by Steve Terusaki, MBA 89, Haas Alumni Forums Director
The 2025 Haas Alumni Conference kicked off with the opening session on “Culture Runs Deep @ Haas: 15 Years Defined.” It has been 15 years since Rich Lyons, then dean of the School and currently Chancellor of the University, codified the four Defining Leadership Principles (DLP’s) of Haas. Interim Dean Jenny Chapman and Chancellor Lyons held an engaging conversation on how those defining principles came to become a differentiator and a north star for Haas.
Words matter and much discussion occurred about “Challenge” the Status Quo, or “Question” the Status Quo; of Confidence Without Attitude and whether it represented a weakened position. Discussions questioned whether there might be room for a little bit of “attitude.” Such were the difficult conversations among faculty, school leadership, and students as the Four Defining Leadership Principles came to be. What was clear to everyone was that these principles were already part of the Berkeley ethos. It just required articulation and consensus.
15 years later, the DLP’s permeate throughout Haas. They are highlighted on the Haas website as part of Our Culture in “The Haas Difference.” They show up as give-away wallet-sized cards so that we can all reach for them and remind ourselves of the power of the DLP’s. They show up engraved in the stone paving in the Haas Courtyard as reminders of this differentiating aspect of Haas culture. And they are showcased by the Haas Alumni Forums program, a well-hidden secret to alumni of Haas.
The Haas Alumni Forums program is a business venture of fellow alum, Steve Terusaki, EWMBA 89. The program offers alumni the opportunity to join a peer forum that is based on the four Defining Leadership Principles. It is a platform where Haas alumni can LIVE THE DLP’s long after their student experience at Haas.
The Haas Alumni Forums program brings together fellow alums in a confidential setting to process business and personal challenges. We like to say that Forum is a place for conversations in the 5%: the 5% that you can’t talk to anyone else about in both the most difficult parts of your life as well as the most joyous parts for fear of showing weakness on the difficult end and boastfulness on the joyous end. Essential to the power of Forum is confidentiality. “Nothing, Nowhere, Never” is the moniker that is constantly reinforced during the meeting and is why members can be open and vulnerable to things that matter most.
The Haas Alumni Forums bring new perspectives to members’ challenges through experience-sharing rather than advice-giving. Experience-sharing provides a narrative from each member that the individual seeking input can take whatever becomes relevant to their experience. It also offers everyone sitting around the table to share in the breadth of experience and learnings that each brings to the Forum discussion. The experience-share aspect of Forums is directly a result of the Beyond Yourself principle, each member offering their learnings to give back to fellow alums.
Just belonging to Forum is also an expression of Students Always. Forum offers coaching in a group setting so that each member can continue the learning process about themselves but also in the professions they are pursuing. Question the Status Quo is represented in the desire to seek new ways to address current challenges – not relying on past methods or solutions that may no longer be relevant to a changing world. And finally, Confidence without Attitude is manifested in the successes that each member brings but does so with humility to share and give back to others.
Commemorating the 15 years of the Haas DLP’s is only the start. The power of the DLP’s is the ability to carry them well beyond the student experience to guide your personal and professional life. If you are questioning what is your “next chapter,” or if you are seeking how to take the next step to professionally excel, join a community of Haas alumni who can offer you new insights and perspectives on how to do so.
The Haas Alumni Forums is a fee-based independent program under management of Steve Terusaki’s SEIDO Consulting, LLC coaching practice. Click HERE to take the first steps to become part of this invaluable program for alumni of the Haas Business School.
About Haas Alumni Forums
Haas Leadership Forums are comprised of 8-12 alumni who meet monthly—currently online only—to gain perspective and insight on the challenging issues they face as business leaders.
Forums are confidential settings where open discussion can lead to transformational professional and personal growth.
Find more information about the program:
