Chris Arreola

University of California-Berkeley, Haas School of Business

“Change agent focused on expanding educational and artistic opportunities for minority communities.”

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: Growing up, I was a violinist and violist in the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra and local mariachis.

Undergraduate School and Major:

San Francisco State University: BA, Women & Gender Studies and English Literature

Loyola Marymount University: MA, Education

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Springboard Collaborative: Learning and Development Senior Associate

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? I resonate most with the value “Students Always.” Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, my parents worked tirelessly to give me access to the best education available, even if it meant driving farther to get me there. In fact, both of them immigrated to the United States from Mexico in order to provide me and my siblings with better educational opportunities. As a long-time educator, I have seen firsthand how education can be a powerful force in changing the trajectory of someone’s life. While much of our learning happens in school, there are also countless lessons to be gained from our lived experiences outside the classroom. Whether I am talking to other producers about how to create a danceable groove in my songs or listening to someone share experiences shaped by different identities, I approach each interaction as an opportunity to learn and grow.

What excites you about earning your MBA in the Bay Area? The Bay Area is home to an incredible diversity of people and cultures. Whether you are looking for variety in food, music, or thought, the Bay Area delivers. It inspires me to walk down the street and find a Dia de Los Muertos festival one day, and a Lowrider exhibition the next day – there is space for everyone’s traditions. The region is also a hub for many industries, making it an ideal place for someone like me who works at the intersection of education, art, and technology. I can’t imagine a better environment to find opportunities that merge all of these passions. Finally, the Bay Area has a rich history of social activism and community building. I hope to build on this legacy by using my skills and work to improve the conditions of diverse communities.

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? Berkeley front-loads all of its core classes in the first semester and then offers ample opportunities to take electives. This flexibility allows me to explore business topics I’m passionate about while also taking courses outside the business school. I’m excited to have that freedom as someone with a wide range of interests who wants to deepen the technical aspects of design and music to strengthen my competitiveness for art-related roles.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Berkeley Haas? I’m excited to join Q@Haas. As a transgender and queer MBA student, it was important to enroll in an MBA program with a strong community. I am excited to build community around our shared struggles, but even more importantly, I am excited to build community over our shared passions and interests.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I became an assistant principal at an elementary school in San Francisco’s Bayview district as students returned to campus after the COVID-19 shutdown. Many of our kids needed extra support, having missed critical content during the lockdown. To address this, I analyzed student data and created precise solutions to meet their needs, such as implementing an intervention system for 130 students. I also visited classrooms daily, providing individualized coaching, development, and support to our remarkable teachers.

The result: 74% of students achieved above-average growth in literacy. I am proud that my leadership helped students make up for the learning they missed and build a strong foundation they can carry into future grades and, ultimately, into their lives and careers.

At this point, what do you hope to do after graduation? I hope to serve in a role that merges my passion for art and justice with my skills in people and culture. I am currently open to all possibilities, but roles like lead of content for an educational technology company that creates innovative and unique resources currently excite me most.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Berkeley Haas’ MBA program? Make sure you learn, internalize, and reflect on the culture values of the program. They are baked into everything that Berkeley does and are important to reflect on in your application. Also, reach out to the admissions team early on in your process and ask for specific advice and questions. You will be met with care, grace, and support.

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