The Latino Business Association (LBSA) is a non-profit organization at the University of California, Berkeley dedicated to its members' advancement in the pursuit of their professional development and self-improvement. LBSA was officially established in 1998, when only three Latino students were admitted into UC Berkeley's Walter A. Haas School of Business. These three unique individuals, Ulysses Romero, Eddie Martin, and Jorge Rodriguez, witnessed the low representation of Latinos in both academia and the corporate workforce. They realized the great necessity for an organization that could serve as resources for undergraduate Latino students seeking to achieve academic success and business aspirations. Following this epiphany, an idea rose and LBSA was founded. As a result, the founders and the first generation of LBSA members excelled in their courses and succeeded in incorporating themselves in the corporate World.

 

WHAT WE DO

LBSA is the most recognized Latino organization on campus for its diverse pool of sponsors including the Haas School of Business, The Big Four (Deloitte, E&Y, KPMG, PWC), Wells Fargo, Chevron, Macy's, Gap, and Goldman Sachs.  LBSA serves its members as a catalyst to be successful in their academic and professional careers. Because of our large pool of sponsors LBSA is able to conduct a variety of programs and events designed to help student maximize their professional potential. The core benefits LBSA offers to its student members include:

Professional Development

Each semester, LBSA and its corporate sponsors conduct several events that serve to develop the professionals skills of its members; these events include: resume building, network, business etiquette, and public speaking workshops. Social Events LBSA organizes several social events that allow its members and corporate professionals to interact and form a beneficial relationship with one another. These social events include office visits, social mixers in San Francisco, sport tournaments, tailgate events and more.

Sponsorship to National Conventions

LBSA's partnership with national and local organizations (i.e. Association of Latino Professional in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) provides its members an extensive network that opens professional opportunities nationwide. In addition, LBSA sponsors its members to attend national conventions each year that are hosted in different major cities of the Unites States such as the National Hispanic Business Association (NHBA) Leadership Conference.

Mentorship Programs

LBSA's Buddy Mentorship Program assigns each member with a senior LBSA member who mentors him/her throughout the academic year. This gives its members early insight on how to pave their way towards a successful academic and professional career.

Study Hall

LBSA has study hall two times a week throughout the semester which focuses on assisting its members with course material. Study hall also gives its members access to over a hundred old exams and study guides.

Community Service Events

Community outreach and involvement is a huge priority for LBSA. Each year, LBSA hosts fundraisers and participates in activities involving non-profit organizations such as Making Changes Freedom School and, VITA Tax Aid, and the Boys and Girls club of El Sobrante. Scholarships This year, LBSA gave out more than $2000 worth of scholarships on behalf of its corporate sponsors. The scholarships were given to active members based on merit and their involvement in LBSA activities. Through the above programs and events, LBSA has forged a relationship between corporate professionals and students to support one another in order to increase diversity in the global workforce.