A Sustainable Spin on Marketing
My name is Sulibeth Jiménez, and I am a final-semester business and marketing student from Universidad Tecnológica del Perú in Chiclayo, a vibrant city in the northern part of my country.
Studying at UC Berkeley was a major dream of mine. I was drawn to the school's academic excellence, but even more so by its defining leadership principles. When I saw that the Berkeley Haas Global Access Program had a strong focus on entrepreneurship and sustainability, I knew it was exactly where I needed to be.
During my Spring 2026 semester at Berkeley, I took a unique mix of courses:
Special Topics in Business Administration: Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Introduction to Business Analytics
Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainability
Special Topics in Responsible Business: Brands and Sustainability
Special Topics in Responsible Business: Earth-Centered Product Design and Operations
Back at my home university, sustainability isn't a core focus within the business curriculum yet. Being able to dive deep into these subjects allowed me to explore my true professional interests in a way I never could before.
What surprised me the most about studying here was the sheer variety of learning methods. Every class felt different, but they were all incredibly engaging. We analyzed real-world case studies, built our own business proposals and designed concrete action plans. We also had guest speakers from top companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley sharing their raw, first-hand experiences. At Berkeley, ideas don't just stay inside the classroom; the entire culture pushes you to take action and make them real.
At Berkeley, ideas don't just stay inside the classroom; the entire culture pushes you to take action and make them real.
Adapting to a new educational environment also opened my eyes to how much culture shapes our way of learning. Coming from Peru, I brought my own background, values and ways of approaching business. In the classroom at Berkeley, that perspective blended with those of students from every corner of the world.
The real magic happened during team projects: Having someone from Europe, Asia and Latin America looking at the exact same business problem meant we never came up with obvious answers. This cultural diversity didn't replace what I knew; it enriched it, showing me that the best solutions come from combining different global mindsets.
Beyond academics, the student life was just as transformative. I joined an international student community where we shared dinners with food from all over the world, practiced languages and discussed global issues. It completely broadened my perspective.
I also decided to step out of my comfort zone, and for the very first time in my life I tried wall climbing, kayaking, pilates, sandboarding and even ice skating.
Living in the Bay Area meant that every single day brought an unforgettable memory. One semester flies by because there is simply too much to see. I loved spending quiet afternoons at the Berkeley Botanical Garden, exploring the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, visiting the Google campus in Mountain View and sitting on the grass for outdoor concerts at Golden Gate Park.
California is beautiful, and whether you travel to the beaches in the south or the mountains in the east, there is always something incredible to discover.
Looking back, my time at Berkeley wasn't just a study-abroad semester. It was a complete, beautiful and unforgettable experience that reshaped how I view my career and my future. I came looking for academic growth, but I left with a much clearer understanding of how to put my values into action.
Check out more photos from my time in Berkeley!
