Elena Castaneda Gomez is a 2022 recipient of the Achievement Award, co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley Foundation and the Cal Alumni Association. The Achievement Awards are conferred annually at Berkeley Charter Gala. This text is reprinted from the biographical statement prepared for the event.
The daughter of El Salvadoran immigrants, Gomez was mentored by her grandfather, an accountant, which inspired her to pursue a degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from UC Berkeley.
Gomez currently serves as CFO of Toast, a technology platform for restaurants, and has been named, among other accolades, one of the SF Business Times’s “Most Influential Women in Business.” She and her husband, Juan, are committed to increasing representation for Hispanic students across all areas of study. Through their advocacy and philanthropic efforts, they aim to break down barriers for underrepresented groups.
Gomez has more than two decades of experience leading the financial operations of businesses at the intersection of technology, commerce, and customer experience. At Cal, Gomez is a member of the Haas School board, and a founding member of the Haas Center for Gender, Equity, & Leadership Advisory Council. She works with Dean Ann Harrison to recruit and retain students in advancement of the university’s principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Gomez is a proud recipient of the 2022 Campanile Excellence in Achievement Award, which recognizes alumni whose remarkable professional achievements reflect the excellence of their UC Berkeley education.
Learn more about the Achievement Awards.
