Levi Montoya

University of California-Berkeley, Haas School of Business

“Stand-up comedy enthusiast, vanilla latte addict, poker calling machine.”

Fun fact about yourself: I love making hip-hop and trap music beats!

Hometown: Palm Springs, CA

High School: Palm Springs High School

Major: Business Administration

Minor: n/a

Favorite Business Course: UGBA 191P: Leadership and Personal Development

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Core Consulting Group – President 2x semesters, Project Manager, Director of Marketing, Consultant
Undergraduate Researcher, Economic Analysis for Public Policy (Fedyk Laboratory, Haas School of Business)
Course Teacher, Breaking into Case Competitions DeCal (UGBA 198)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert – Mentor to an underserved youth
Berkeley Underground Scholars – Wrote letters helping incarcerated persons break into higher education
Haas External Case Competition Team – Mexico, fall 2024
Berkeley Haas Chevron Case Competition – 1st place
Paravel x GRC Case Competition – 2nd place
LinerAI x SBC Case Competition – 2nd place
Mastercard Advisors Case Competition – Finalist, 10/100 teams; awarded Best Presentation
Case Competition World Cup 2025 by Management Consulted – 8/253 teams
Capital One x UPenn CFA Case Competition – Finalist, 8/250 teams

Where have you interned during your college career?

Accenture – San Francisco, CA – Management Consulting Summer Analyst
OurCo – Berkeley, CA – Business Development Intern
F10 Creative – Palm Springs, CA – Busser
4 Saints – Palm Springs, CA – Lead Food Runner, Busser
849 – Palm Springs, CA – Busser
Kaiser Grille – Palm Springs, CA – Host

Where will you be working after graduation? Bain & Company – San Francisco: Associate Consultant

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The person who will make you fail but also make you succeed is yourself. I am a first-generation college student raised in a single-parent household, and growing up, I always limited myself. My first job in community college was a DoorDash driver. I would think to myself: “Is this all I really am capable of?”; “why wasn’t I raised in a different situation”; “why can’t I be better?” It may sound negative, but truthfully, many of us have these narratives of ourselves, and it pins us down.

In my sophomore year of college, one change I made is living with a Students Always attitude (one of Haas’s Defining Leadership Principles). If I’m not getting the material right now, can I put extra hours in and catch up? Can I talk to someone who can tutor and explain it to me? What resources are available online? Ultimately, living with a Students Always attitude, for me, has been about dropping the ego, not listening to my negative narrative, and utilizing any resource possible to learn and grow. So far, this way of life has paid dividends for me, and I truly think this is the biggest reason for any sort of achievement I’ve been able to accomplish.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? I have two pieces of advice, one from a personal perspective and the other more tactical. Personally, dream big, be ambitious and take risks. When taking over the presidency for my consulting club, I questioned myself a lot and wondered if I could handle the role. It felt like so much pressure. As a transfer student, I had been at Haas for one semester, and now I was going to lead a club? I texted one of my mentors, Tony Shi, about it. He told me: “If you succeed, great; if you fail, that will be your biggest growth story.” It ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made. Everything worked out, and I learned so much about myself, others and business, but it would’ve never happened if I didn’t take the risk.

Tactically, I would recommend students do at least two coffee chats per week (even when it’s not recruiting season)! Find out which type of people you get along with, what fields they’re in, and what insights they have to offer you. Business is all about people, and there’s so many amazing people from so many different business schools in the world. Talk to them!

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would’ve liked to reflect more on my values and how I was leading my life. I’m taking this class right now, Leadership and Personal Development (UGBA 191P). Every week, we journal and talk with our lab groups about how our experiences in life have informed our leadership styles today. When I started out in business school, I think I got lost in trying to follow the pack and be like others. Eventually, though, I realized the people I admire most in my life are incredibly reflective people who live authentically to their purpose and values. Clara Shih, who is one of my heroes, has this system where she reflects every quarter about the progress she’s made on certain goals and her life, and then sets goals and milestones for the next quarter. I’ve picked it up, and it’s worked wonders for me.

Someone who really exemplifies this for me is Wendy Chan, a senior manager I worked with at Accenture. She’s a phenomenal consultant and clearly leads with values, focus, and purpose. She has a nonprofit project she’s given her time to for years while at Accenture. Her work on the project is all about giving back and empowering the organization because it’s something she’s so deeply passionate about. I also sat in calls with her, where we would talk about life and career together, connect on a personal level. She really made me feel like an equal to her, rather than a grunt. Although I’m getting the hang of it now, I would’ve loved to start my time off in college more led by my personal values and purpose.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? Haas has been quick to embrace the inevitable rise of AI. In my courses, we’re encouraged to use AI as a tutor to deepen our understanding of the material. However, I believe the smartest move Haas has made is integrating AI into our career services center. The school now provides every student with AI tools for resume review and interview preparation. Since career prep is one of the best use cases for AI, these tools—drawing on data from hundreds of resumes and interview samples—offer objective feedback that truly enhances our prospects.

