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bears in business

Sharon Ku ’08 (right) co-founded Uji Time in 2016. The first store opened on Telegraph Avenue and has been serving taiyaki ice cream with traditional Asian flavors to the Berkeley community since then. / Cal Alumni Association / KLC Fotos / Ariel Nava
Cal Culture

Adding to Berkeley’s Multiculturalism, One Ice Cream at a Time

By Amanda Chiu

Sharon Ku ’08 uses ice cream (and her nutritional science degree) to give back to UC Berkeley and encourage multiculturalism through her dessert cafe Uji Time.

Ryan Waliany ’08 / Courtesy of Ryan Waliany
Career

Bears in Business: Ryan Waliany

At Cal, Ryan Waliany ’08 learned to work smart and focus on the learning experience. Those lessons now influence his entrepreneurship today.

Stuart Smith ’70, founder of Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery. / Courtesy of Stuart Smith
Career

Bears in Business: Stuart Smith ’70

The award-winning Smith-Madrone co-founder discusses the ways his Cal experience at UC Berkeley influenced his decision to enter the wine industry and shaped his business practices.

Jason Mikami ’92, MBA, continues his family’s legacy of producing hand-crafted wines in Lodi, CA. / Courtesy of Jason Mikami
Career

Bears in Business: Jason Mikami ’92, MBA

Uber director and vineyard business manager Jason Mikami ’92, MBA, considers UC Berkeley the best entrepreneurial training ground.

Career

Bears in Business: Giorgio Tavecchio

In 2008, Giorgio Tavecchio ’12 walked onto the Cal football team. Years later, his UC Berkeley experience still shapes his careers both as an NFL placekicker and winemaker.

Career

Bears in Business: Jamba Dunn’s Plant-Based Kombucha Is Cultivating Change

Originally from Southern California, Jamba Dunn ’97 transferred to Berkeley hoping to study sociology, which led to an interest in Egyptology and Near East studies.

Cal Culture

Trailblazers in STEM and Business: Celebrating Cal Alumni in Black History

Black Cal alumni trailblazers have made significant accomplishments in their fields. These individuals are honored for the notable impact they have made in our communities, professions, and in the world. Although there are many more notable Black Cal alumni in both STEM and business, here is a glimpse at just a few individuals who have […]