Minhua Zhu

University of California, Davis, Graduate School of Management

“Creative problem-solver bridging gaps to drive innovation and create impactful solutions to complex challenges.”

Hometown: Wuhan, China

Fun fact about yourself: On average, I only watch one TV show per year.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

University of Leeds, BsC in Food Science and Nutrition

University of Missouri, MS in Food Science

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Beyond Meat, Los Angeles, California

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? HM.CLAUSE, Davis, California, one of the world’s largest vegetable seed manufacturers. Internship runs from May 2024 to June 2025.

Where will you be working after graduation? I am currently exploring management roles in cutting-edge, innovative food/ag companies and institutions, where I can apply my MBA skills and professional experience to make a positive impact.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Vice President, Associated Students of Management at the University of California, Davis

President, Finance Association Club at the University of California, Davis

Project Lead, Integrated Management Capstone Course

Graduate Student Analyst, University of California, Davis

UC Davis – Financial Times BizQuiz 2023 | 1st Place Individual Winner

NIBC Investment Banking Case Competition 2024 | Finalist

UC Davis Food and Agriculture Business Case Challenge | 1st Place Team Winner

HM.CLAUSE Agricultural Business Fellowship, UC Davis, 2024-2025 Recipient

Stephen G. and Shelley A. Newberry Distinguished Fellowship Award, UC Davis, 2024-2025 Finalist

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? In the NIBC Investment Banking Case Competition, our UC Davis MBA team advanced to the final round and was invited to compete in Vancouver. However, visa issues prevented half of our team from traveling. Despite this setback, we were determined not to give up. Recognizing our collective commitment, I worked closely with my teammates to find a solution and successfully persuaded the competition hosts and case judges to allow us to compete in a hybrid format (in-person and online)—a format they had never permitted before.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? As a product developer at The Planet Partnership (a PepsiCo-Beyond Meat joint venture), I led the end-to-end development of a high-protein, plant-based drink, from technology innovation to commercialization. Working closely with a cross-functional R&D team, we developed proprietary protein technology and optimized ingredient formulations, processing methods, and sensory profiles to ensure product viability. Through close collaboration with marketing team, we successfully accelerated the product’s development within one year—significantly faster than typical three-year new product pipeline.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose the UC Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM) for its strong focus on the food and agriculture industries, which aligns with my background and career goals. With close ties to agribusiness, food innovation, and sustainability, the GSM provides a unique platform to deepen my expertise in food and agriculture supply chain management and new product go-to-market strategies. The collaborative environment and industry-focused curriculum have equipped me with the tools to bridge technology and business strategy—a critical intersection shaping the future of food, agriculture, and biotech.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Julie Morris is my favorite MBA professor. A highly accomplished leader in biotech and agriscience, she played a key role in bringing natural pesticide maker Marrone Bio to IPO before joining UC Davis, where she served as the director of technology innovation at the UC Davis World Food Center. Her deep expertise in the food and agriculture industry, combined with her ability to bring in top industry leaders as guest speakers, makes her classes incredibly insightful. Beyond the classroom, Julie is deeply passionate about mentoring students, always willing to offer guidance and support to those who seek her advice. Her dedication and industry knowledge have made a lasting impact on my MBA experience.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course as a UC Davis MBA was the Food and Agriculture Industry Immersion experience. This deep-dive immersion provided a hands-on exploration of food and agriculture ecosystem, offering a rare opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and innovative food and agribusinesses.