One insight I’ve gained from using AI is that it levels the playing field for everyone. Just as the internet was once called “the great equalizer,” I believe AI is having a similar impact. While leading my consulting club, I noticed that many members who use these tools have seen their productivity and knowledge skyrocket. Whether it’s for career prep or tutoring, AI is proving to be a powerful resource that can positively transform our society by making vital information more accessible to underserved communities. I’m excited to see how these tools evolve and look forward to leveraging them even more in the future.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Leading Core Consulting Group (CCG) has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. CCG was founded to help under-resourced students break into competitive business careers—a path that has traditionally been hard to access. In the beginning, the challenge felt overwhelming. I doubted whether I could handle everything, like sourcing clients for projects or advertising and pitching our club across campus.

Yet, looking back, the progress we’ve made is one of my proudest achievements. Over two semesters, we secured 10 clients—three of which were Fortune 500 companies. Even more meaningful to me is the role I played as a mentor to community college students, first-generation college students and minority students at Berkeley. The satisfaction I’ve gained from pushing past my comfort zone and succeeding in the role is immense. But what makes this achievement my proudest is the opportunity to help those who are underserved realize their potential and succeed.

Which classmate do you most admire? Haas never ceases to amaze me with the concentration of talent here. While there are dozens of classmates I admire, Ernesto Novoa Quintoa, BS 25, has really stood out to me since Day One. As a first-generation college student raised in a single-parent household like me, Ernesto hasn’t allowed his circumstances to limit his goals and dreams in life. He’s dedicated to becoming the best version of himself, with a laser-like focus on his goals. I’ve never met a peer so driven as he is—it’s remarkable. Beyond his determination, his generosity is also incredible. When I was recruiting for consulting, he spent a two-hour Zoom call with me, reviewing my behavioral responses and resume, sharing every tip he could offer. He really is a larger-than-life figure, and I’m so glad to have met him during my time at Haas. Ernesto, thank you for being you and for inspiring me so much.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my uncle Chuy. Although I may have been raised in a single-parent household, Chuy stepped in and offered advice when he saw I needed it. As an immigrant from Mexico, he’s had to endure some pretty hard things to build the life he currently has in the United States. I remember when I first got into Haas. He told me: “You are very lucky, but this is only the beginning. If I were you, I would be sleeping three hours and eating ramen noodles every day. Don’t take this for granted.” He’s an intense guy. But it’s exactly because of that reason I love him and respect him so much. Chuy, thank you for being there when I needed it and teaching me the value of hard work, grit and being honest with myself. I strive to be like you every day.

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

1) Make it to the C-Suite one day. I believe being an executive could expand the possible impact I can make with my life. I would love to contribute to a great company culture, further DEI initiatives and champion social impact.

2) Start a first-generation / community college student organization that helps students succeed and achieve what they’re capable of.

What made Levi such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Levi Montoya’s journey is an inspiring one. A first-generation college student from a single-parent household, he has consistently demonstrated resilience, determination and a deep sense of kindness. From the first day he stepped into my classroom, he stood out from the crowd for his engagement and curiosity. By contributing to class every day and demonstrating his empathy for fellow classmates, he made the classroom experience better and more meaningful for everyone. His experience as a community college transfer student only underscores his perseverance and adaptability, as he has thrived in a new environment while maintaining a focus on his academic, philanthropic and professional goals.

Levi has not only navigated the challenges of higher education with impressive skill, but he has also become a model of leadership and service to others. In his role as the president of the Core Consulting Group, Levi jumped in and made a commitment to expand the club to be more inclusive and more effective. Levi’s dedication to giving back to his community is equally noteworthy. During his time at community college, he devoted his time to volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, where he mentored younger students in need of guidance and support. This experience not only speaks to his character, but also his ability to build meaningful relationships and make a positive impact on those around him. I am confident that Levi Montoya’s passion for learning, leadership experience and commitment to service will allow him to excel and make a significant impact wherever he goes.”

Diane Dwyer
Professional Faculty, Haas School of Business
Principal, Dwyer Media Strategy

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