Alaina Morgan

University of California-Berkeley, Haas School of Business

“Purpose-driven leader who sees business as a tool for impact and never skips a coffee break.”

Hometown: South Sioux City, NE

Fun Fact About Yourself: I saw Taylor Swift’s Eras tour on three different continents.

Undergraduate School and Major: Arizona State University: BS, Entrepreneurship & Marketing

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: All Native Group: Marketing 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? Beyond Yourself resonates with me because it reflects how I view leadership—not as a personal achievement, but as a responsibility to develop others and create positive impact. As a member of the Winnebago Tribe, my career ambitions have always been tied to giving back and creating opportunities for my community. Long term, I aim to be a leader who builds teams, mentors future changemakers, and uses business as a platform to drive social impact. Haas’ commitment to Beyond Yourself aligns with the kind of leader I strive to become.

What excites you about earning your MBA in the Bay Area? I am excited to earn my MBA in the Bay Area because it feels like the perfect place to grow both personally and professionally. Being surrounded by companies that are pushing boundaries in tech, innovation, and business strategy will give me a chance to explore new industries and sharpen my skills in a dynamic environment. Outside of class, I cannot wait to dive into the Bay Area’s food scene, discover local music, and spend time in nature. I am looking forward to making the most of everything the Bay has to offer, both in and out of the classroom.

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? What drew me to Haas was how seamlessly it blends business with impact. I have always believed that business is not just a platform for profit, but a powerful tool for creating meaningful change. I wanted an MBA experience where I could learn alongside people who view leadership through that same lens and where success is measured by more than financial outcomes. In a world where short-term gains often overshadow long-term responsibility, I feel a deep urgency to be part of a generation of business leaders who prove that values and value creation can go hand in hand.

Haas stood out because it cultivates responsible leadership through both its curriculum and community. Courses like Strategy and Leadership for Social Impact and Business Communication in Diverse Work Environments, combined with a network of alumni who are already driving change, made it clear this was where I could sharpen my skills and stay grounded in my purpose. Haas is not just a place to earn an MBA; it is a place to grow into the kind of leader who will make a meaningful difference.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Berkeley Haas? As an incoming student, I am most excited to join the Native American and Indigenous Business Association (NAIBA) at Haas. During my MBA search, I was initially disheartened to find that very few programs offered dedicated spaces for Indigenous students. I had quietly assumed that if I wanted that kind of community, I would need to build it myself. Discovering NAIBA at Haas changed that perspective. For the first time in the application process, I felt truly seen.

After being admitted, I reached out to one of NAIBA’s co-presidents, and our conversation affirmed why Haas is the right place for me. Hearing how Indigenous students have thrived and been embraced for their authentic identities was incredibly inspiring. I look forward to contributing to NAIBA’s mission, supporting fellow Indigenous students, and helping build upon the strong foundation that already exists within the Haas community.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far has been building the marketing department from the ground up at All Native Group, a subsidiary of my tribe’s economic development corporation. When I stepped into the role, there was no formal marketing team or strategy in place. I took on the challenge of creating that foundation by developing brand standards, launching campaigns, and building processes that could scale with the company’s growth. What made this experience meaningful was not just the creative work, but the opportunity to elevate my community’s voice through business.

Before leaving to pursue my MBA, I was able to grow the department into a fully functioning team. I had the privilege of leaving it in strong and capable hands, knowing the work will continue to expand and evolve. Seeing the department thrive beyond my leadership is what I am most proud of because it reflects a sustainable impact that will benefit my organization and community for years to come.

At this point, what do you hope to do after graduation? After graduation, I hope to work in marketing for a leading organization that prioritizes social impact. I want to learn from industry leaders who are redefining how brands can create meaningful connections with their communities while driving positive change. My goal is to build the skills and perspective needed to become a more effective leader, so I can bring that knowledge back to my own community.

Long term, I plan to contribute to the growth of the economic development corporation owned by my tribe. I hope to apply what I have learned to help expand its impact and eventually serve on its board of directors. For me, success is not just about advancing my career, but about using that experience to create opportunities for the next generation in my community.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Berkeley Haas’ MBA program? My biggest advice is to get crystal clear on your “why” before hitting submit. It is tempting to cast a wide net and over-apply. I fell into that trap myself and ended up applying to 15 programs. While it felt strategic at the time, the outcome was a blur of admissions, rejections, and waitlists that turned what should have been an exciting decision into a stressful juggling act. Looking back, I wish I had trusted my gut and focused only on the programs I was genuinely excited about from the start. It would have saved me a lot of unnecessary anxiety and made the journey more intentional.

When it comes to Haas specifically, it was not until I was waitlisted that I realized how much I wanted to be part of this community. That period of reflection pushed me to reach out and build meaningful connections with current students and alumni who shared similar values and career goals. Those conversations not only strengthened my application, but also reaffirmed that Haas was where I belonged. My advice is simple: Go beyond surface-level research and authentically engage with the people of Haas. Their insights will help you understand if this is truly the right place for you, and that clarity will shine through in your application.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE UC BERKELEY HAAS MBA CLASS OF 2027

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.