Building Bridges in the Bay Area: WBS Alumni in San Francisco

High above the Bay Area skyline, on the 16th floor of San Francisco’s iconic Transamerica Building, WBS alumni and students recently gathered for an evening of networking.

The alumni-led event brought together a mix of current students and graduates representing industries from engineering to finance, and entrepreneurship to consulting. The students were in San Francisco as part of the WBS MBA Entrepreneurial Finance module, an ideal backdrop for exploring venture capital and innovation. With both the course professor and members of the organising team joining the evening, the event blended academic learning with real-world insight and community spirit.

A highlight of the night was hearing from Elena Patra (MBA alum, 2009), who shared her remarkable journey from a background in computer science in France to leading product innovation in Silicon Valley. Over the years, Elena has held senior roles across the tech ecosystem including Product Manager at Facebook AI, Head of Product at Twine, and Senior Product Manager at NerdWallet, as well as serving as General Manager and Head of Product for AcreValue at Granular.

Reflecting on her time at Warwick, Elena described her MBA as a pivotal experience that bridged her technical expertise with strategic leadership, shaping her path toward global impact. Her insights on resilience, risk-taking, and lifelong learning offering a powerful example of how the WBS experience continues to shape careers across continents.

“It was a night where we were all challenged by the bright futures in front of us. Seeing one of our own, 15 years later, thriving at a pre-eminent firm confirmed that we made the right choice with WBS. The evening captured the essence of the WBS North America Alumni Network: ambitious minds, diverse journeys, and a shared curiosity about the future. Students left inspired and energised, reminded that the power of WBS extends far beyond the classroom and across the globe.”
Kevin Line, MBA student

Discover more about WBS Global Alumni Networks here. 
Meet Rachel Carroll, Regional Chair for the North America Global Alumni Network here.