Effie Angus

UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business (Plus Master of Climate Solutions from Rausser College of Natural Resources)

“Believer that we need to laugh everyday even (especially!) while solving the most serious problems.”

Hometown: Ridgewood, NJ (most recently living in Vancouver, Canada)

Fun Fact About Yourself: I got my finger bitten off by a dog in college—but still adore all dogs!

Undergraduate School and Major: Princeton University: Economics (major), Environmental Studies and Finance (minors)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: McKinsey & Co., Engagement Manager

Berkeley Haas is founded on four Defining Leadership Principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. Which principle resonates most with you and why? Confidence Without Attitude. As a woman, it feels like I’m constantly oscillating between “You’re not good enough” and “You’re being arrogant.” I think striking that balance both internally and externally will be critical to becoming an effective leader.

What excites you about earning your MBA in the Bay Area? The activities and the people! I love the outdoors and cannot wait to explore all the hiking, surfing, biking, and running the Bay Area has to offer (being able to do these things year-round boggles my mind!). I’m also particularly excited to meet new people and have my worldview expanded (hopefully many times). I have been completely changed by the wide array of people I’ve met since moving to Vancouver—especially those that are transplants like myself—and I feel so lucky that I will get the opportunity to meet even more eclectic, brilliant people in the Bay Area.

What was the key part of Berkeley Haas’ MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I chose Haas because of its emphasis on sustainability. Haas wasn’t on my radar when I was first considering going to business school. However,  once I homed in on the fact that I want to use my MBA to propel me into the food/ag sustainability space, Haas shot to the top of my list. I am doing a dual MBA/Masters in Climate Solutions, and I am planning to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Food Systems—all of which I hope will give me the academic chops to make a real impact once I graduate.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Berkeley Haas? Food@Haas excites me the most! It was hard to find MBA programs that have so many people interested in the food/ag space, and I cannot wait to geek out with them (and hopefully share some good vegan dishes!). Coming from consulting, I am also really excited to help fellow MBA students in their application/recruitment journeys. Recruiting was an important part of my life at McKinsey, and my time there completely transformed me as a person and leader. I am excited to help others have that same experience!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It was receiving McKinsey’s Inspirational Leadership Award. The award is presented to the person who most inspires others with their unwavering values and supportive actions and who is integral to creating an inclusive office community. Moving to Vancouver without knowing anyone in the midst of a massive personal loss was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I am so proud that I was able to inspire others in the office even while overcoming these challenges. To become a manager and have people in the office ask to work with me because of the environment I foster is one of the biggest honors I have received, and I am excited to continue building my leadership capabilities throughout my time at Haas.

At this point, what do you hope to do after graduation? I hope to work in the sustainable agricultural or food space to transform and heal our broken food systems.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Berkeley Haas’ MBA program? Be yourself; don’t over-edit; don’t over-polish. I believe Haas really wants to see you as your most raw self and wants people who are confident in what they already know about themselves and who are excited to uncover more. That has really come through in the people I have already connected with.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE BERKELEY HAAS MBA CLASS OF 2026