Angel Tramontin, Berkeley Haas MBA Class of 2026
Age: 28
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio/ Caracas, Venezuela
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of South Carolina, double major in International Business and Global Supply Chain Management
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 6 YOE at LinkedIn, most recently on the BizOps team supporting LinkedIn Premium
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I’ve spent my entire career thus far working within a large tech company. I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity to grow and learn from some of the most intelligent people in the industry, working at one of the most exciting companies. With that experience under my belt, I felt this was the ideal opportunity to take a step out of that environment, take some risks, and apply my expertise in new areas that excite me. Not only did I want to explore my entrepreneurial itch, but I also wanted to take advantage of this moment in my life when I can step out of the corporate world to meet so many new people and ideas to inspire the next chapter of growth for my career.
Why did you choose Berkeley Haas? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Ultimately, I chose Haas because of three reasons. 1) The defining principles, namely “Confidence without Attitude”, really struck a chord with me. My parents were immigrants to this country, I’ve been a public school kid my whole life, I forged my own path from a “non-target” university to a top tech company in Silicon Valley – I’ve always embraced the mentality of hustling in silence while not being afraid to take risks. When I met current students and alumni in my application process, that was the resounding feeling I got from everybody on campus and I knew I had to be there. 2) The quality of the institutions within Berkeley’s campus is unparalleled. From the award-winning faculty at Haas to the nobel laureates that casually walk around campus to the impromptu happy hours with top VC’s in the valley, I wanted to be a part of this world – plus I had to keep my streak of being a public school kid! 3) Berkeley’s geographic location was a no-brainer for me. I’ve spent the last 6 years living in SF and with my ambitions of building a tech company, I had to stay in the Bay Area, the sunshine, mountains, and beaches don’t hurt either.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I have a tendency to say “yes” to mostly anything. I’m working on scaling that back a bit, given time is a scarce resource in the MBA, but I’m hoping it will create spontaneous moments of learning and connection with my classmates. There are so many different backgrounds converging on this campus, and I want to embrace the outside-of-the-classroom experiences as much as possible while also showing my classmates my little secrets of the Bay Area, too – like my favorite bike rides, Mission burrito spots, and concert venues.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have three citizenships! Born in the US, both parents from Venezuela, grandparents from Italy.
Post-MBA career interests:
Hoping to launch my own startup or join an early-stage company in the climate-tech or AI space.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Talk to current students as much as possible. This was the best way for me to understand what makes a school tick without having to physically travel there. Ask them why they chose that school, why they love it, why they may not love it, and all the hard questions that will assist you in the search process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would be very selective with the people I share my essays with. What I mean is that sometimes, getting too much feedback can actually slow you down or, even worse, decrease the effectiveness of the writing. I found myself asking all my friends and family to give me feedback, and ultimately, I ended up just going back and forth way too much, without actually making progress. Find three to five people you really trust, with diverse perspectives, and go deep with those people on crafting your story.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I obviously would have skipped the standardized testing. That’s the worst part of the process, once you finish that, the rest of the application is all about introspection. I ended up going through a test prep course that lasted eight weeks and it really was the only thing that kept me motivated.
What is your initial impression of the Berkeley Haas students/culture/community?
Already so incredible, just six weeks in! Everything from the classes to weekend trips has felt inclusive, organic, and fun. I’ve also been impressed by how much we’ve invested in experiencing the local Bay Area vibes so far rather than jetting off to new countries every weekend, which I have appreciated.
What is one thing you have learned about Berkeley Haas that has surprised you?
I was pleasantly surprised by how active students are in creating the environment around us at Haas. All the clubs and extracurriculars are student-run and really take their shape in the ways the MBA students design them to be. I’ve also found that there are so many different fellowships and in-semester internships for students to build hands-on experience without having to wait for the summer internship. Already, many of my classmates are taking on leadership roles and working with campus orgs like Skydeck, venture funds, and many more, just six weeks in.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am already feeling quite anxious about time. I want to do so many things while I’m here at Haas and am quickly learning that it’s just impossible. My goal is to let some of those feelings go and when I choose to commit to something, to go all in, rather than dwelling on the “FOMO”.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
40% of our class is international, and we already have some trips lined up where those classmates will be hosting us in their home countries. As someone who lives to travel and experience new cultures, I couldn’t think of a better way to embrace these two years away from the corporate world to expand our worldviews and take some really cool trips along the way.
