Langley Barth

Rady School of Management at UC San Diego

“Mission-driven leader who strives to use technology to empower underserved communities. Husband, expecting father.”

Hometown: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Fun fact about yourself: I attended 10 schools between K-12.

Undergraduate School and Degree: BS in Economics from United States Naval Academy

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? US Navy

Where did you intern during the summer of 2021? Intuit, San Diego

Where will you be working after graduation? Intuit, Marketing Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Helped lead a Veteran Networking group focused on helping veterans comfortably transition into desired civilian roles. Served as an Operations Consultant to West Health to provide vaccine availability to older and at-risk parties. Led a team of 5 in market research for the San Diego Padres aimed at promoting baseball to younger audiences. Named as a Veteran Fellow for Med Tech Vets and the Biocom California Institute, which are geared at helping veterans break into careers in Life Sciences.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Without a doubt, it’s working on a weekly basis to help veterans understand their options when transitioning from the military to the civilian world. I spent my last six months in the military forward deployed in the South China Sea during the beginning of a global pandemic. I was intimidated on what this career transition would look like and I made plenty of mistakes along the way. I really enjoy talking to veterans and encouraging them that if they stay positive, research broadly, and network extensively, great opportunities will come to them.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of how closely I worked with my fellow sailors while serving on two different warships. In just over five years, I was blessed with the opportunity to lead over 100 different Sailors from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines through intense combat operations. These individuals taught me so much about myself and helped mold me into the leader I am today. When you believe in and empower people, you create a force multiplier in your organization that can accomplish anything.

Why did you choose this business school? The quality of professors and small class size at Rady are incredible. Professors really go out of their way not just to ensure that you are learning, but also to help you pinpoint the best cross section between the class material, your interests, and potential career opportunities.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Vish Krishnan. It was truly amazing to take a class from someone with so much industry experience. Any time a question was asked, he would have a real-world example top of mind of a time that he was working with a company about a very similar issue. He is great mentor, and is always looking for ways to improve his class. He takes a genuine interest in his students’ success.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Without a doubt, Negotiations Weekend. Rady has a quarterly Negotiations Intensive that takes place over a weekend at a wonderful hotel. You spend the preponderance of the time working through multifaceted negotiations, and meet a lot of new classmates. I will always remember that experience. Professor Uri Gneezy is delightful.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Maybe worry a little less. Going from life on a ship to life in the classroom is daunting at first, but I have found that embracing the unknown can be very empowering. My support system from my wife Laura, to my family, and business school family, has been outstanding.

What is the biggest myth about your school? There is probably a stigma that going to a smaller school will limit your opportunities. I do not think that is the case. If anything, I think the smaller class size paired with the excellent professors empowered me to accomplish more than I would had I been at a larger school.

What surprised you the most about business school? At first, I was shocked by how many international students were in my cohort. While I traveled broadly through multiple deployments around the globe, my experience working with individuals from other countries was limited in the military. I have learned an immense amount culturally and have made lifelong friends from Asia, Europe, and South America. I look forward to visiting them and learning more about their cultures.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? I was very transparent with admissions personnel and professors about my interest in Rady and was rewarded with their kindness and sincerity. Specifically, former UC San Diegi employee Julia Nemeth was fantastic to work with. I do not know that I had an edge, but my time in the military taught me to always be honest and sincere.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Heidi Grutter. Heidi is a brilliant marketing mind and is a true connector of people. She cares more than most people you have ever met and I know she will be hugely successful in her career.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? I was always interested in business and was President of the USNA Investment Club in college, but felt that serving my country was an experience that I wanted to pursue first. Fellow USNA grad, role model and friend of mine Keith Hollis (Tuck MBA) was really helpful to me. We served together on my second ship and he helped walk me through the career transition process.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top items on my professional bucket list are to be the mentor that other veterans need transitioning out of the military, and to continue my commitment to be an ally to underrepresented groups to ensure they feel comfortable and have a voice in the workplace.

How has the pandemic changed your view of a career? The future of work will likely be a hybrid structure, and there are always pros and cons to any change in work structure. I think it’s important to lean into the silver linings of any situation and do your best to empathize with those that need help.

What made Langley such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2022?

“Langley Barth has been a fine addition to our program, as he greatly enriched the experience of his fellow classmates. He represents a rare combination of maturity, experience, missionary zeal, intellectual curiosity and tenacity. After years of service in the US Navy, he came back to get his MBA, and will be an inspiration for fellow-veterans in being able to transition to the science and technology industry. Langley invested himself in learning about the world of technology products (including the latest developments in Web 3.0), and was a great addition to my elective class on Digital Product Management. He greatly enhanced the class discussions by including issues relating to equity, inclusion, and ethics in the world of digital product strategy. I was pleased to hear that Intuit offered him a summer internship, and was not surprised to learn that they made him a full-time offer upon completing his internship.  I consider it as one of my blessings to be able to teach and interact with delightful students like Langley.”

Professor Vish Krishnan
Jacobs Chair and Founding Faculty at the Rady School of Management

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2022