One memorable experience was visiting Tsar Nicoulai Caviar Farm, the largest caviar producer in the U.S. and managed by a UC Davis MBA alumnus. On an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, we saw how their innovative water conservation system enhances sustainability and efficiency in aquaculture. Beyond field visits, the immersion experience challenged us to develop solutions to live case studies, collaborating in interdisciplinary teams with PhD students from food science, nutrition, and molecular biology. We worked on projects tackling supply chain inefficiencies, sustainability strategies, and market expansion for leading food and agriculture companies. This experience strengthened my ability to bridge technical innovation with business strategy, preparing me to navigate the future of food, agriculture, and sustainability.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? UC Davis Picnic Day is my favorite campus event. The nation’s largest student-run campus open house brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff and students and their families, and visitors from near-and-far, creating a unique opportunity to connect and build lasting relationships. The event embodies collaboration, support, and diversity, fostering a strong sense of community across the UC Davis campus. One of the highlights is the Picnic Day Parade, where colleges, schools, organizations, and clubs showcase their identities, promoting visibility and engagement in a fun and inclusive way.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would take more time for vacations. Coming from a science background, I had to learn everything from the ground up, much like an infant in business school. I was so focused on my end goal—pivoting from science to business—that I often overlooked the present moment. However, I’ve come to realize that life is made up of the moments we live each day, and how we live today shapes our future. If I could do it all over again, I would prioritize balance, embracing both personal enjoyment and professional growth along the way.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about Davis is its unique balance of economy and nature. It is a quiet, beautiful, and safe college town enriched by diversity. You can find a vibrant food scene with both local gems and international cuisine. Davis is also a city devoted to sustainability and outdoor activities, where biking is a primary mode of transportation and annual marathons, and many other outdoor events bring the community together. Its proximity to San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, the world’s global hub for startups and tech, offers access to innovation and networking, while being close to Lake Tahoe provides an escape into stunning natural landscapes and world-class recreation like skiing, hiking, biking, and even mountain beaches.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Since I don’t watch many TV shows or movies, I’ll reflect on a business lesson I’ve learned from real-world experiences instead. Innovation can happen anywhere—it doesn’t always have to be groundbreaking. By being observant and paying attention to the details, one can always find opportunities for incremental improvements that drive efficiency and create meaningful impact. This perspective has been reinforced through my experience in food product development and operation optimization. Whether optimizing forecasting accuracy, streamlining workflows, or refining product formulations, I’ve seen how small, yet strategic improvements can lead to significant gains in efficiency, cost savings, and overall business performance.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? At UC Davis GSM, AI is integrated into coursework, equipping students with AI tools for marketing, coding, and data analytics. In today’s data-driven world, businesses depend on data to make strategic, informed decisions, increasing the demand for MBAs with data analytics and coding expertise. To bridge this gap, the program offers marketing analytics and machine learning courses, helping students develop coding proficiency, logical reasoning, and AI-driven problem-solving skills for complex business challenges.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Nicholas Seto is the MBA classmate I most admire. He is one of the most resilient and hardworking individuals in our cohort. Before starting his MBA, Nick was diagnosed with cancer, yet he refused to let it define his path. With a deep understanding of the impact, he wants to create, he chose to pursue his entrepreneurial dream of transforming the public transportation system while simultaneously working full-time as a data engineer. On top of that, he serves as a student leader, actively working to bring positive change to our community. His unwavering determination, grit, and ability to balance multiple demands inspire me and many others in our program.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Exploring the synergy between product acumen, business strategy, and data analytics. With expertise in product development, business management, and data analytics, I aim to integrate these disciplines to drive innovation and efficiency in food and agriculture industries. I want to explore how combining a business mindset with data-driven decision-making and product expertise can create new competitive advantages, optimize operations, and accelerate market adoption.

2. Building or joining a startup from the ground up. I aspire to orchestrate the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to launch and continuous optimization, to create solutions that not only meet market needs but also transform traditional systems. Whether leading a new venture or contributing to an early-stage company, I want to develop scalable innovations to drive meaningful impact.

What made Min such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Min Zhu has been an exceptional member of the UC Davis MBA Class of 2025, bringing a unique blend of intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and leadership to our program. Her non-traditional education background in food science and nutrition has enriched classroom discussions, offering a unique perspective that challenges conventional thinking. Min’s prior work experience in the food industry is also a strength which enables her to bring real world experience into the classroom. She consistently demonstrates a strong academic drive and a willingness to go beyond expectations, putting in extra effort to deepen her understanding and contribute to the learning environment. Min stands out for her ability to engage industry guest speakers with insightful, in-depth questions, sparking meaningful discussions that benefit the entire class. Her curiosity and strategic mindset allow her to bridge the gap between technical expertise and business strategy, making her contributions particularly valuable in applied learning settings.

Beyond academics, Min’s passion for innovative problem-solving in the food and agriculture industries is evident in her approach to case competitions, where she has showcased creative thinking and interdisciplinary teamwork. Her ability to collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds has led to innovative solutions that balance strategic insight with practical implementation. She was also part of the winning team for the UC Davis Food and Agriculture Business Challenge, demonstrating her ability to apply business concepts to real-world industry challenges. Based on Min’s exceptional performance in the case competition, the sponsoring company reached out to hire Min on a part-time basis during the academic year, and full-time over the past summer. They continue to be very impressed with her work!

Min is also a dedicated peer mentor to her fellow MBA students, providing guidance and support to help them navigate the program. Min is able to draw upon broad cultural experience having grown up in China, completed her undergraduate degree in the UK, and now her master’s in food science and an MBA in the US. She actively serves as a student leader, organizing events and initiatives that enhance the student community experience. Her commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment makes her not only an outstanding student but also a leader who positively impacts those around her.

Her contributions, both inside and outside the classroom, have made her an invaluable member of our MBA program. I have no doubt that she will continue to drive meaningful impact in her future career, and I am very much looking forward to seeing it evolve and keeping in touch with her.”

Julie I. Morris, MBA | Director 
Food & Agriculture Industry Immersion
Graduate School of Management, UC Davis

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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