Rich Lyons, Ph.D., began his term as the 12th Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, on July 1, 2024, as the first undergraduate alum to serve as Chancellor, receiving his BS degree from Berkeley in 1982. He returned to Berkeley in 1993, joining the faculty after earning his Ph.D. in Economics from MIT and following six years on the faculty at Columbia University. Lyons is also known for culture leadership – anchoring institutions on distinctive values that help create a cohesive community with a shared understanding of, and support for, the mission. Read his full bio
Marc Fisher has served as UC Berkeley's Vice Chancellor for Administration since September 2017, bringing more than 27 years of experience within the University of California system. He leads the Administration Division, a team of over 1,700 staff across ten departments that provide the vital services enabling Berkeley’s teaching, research, and public service mission.
Under his leadership, the division advances a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on sustainability, resilience, and organizational effectiveness. The work of the division ranges from facilities, capital projects, and IT to finance, human resources, safety, and campus services—delivering integrated support that keeps Berkeley running every day. Read his full bio.
James Robilotta, CSP, is a leadership author, motivational speaker, emcee, and trained improv comedian. After years of building, training, and leading teams, James followed an entrepreneurial dream and built two successful businesses. The first is an organization that incorporates freestyle rap into improv comedy (a success story for another day). And the second is his speaking and coaching business (a success story for today).
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James has been speaking internationally to willing and unwilling audiences since 2009 and has found that quality humor is the secret to hosting powerful conversations that make a genuine impact. His attendees leave feeling recharged, introspective, and ready to get out of their own way.
With years of research (and a few too many real-life case studies within his work), James has learned everything he can about fighting apathy and building strong company cultures. He uses this insight to help leaders manage and retain talent and give feedback that sticks, and to help organizations create community buy-in using curiosity.
James’ cornerstone concept is that we as humans can’t learn from people who are perfect, we can only learn from people who are imperfect. And companies like American Express, GE, Accenture, and Afterpay have gravitated toward this message and found the insights to be invaluable in shifting the way their people show up for each other.
James is working to bring humanity and community back into the workplace. He is on a mission to ensure that people are seen, heard, respected... and giggling a little, too.
Saikat Chaudhuri is the inaugural Faculty Director of the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (M.E.T.) Program, a flagship dual-degree program in engineering and business at the University of California at Berkeley. He is also the inaugural Faculty Director of the Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Hub, a startup incubator that aims to make entrepreneurship accessible and easier for everyone across the campus. He holds the Grimes M.E.T. Chancellor’s Chair at the university, with a joint faculty appointment in the Entrepreneurship & Innovation as well as Management of Organizations groups at the Haas School of Business, along with the department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering.
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Chaudhuri’s research specializes in corporate growth and innovation strategies, particularly high-tech mergers and acquisitions, high-value outsourcing and partnerships, and technological innovation in dynamic environments. His publications span both scholarly and managerial outlets, and his work has been recognized from the field’s leading professional associations including the Academy of Management and Strategic Management Society.
An award-winning educator, Chaudhuri has designed and taught popular undergraduate and MBA courses on corporate strategy, management of technology, and innovation. He has also led and delivered customized executive education programs to a myriad of top firms around the world. He has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards and accolades at all levels across his academic career.
Chaudhuri’s work has been cited by leading media, and he is often interviewed or quoted by the global press on contemporary business affairs. He is regularly invited to speak at corporate forums, industry events, and academic conferences across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Based on his research and experience, he advises leading global corporations and governments worldwide, including providing expert legal testimony.
Chaudhuri came to Berkeley in 2021 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he served on the faculty of The Wharton School for over 16 years, holding leadership positions including Executive Director of the Mack Institute for Innovation Management, and Interim Director of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology. His prior professional experience includes corporate development at Mannesmann AG, in addition to stints with Citibank, McKinsey and Company, and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.
Chaudhuri earned his Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Multinational Management from the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology at the University of Pennsylvania, Master’s degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University, and Doctoral degree in Technology and Operations Management from Harvard University.
Eugene Whitlock, J.D., UC Berkeley’s Chief People & Culture Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor-Human Resources. Eugene leads a 100-person human resources department including talent acquisition, people and organization development, employee and labor relations, total rewards, diversity equity, inclusion and belonging, and human resources information systems. Eugene also serves on the governing board of the American Research Universities-Human Resources Institute and the Human Resources Leadership Council for the University of California. During his time at UC Berkeley, Eugene has emphasized the creation of a workplace where everyone can be themselves and feel like they belong. Read his full bio.