Tayler Hunter

University of California-Berkeley, Haas School of Business

“I am a severe multipotentialite. From philanthropy-to-film, I want to do it all!”

Fun fact about yourself: I have been to Disney World more than 17 times.

Hometown: Houston, Texas

High School: Fort Bend Christian Academy

Major: Business Administration and Molecular Cell Biology (Neurobiology emphasis)

Minor:

Favorite Business Course: Power and Politics in Organizations

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Co-president of the Bio Business Initiative

Co-president of the Black Student in Health Association

Vice-president of Doctors Without Borders, UC Berkeley Chapter

Where have you interned during your college career?

The Walker Lab
Houston, Texas
MicroSURP student
May 2022 — July 2022

The Walker Lab
Houston, Texas
Laboratory Technician
June 2021 — Present

The Maboudian Lab
Berkeley, California
Undergraduate Researcher
June 2021 — Present

The Saltz Lab
Houston, Texas
Undergraduate Researcher
June 2021 —August 2021

The Coleman Lab
Berkeley, California
Undergraduate Researcher
September 2020 —May 2021

The Coleman Lab
Berkeley, California
Junior Leadership Member
January 2021 — May 2021

Where will you be working after graduation? After graduation, I will be conducting research while applying to MD/PhD programs.

Who is your favorite business professor? My favorite business professor is Professor Edward Kass. I have taken two of his courses during my time at Haas, “Leadership” and “Power and Politics in Organizations.” In both courses, I have not only grown as a person, I have also learned practical skills that I will be able to use in any career I pursue.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The relationships you make are equally as important as the knowledge you gain. During my time at Haas, I have been fortunate to share in the camaraderie with like-minded peers and gain valuable mentorship from successful professionals. Through these relationships, I have been able to further my knowledge, cultivate passions and explore endeavors that I didn’t even think were possible. The lessons I learned in my business courses were valuable, but the relationships I formed along the way are invaluable to me.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?  Don’t be afraid to take the path less traveled. Business is not one-dimensional. There is not one track to be successful in business. Explore other paths, listen to different perspectives, and most importantly, foster your passions.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? What surprised me the most about majoring in business is how much it aligned with my other passions. Being a student looking to enter the healthcare field, I had thought that I would have to take on two identities: as a pre-med student and as a business student. However, I was wrong. I’ve been able to marry the two passions so beautifully.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would not be afraid to take risks. I would have explored the courses that seemed completely out of my comfort zone. That would have been an opportunity for even more growth.

What business leader do you admire most? A business leader I admire most is my father, Steven Hunter. I have seen him grow over the trajectory of his career and I admire how he behaves as a leader. He has learned the importance of knowing when to lead and when to learn and I think the world of him for that. I hope to share those same leadership skills in the future.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The academic achievement that I am most proud of is being able to consult, through a capstone course for an emerging biotech company during the preclinical stages. I was able to provide them with commercial, financial, and clinical plans that would aid in their success and hopefully allow them to dominate the market.

Which classmate do you most admire? A classmate who I most admire is Malaysia Hilliard. She is the perfect example of someone who has a good work-life balance. From double majoring, working two jobs, and having a thriving social life, she has truly mastered the art of doing it all without compromising.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? The person I would like to thank the most for my success is my mom, Laticia Hunter. She is not only my best friend, but she is also my mentor, my cheerleader, and my motivation for success. She is the type of person who encourages my unquenchable thirst for knowledge and for discovering something new. She also has this unwavering confidence in me (more than I do sometimes) that I can achieve anything I desire, and I can’t wait to prove her right.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Start a nonprofit that provides underprivileged students with the necessary resources and mentoring to be successful in a wide range of career fields.
2. Found a biotechnology company that targets diseases that are primarily prevalent in underrepresented populations.

What are your hobbies? I absolutely love photography. In high school, I was lucky enough to have my work displayed in a few local museums. I am looking forward to getting back to my craft after graduation.

What made Tayler such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2023?

“Tayler Hunter was an invaluable addition to the Class of 2023 because she combined the curiosity to ask the right questions with the tenacity to find the right answers. Whether it was meeting with an industry executive or presenting with her team consulting for a biotech startup, Tayler always brought her best and was eager to learn how to do even better. Her classmates and instructors enjoyed the privilege of working with her, and we look forward to seeing Tayler continue to grow and succeed in life after Cal!”

From: Monique Ellis
(she/her/hers)
Director of Admissions
Undergraduate Programs

Professor Matthew Grennan
Robinson Chancellor’s Chair and Faculty Co-Director, Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program
Associate Professor, Economic Analysis & Policy and Entrepreneurship & Innovation Groups
Haas School, University of California, Berkeley

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