“Student Leaders” Series Part 2: Lucia Casella on Navigating Haas, Leadership & Career Growth

In this episode, hosts Vance and Michele welcome Lucia Casella, an engineer turned MBA student at Berkeley Haas, to discuss her experiences in the Evening Weekend MBA (EWMBA) program. As a member of the LUX 2026 cohort and the VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Belonging (DEIJB), and Mental Health Awareness (MHA), Lucia shares insights into balancing a career, academics, and leadership roles.

She dives into what drew her to Haas, her experience in the Flex program, and how she stays organized amid the challenges of an MBA. Lucia also reflects on the importance of community, mental health initiatives, and the role of women in leadership. Plus, we get a peek into her love for reading, her favorite classes, and her vision for the future. If you're considering an MBA, especially as a remote or working professional, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!

*Here@Haas Podcast is produced by University FM.*

Episode Quotes:

On Ladies Who Lux Channel as a Lifesaver

Coming from engineering, there's not a lot of women in leadership. Depending on what industry you're in, there's not even a lot of women that you're working with. And I just really like connecting women who are in those similar fields and just chatting about that common experience. And kind of realizing we don't have to pretend to be men or fake-watch sports to have meaningful conversations about business. We can just be ourselves and connect about all that good stuff.

How an MBA Helps Engineers Bridge the Gap Between Tech and Business

For engineers, I think our education was very focused on the science of it all. I think a lot of engineers could benefit by gaining some more people skills, communication, and understanding how the business runs because if you don't understand the context that you're operating within, like, you can be the best engineer, but it needs to make sense for what the business is doing. So, if you have any interest whatsoever in figuring that kind of stuff out, certainly getting an MBA is a great way of doing that.

Show Links:

• Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA Program
• Diversity Symposium