International

Reinventing My Next Chapter While at Berkeley Haas Global Access Program

Gaining fresh skills, embracing innovation, designing my future

By Natalie Chu

Aug 4, 2026

3 min

For nearly five years, I built my career in executive search and recruitment consulting, helping companies across manufacturing, automation, semiconductors and professional services hire leadership talent. I became one of the top-performing consultants in Taiwan and had the opportunity to work closely with founders, CEOs and senior executives on talent and growth strategies.

Before that, I worked in Shanghai in a strategy and operations role for a large food and beverage group, where I learned how to bridge company strategy with execution and collaborate across complex organizations.

By many measures, I had achieved the success I had been working toward. But I found myself asking bigger questions.

How are companies built?

How do founders make decisions during uncertainty?

What happens long before a company ever begins hiring?

At the same time, artificial intelligence was rapidly transforming every industry, including recruiting. Rather than waiting for change to happen, I wanted to place myself in an environment where I could learn directly from the innovators, entrepreneurs and builders shaping the future.

I didn't want another credential. I wanted to reinvent the next chapter of my career.

Finding a Community That Questions the Status Quo

The Berkeley Haas Global Access Program (BHGAP) immediately stood out because of its people. I was excited to study at BHGAP in the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters.

One of my biggest goals was to immerse myself in a truly diverse environment. BHGAP brings together students from different countries, industries and backgrounds, and I was excited by the opportunity to learn from perspectives that were very different from my own.

I believe innovation happens when different ideas, cultures and viewpoints collide. For someone interested in entrepreneurship, technology and global business, Berkeley felt like the perfect place to expand both my thinking and my worldview.

What impressed me most about Haas was its culture. People here are constantly questioning assumptions, experimenting with new ideas and building things that don't exist yet. Whether it's students launching startups, researchers working on cutting-edge technology or founders discussing their next venture at a coffee shop, there is an energy that pushes you to think bigger.

The Haas principle that resonated with me most was "Question the Status Quo," and I genuinely felt that Berkeley lived that value every day.

Rather than waiting for change to happen, I wanted to place myself in an environment where I could learn directly from the innovators, entrepreneurs and builders shaping the future.

Bringing a Human Perspective to Business

My professional experience shaped the way I approached classroom discussions. After years of working with executives and organizations, I learned that people don't always make decisions based on logic alone. Human behavior, emotions and relationships play a significant role in every business challenge.

During class discussions, I often found myself asking questions about the human side of the problem: How would people actually react? What organizational dynamics might influence implementation? What emotional factors could affect decision-making?

That people-centered perspective became especially relevant when thinking about the future of recruiting in an AI-driven world.

Today, technology can automate sourcing, screening and countless administrative tasks. But one idea that stayed with me throughout my time at Berkeley is that technology should strengthen human relationships rather than replace them.

AI should create more space for meaningful conversations, deeper trust and a better understanding of people's goals and aspirations.

That mindset fundamentally changed the way I think about innovation.

For someone interested in entrepreneurship, technology and global business, Berkeley felt like the perfect place to expand both my thinking and my worldview.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Some of my most valuable lessons happened outside of class.

I met young founders in their early 20s who had already built companies generating more than $1 million dollars in annual revenue. Watching people so close to my age create something from scratch was incredibly inspiring. It reminded me that entrepreneurship is often less about having perfect knowledge and more about taking action.

Those experiences inspired me to launch my own podcast and community, Built Young, where I interview young founders and share their stories. My goal is to help more people understand that extraordinary achievements often begin with very ordinary first steps.

I also appreciated the career coaching opportunities, which encouraged me to think more strategically about my long-term impact rather than simply pursuing the next job title.

The coaching helped me connect my experiences in recruitment, business development, operations and entrepreneurship into a more intentional narrative about where I want to go next.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned at Berkeley is that success is about more than building a career. It's about building a life.

Building My Next Stage

I’m happy to share that I’m now working as a business director at IntelliPro, leading executive talent strategy and global workforce solutions for the AI and semiconductor sectors. Looking ahead, I see myself moving toward a chief of staff role, helping leaders turn ideas into execution and supporting organizations through strategy, operations and growth.

At the same time, I hope to continue growing Built Young into a larger community for ambitious entrepreneurs.

But perhaps the biggest lesson I learned at Berkeley is that success is about more than building a career. It's about building a life.

I hope that years from now, I'll still be learning, creating opportunities for others, exploring new places and contributing to meaningful work that excites me.

Because ultimately, I didn't come to Berkeley just to advance professionally. I came here to reinvent what was possible for my future.