Leading at the Edge

In this episode of the Leading at the Edge podcast, Matt Salazar, MBA 11, Chief Product Officer at Strava and proud double Bear, shares his journey through product leadership across some of the world's most influential technology and entertainment companies. From leading growth teams at Epic Games, overseeing popular titles like Fortnite and Rocket League, to joining Strava in 2024, Matt discusses the evolution of product development, building products that connect with passionate communities, and how his love of sports has shaped his career. He also shares insights into developing Strava's Athlete Intelligence, which uses personalized activity data to help athletes better understand their performance and progress. A conversation about innovation, leadership, and the intersection of technology and sports, featuring an audience Q&A. UC Berkeley Haas MBA programs: https://haas.org/3WoVTn0

In this episode of Leading at the Edge, General CQ Brown Jr., former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Air Force chief of staff, joins UC Berkeley Haas Dean Jenny Chatman and MBA students Bailey Baumbick and Lee Kantowski for a conversation on leadership, moral courage, and driving change in complex organizations. Drawing on more than 40 years of military service, General Brown shares lessons on leading through uncertainty, challenging the status quo, and making difficult decisions under pressure. He reflects on the importance of speaking up when it matters, balancing innovation with accountability, and the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in national security. He also discusses how leaders can build trust, encourage dissenting perspectives, and stay focused on a mission bigger than themselves. His message to the next generation of leaders: have the courage to do what’s right, keep an eye on the bigger picture, and never stop looking for a better way forward.

In this episode of the Leading at the Edge podcast, Alex Schultz reflects on nearly two decades at Meta, from his early work in product and growth marketing to becoming the company’s inaugural Chief Data Officer. Schultz shares insights on growth strategy, data systems, and Meta’s transition toward AI-driven data, analysis, and research.

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen returns to UC Berkeley Haas for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, economics, and the forces shaping today’s global economy. In this episode of Leading at the Edge, Yellen reflects on her time as a professor at Haas, the lessons she carried from Berkeley into a remarkable career in public service, and the importance of connecting economic theory to real-world challenges. She also shares insights from her time leading the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve, offering her perspective on the economy, policymaking, and the role of leadership in uncertain times. Leading at the Edge is the UC Berkeley Haas Dean’s Speaker Series, featuring conversations with influential leaders who are shaping business, government, and society.

In this Dean’s Speaker Series podcast episode, Elliott Hill, President & CEO of Nike, Inc., reflects on his three-decade journey serving in various leadership roles across Europe and North America, including leading commercial and marketing operations for the Nike and Jordan brands. Hill shares insights on how Nike integrates sustainability into product creation, staying connected to athletes and consumers, and leading with clarity, integrity, and curiosity in a highly competitive global marketplace. Hill was introduced by Joe Wilson, MBA 26, and interviewed by Dean Jenny Chatman. The Dean’s Speaker Series brings in a diverse mix of top leaders for fireside chats with MBA students about their leadership journeys.  The Dean's Speaker Series Podcast is produced by the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Read the article and find the full transcript on today's episode on the Haas Newsroom.  Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series. Learn more about the Haas School of Business. 

Meredith Kopit Levien, president and CEO of The New York Times Company, joins the Dean's Speaker Series podcast to share her career journey in the media industry, navigating the shift from print to digital news, and how AI is impacting the way users access information & how the company is evolving to meet new paradigms. Kopit Levien has previously served in a variety of roles at The Times, including head of advertising and chief operating officer. She leads the company's global operations and business strategy across all verticals of the company, driving digital transformation and subscriber growth while championing the value of its high-quality, independent journalism.  The event was hosted by UC Berkeley Haas Dean Jenny Chatman at the Haas School on April 16, 2026. Kopit Levien was interviewed by MBA students Venkata Gadde and Ima Essien. The Dean's Speaker Series Podcast is produced by the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series. Learn more about the Haas School of Business. 

Jennifer Hyman, co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, joins the Dean's Speaker Series podcast to share how she transformed a classroom idea into a publicly traded company that redefined the way people shop for fashion. From launching the world’s first “living closet” to becoming the first woman to IPO a company with an all-female executive team, Jennifer reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her entrepreneurial journey. In this conversation, she discusses what it takes to lead through different stages of growth, how to scale a mission-driven business, and why sustainability remains at the core of Rent the Runway’s model. Jennifer also shares lessons from her early career and insights on building with conviction in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. The Dean's Speaker Series Podcast is produced by the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series. Learn more about the Haas School of Business. 

Julie Zhuo, co-founder of Sundial and former Vice President of Product Design at Facebook, joins the Dean's Speaker Series podcast to discuss her journey from being Facebook’s first intern to helping shape some of its most iconic features, including the News Feed and “like” button. Now leading Sundial, Julie shares her perspective on entrepreneurship, building products in the age of AI, and how leaders can stay grounded in integrity amid rapid technological change. She also reflects on the lessons behind her bestselling book, The Making of a Manager, and what it takes to lead teams effectively in today’s evolving workplace.

Tune in for an inspiring Dean's Speaker Series with Cynt Marshall—President & CEO of Marshalling Resources, consultant, author, and former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. A BA 81 graduate in HR Management, Cynt made history as the first Black woman to lead an NBA franchise, setting a new standard for inclusion and organizational culture. Previously, as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T, Cynt championed equity and inclusion initiatives that helped earn the company a place on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Through Marshalling Resources, she continues to advise organizations on leadership development, culture change, and DEI strategy. In this conversation, Cynt reflects on her dynamic career journey—from consulting to executive leadership—sharing lessons on inclusive leadership, people-first culture, and driving meaningful transformation at scale. This episode is co-sponsored by the Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership and moderated by students Ravi Malhotra and Aman Tiku.

Join us for a conversation with Michael Stewart, MBA 15, Managing Partner at M12, Microsoft’s Venture Fund, recorded live on November 17 in the Spieker Forum at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Stewart leads investments across generative AI, gaming, and systems, and since joining M12 in 2021 has overseen 16 deals while serving on the boards of several portfolio companies, including Quantum. Before entering venture capital, Michael built a diverse career spanning startups, semiconductor technology development, and innovation—earning more than 40 patents along the way. A scientist at heart, Stewart expected to spend his career on the technical side of things doing hands-on research—a career that led him to Applied Materials, where he spent nearly a decade working in semiconductor process engineering and later in solar and cleantech.  “All I wanted to do for the rest of my life was work on clean energy,” said Stewart, EWMBA 15, in conversation with Haas students Gonzalo Vásquez and Rey Yruegas Almanza, both MBA 26. “I came to Haas to get to the bottom of how the various levels of that market might work.” In this fireside chat, he shares his journey from founder to investor, breaks down his investment strategy at M12, and offers practical advice for students pursuing careers in venture capital. The session closes with an audience Q&A. Read the article and find the full transcript on today's episode on the Haas Newsroom.  Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers. Read more about the Haas School of Business.  The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.