The first graduating class of the Berkeley Haas Flex MBA, seen here when the program began in 2022. Haas photos
Emily Harmon didn’t want to uproot her life a second time. She’d already relocated across the country for her job in Seattle and wasn’t about to do it again for business school. But she also didn’t want to compromise on quality — or on the cohort experience that many remote programs sacrifice.
Then she found Berkeley Haas.
“When I learned about the Flex MBA format, it was everything I was looking for,” says Harmon, now among the first graduates of the pioneering program. “I could move through the curriculum with a dedicated cohort, and still take advantage of on-campus opportunities. That mix of structure, flexibility, and community was exactly what I needed.”
A HYBRID THAT ACTUALLY FEELS HUMAN
Launched in 2022 as a new format within the Haas School of Business’ top-ranked Evening & Weekend MBA program, the Flex MBA was designed for working professionals who live outside the Bay Area or simply need more flexibility. In late May, the program celebrated its first-ever graduating class — a milestone for a hybrid model that blends live online learning with in-person engagement.
Haas Flex MBA graduate Lisa Dalgliesh, left, and Evening and Weekend MBA Executive Director Leah Rozeboom at commencement in May. Haas photo
A total of 67 Flex students were invited to participate in Berkeley Haas’ May 2025 commencement. Of those, 37 officially had their degrees conferred, while the remaining 30 are on track to graduate between August 2025 and May 2026. (One Flex MBA student completed the program in just two years, graduating in May 2024, and walked in last year’s ceremony.)
The appeal of the Flex format is clear: live, interactive courses offered remotely during the week, with optional in-person electives and immersive campus experiences several times a year. For Harmon, who worked full-time and supported her family in Seattle, that meant she could stay rooted while still building real relationships with classmates.
“I know every single person in my cohort,” she tells Poets&Quants. “We’ve all been through a lot together, and I’ve made some incredible friendships that will last a long time. A lot of people worry you can’t really make connections in an online MBA. I’m proof that you absolutely can.”
She even took a week-long in-person elective — “AI for Business” — in her final year. “That was such a fun and valuable experience. I didn’t attend every in-person event, but when I did, it reinforced that we weren’t just learning remotely — we were part of something.”
CAREER MOVES, INTERNAL MOBILITY & ENTREPRENEURIAL LEAPS
The Flex MBA’s career impact has already materialized for many graduates — including Harmon, who secured a promotion at her company during her third year.
Haas Flex MBA Tony Lee: “If you’re motivated, you can get just as much — if not more — out of this program than being there full time.” Haas photo
“I went in wanting to accelerate within my current organization, not make a big pivot,” she says. “And I did exactly that. I stepped into a new role in February that I don’t think I could have landed without the MBA. You just don’t get exposure to some of these skills and ideas on the job when you work for a large, complex company.”
Fellow grad Jeric Huang, a Los Angeles-based consultant who travels frequently for work, echoed that sentiment. “Unlike other part-time programs, Haas offered a structure that allowed me to balance work, life, and school without compromising on the quality of the experience,” he says. “I took about half of my coursework on campus through immersion weeks, the Global Network for Advanced Management, and weekend electives. That flexibility made a huge difference.”
For Huang, the program was equally transformative: “While in the program, I was promoted to managing director,” he tells P&Q. “The MBA helped me build confidence, stretch into new responsibilities, and redefine what success looks like.”
Then there’s Tony Lee, a Calgary-based pharmacist and single dad who entered the program seeking business acumen and left with a funded healthcare startup. “The Haas ecosystem helped me realize I didn’t need to wait years to move into leadership — I could build something now,” Lee says.
Lee met his co-founders, both Flex MBA classmates, early in the program. Their startup went through Berkeley’s LAUNCH accelerator, then 500 Global’s Alberta Innovates Accelerator, and was recently accepted into Techstars Baltimore. “It’s surreal,” he says. “I couldn’t have imagined this when I started.”
NOT JUST CURRICULUM — COMMUNITY
Much of the program’s strength lies in its culture of collaboration. Haas’ Defining Leadership Principles — like Confidence Without Attitude and Beyond Yourself — aren’t just taglines. They shape the community.
“The people you meet — classmates, professors, alumni — will challenge you, support you, and often surprise you,” says Huang. “That network is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”
Harmon agrees — and credits her cohort’s intentionality in creating community, even from a distance. “You have to put in the work to build the environment you want,” she says. “Plan virtual events. Organize regional meetups. And if you want to be even more involved, take on a role — be a cohort rep, join the leadership council. It’s all there if you raise your hand.”
ADVICE FROM THE FIRST FLEX GRADS: BE CLEAR, BE READY, BE INTENTIONAL
Each graduate shared advice for prospective students. Harmon’s top tip? Be honest with yourself about your goals.
“If you’re doing this just to check a box, you won’t get nearly as much out of it,” she says. “But if you come in with purpose — whether it’s internal mobility, a pivot, or launching something of your own — there are so many ways to make that happen.”
Huang encourages new students to trust the format. “You will get a rigorous education, strong connections, and leadership development. It pushed me in ways I didn’t expect.”
Lee’s advice is simple but resonant: “If you’re motivated, you can get just as much — if not more — out of this program than being there full time.”
As for what’s next, Harmon is leaning into her new role — and maybe a few new hobbies. “I need to rediscover what free time feels like,” she laughs. “Maybe tennis. Maybe piano. But honestly, this experience reminded me how much I love learning. I don’t think I’ll stop.”
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