This conference seeks to investigate the following themes related to the TTIP: the dynamics of the lobbying and negotiation process both in the U.S. and the E.U.; efforts to design a TTIP in the context of other Mega-FTAs—TPP and RCEP—and the World Trade Organization (WTO); and the broader geopolitical and security context in which the negotiations are taking place (specifically its effect on trade agreements in Asia involving China, Japan, and Taiwan). Photo: Reuters

The Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) provides aspiring entrepreneurs with mentoring, exposure, and $50,000 in prizes to transform their ideas into businesses that will have positive real world impact. Founded in 1999 by MBA students at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, the GSVC culminates each year with the Global Finals and Conference at Berkeley in April, gathering teams from around the world and Bay Area professionals for a day of learning and networking. GSVC has evolved into a global network supported by an international community of volunteer judges, mentors and student organizers and a partnership of premier business schools in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In 2014, GSVC received 600 entries from nearly 40 countries.  Previous years’ finalists include Husk Power, Revolution Foods, and d.light design. Since its inception in 1999, the GSVC has awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars to emerging social ventures and has introduced early-stage social venture entrepreneurs to the investment community.

The Latin American Business Conference is an annual event organized by LAHBA that brings together Haas and UC Berkeley students, alumni and faculty, as well as other members from the San Francisco Bay Area business community who are interested in Latin America. In its sixth edition held in April 2015, the conference hosted 180 attendees and had prominent speakers from Walmart, Uber, Duke Energy, SunPower among other companies and other successful entrepreneurs from Latin America who are currently working in the Bay Area. The aim was to create an environment for developing in-depth conversations by matching two very different leaders of the same space.