Curious Cardinals Mentor

Bryan W.

He/Him/His • majoring in Business Administration • class of 2020

PRO TIP:

When evaluating whether a mentor would be a good match for your student keep in mind that the greatest leading indicator of success is how well a mentor and their mentee get along.

Questions to ask yourself:

Would the student find this person inspiring?
Do they share any interests, hobbies, or lived experiences?

EDUCATION

2012 - 2016 • Miramonte High School • Orinda, California

2016 - 2020 • University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, California

I am passionate about mentoring students in the areas of Business / Entrepreneurship, Finance / Investing, Negotiation, Public Speaking, Debate, Law / Government / Policy, History Project, Reading, Academic Coaching, Executive Function, College Essay Writing, Writing, Economics, and Journalism.

Bryan W. (IN A NUTSHELL)

Hello! I'm Bryan, a Cal grad with a B.S. in Business Administration and minors in Public Policy and Computer Science. I got kicked out of elementary school, was suspended (twice) in high school ... and ultimately got on my feet because because my mentors took a chance on me, and helped me unleash my true potential.

I'm currently the Chief of Staff @Forage, a startup on a mission to modernize the social safety net. Think Stripe or PayPal, but for complex, highly regulated government benefits! We help merchants accept payment methods like SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) and EBT Cash (also known as welfare checks), so families in need can shop with their merchant of choice.

I was previously a Product Manager @Google, where I helped launch Google Wallet and scaled our consumer app from 0 -> 100 million users in 6 months. Before Google and throughout college, I worked part-time at Taco Bell, interned at an investment bank, sold a startup to Facebook (now Meta), and got a C in Finance (go figure). In high school, my sole pride and joy was competitive Speech & Debate (2nd place NX CA State Championship, Stanford Invitational Champion in NX and IX, etc.), and in middle school I learned that Play-Doh is, in fact, not edible. Time flies!

Speaking of time, in my free time I enjoy reading, lifting, backpacking, and exploring new foodie spots in the Bay Area and beyond. I'm a fintech and futurist geek, and enjoy hosting and attending dinners throughout the Bay with founders, operators, investors, and creatives. I also probably most definitely spend too much time on the internet.

I wouldn't be where I am today without my mentors, and I'm here to support you on your journey of a lifetime. Let's chat!

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT (SO FAR)

I recently joined the 1K Club (combined bench, deadlift, and squat > 1,000 pounds), and am hitting 275 lb. bench, 405 lb. deadlift, and 365 lb. squat.

Lifting has been incredible not only for my physical health, but also for my mental and emotional health as well. It has challenged me to surpass my limits, and push my comfort zone. I've applied this fresh confidence in my everyday work and life, and find myself more excited to meet new people, learn new things, and tackle new challenges. And contrary to what you may expect, my joints and lower back have literally never felt better (except after a PR day, when the adrenaline wears out and I hobble around for the next 24 hours or so).

It's crazy how 'lifting' got me to rethink myself and what I was capable of, and I absolutely encourage everybody to get into fitness! It most certainly doesn't have to involve throwing around weights like a Neanderthal; running, yoga, team sports, pretty much anything can help you strengthen your body and sharpen your mind!

FAVORITES