Hello! My name is Xinyi Tian and I recently completed my master’s degree in management with a focus on global economic transformation and technology from EDHEC Business School. During my last year of studies, I was part of the Berkeley Haas Global Access Program.
During the Fall 2023 semester, I took Haas courses Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, International Marketing and Opportunity Recognition. For my electives, I took Elementary French and a ballet course. Then, in my Spring 2024 semester, I took Thriving at Haas and Beyond, Entrepreneurship, Pricing and Equitable and Inclusive Leadership through Haas.
The Thriving at Haas and Beyond career-coaching course was great as we shared job information and learned how to use LinkedIn. That course provided a good opportunity to get to know and communicate more with our peers, and to learn more about job information and interview techniques from both our peers and the instructor, Jennifer Davis.
I also continued my French and ballet studies as electives. I have been learning French for several years, so this was a good opportunity to continue practicing and learning.
Berkeley courses differ from my home institution in several ways, particularly in their emphasis on subjective perspectives and interactive learning. Classes at Haas often focus on open-ended discussions, encouraging us to share our viewpoints and engage in thoughtful debates, which helps improve our people skills.
There are also similarities to classes at EDHEC. For example, several subjects overlapped—such as marketing and negotiation—as they teach business fundamental theories. It’s also interesting to experience different teaching styles and strengthen the fundamentals.
Classes at Haas often focus on open-ended discussions, encouraging us to share our viewpoints and engage in thoughtful debates, which helps improve our people skills.
Connecting to Silicon Valley
As part of the program, I enjoyed visiting different companies in the area, including Plug and Play, Accenture, Capgemini and Berkeley SkyDeck. Each company was fascinating in its own way.
The teams at each location were incredibly welcoming, provided detailed insights into their work and gave us comprehensive tours of their facilities. They always allocated time for Q&A, which allowed us to engage directly, ask questions and learn more about their operations. In some cases, representatives even shared their contact information, encouraging us to reach out for future networking or other opportunities.
It was an inspiring experience overall, especially to see their innovative projects and meet professionals passionate about their work.
If you’re interested in visiting a company, I recommend that you register quickly as spots are limited and tend to fill up quickly.
Traveling Beyond Campus
I traveled a lot during my two semesters in Berkeley. I explored San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and ventured to other countries such as Mexico and Canada. I even went to Peru during the winter break.
My top 5 things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area were:
Having picnics and barbecues with friends at the Berkeley Marina.
Discovering good cafes.
Taking random walks in San Francisco.
Attending Broadway musicals and San Francisco Ballet performances.
Visiting the Legion of Honor and taking a hike around Lands End.
My Advice to You
Take advantage of free resources at Berkeley, such as student clubs, gym classes at Recreational Sports Facility, and forums and conferences on campus.
Build more connections with students and faculties in and out of your program.
Start applying for jobs as early as possible if this is your last year in school. Since graduating, I am currently working on OPT as an account manager at MA Labs, a computer hardware manufacturing company in the Bay Area. As a foreigner working in the U.S., securing a work visa is a significant challenge as it’s dependent on a lottery system.
If I get the visa in the future, I’ll likely stay in the U.S. and continue building my career in the tech industry. I’m also open to exploring opportunities in other countries.
I’m keeping an open mind and am excited about wherever the future takes me.
