel like I was able to reset and realize there are so many more opportunities outside my own country, along with all the technology being developed around the world.
That outlook continues to influence the way I approach my work in product operations. I try to stay informed about new technology and what is happening globally so that I can keep improving and thinking about what comes next.
In the future, I’d love to complete a master’s degree and lead a product team, perhaps at a technology company. I could also see myself starting my own company and producing goods for markets across Peru and abroad.
For students preparing to begin their own BHGAP experience, my biggest advice is to embrace everything that comes with it.
Try doing things you wouldn't normally do back home.
I’m naturally a little shy, but while I was in Berkeley I made a point of getting out, meeting people and experiencing as much as possible.
Get involved in activities, and don't worry about your English or making mistakes. We're all from abroad, we all speak different languages, and that's actually the fun part: We learn from each other.
Most importantly, take full advantage of the well-known professors and use this opportunity to become the best version of yourself.
That’s what Berkeley helped me do and what I’m still working toward today. Go Bears!
Check out more photos from my time in Berkeley!
