About me

My name is Derek Scarsone, a UC Berkeley Haas graduate with a passion for real estate, finance, and learning. I am dedicated to making a positive impact on the world by optimizing resources and addressing critical issues to build a brighter future for humanity.

"By weaving our diverse threads of knowledge and effort into a shared tapestry, we shape a future far brighter and more resilient than any we could imagine alone. Collaboration is the catalyst that transforms individual potential into collective greatness."

I have an insatiable passion for learning and am always on the lookout for opportunities to apply my skills and knowledge in meaningful ways. With a strong interest in finance, I am particularly drawn to environments that challenge me to grow and innovate, allowing me to contribute to projects that have a significant impact. My goal is to continuously expand my expertise in finance while making tangible contributions to initiatives that drive progress and positive change.

My Journey

Started Community College as a Mechanical Engineer at Santiago Canyon/Santa Ana College - August 2020

Switched to Business Administration at Santiago Canyon/Santa Ana College - January 2021

Began Helping My Father with His Law Practice - March 2021

Graduated Community College and Transferred to UC Berkeley Haas - July 2022

Interned at Financial Advisors Network, Inc. - Jan 2024

Graduated UC Berkeley - May 2024

Obtained my California Real Estate License - November 2023

Obtained my Security Industry Essentials Certificate (SIE) - November 2023

Berkeley Coursework

Summer 2022

UGBA 196: Special Topics in Business Administration (Quantitative)

UGBA 196: Special Topics in Business Administration (Qualitative)

Term Reflection: During my first semester, I immersed myself in foundational courses that provided a comprehensive introduction to business acumen. These classes equipped me with essential skills in presentation, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and effective communication techniques.

Fall 2022

UGBA 102A: Financial Accounting I gained a deep understanding of the fundamentals of accounting and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), learning to maintain accurate and honest records of business activities.

UGBA 103: Introduction to Finance This class, which quickly became my favorite, introduced me to key finance concepts such as CAPM, DCFs, LBOs, portfolio diversification, WACC, and investment valuation.

UGBA 105: Leading People As my second favorite course, it emphasized the significance of workplace diversity, altruism, and overcoming unconscious biases.

UGBA 106: Marketing A highly enjoyable course that explored various strategies businesses use to expand their influence and market share. Key topics included SWOT analysis, PESTEL analysis, AIDA modeling, marketing mix, and Willingness To Pay (WTP).

Spring 2023

UGBA 100: Business Communications I learned the importance of business etiquette, including writing formal notices, properly handling employee terminations, managing bad publicity, and effective workplace communication.

UGBA 101A: Microeconomic Analysis of Business Decisions One of the most challenging classes, it covered consumer elasticities, optimal consumption and output, decision trees for NPV derivation, market structures, game theory, and policy implications.

UGBA 102B: Managerial Accounting This course focused on internal decision-making processes from a managerial accounting perspective, teaching me to maximize profitability, conduct multiple outcome analyses, and understand the implications of various decisions.

UGBA 107: The Social, Political, and Ethical Environment of Business Taught by one of my favorite professors, Alan Ross, this class highlighted the importance of considering the broader impact of business decisions on all stakeholders.

UGBA 131: Corporate Finance and Financial Statement Analysis This class broke down a business into its fundamental financial components, teaching me how to value a company, create a financial waterfall, construct a pitch deck, and identify ways to enhance a business's strengths and mitigate its weaknesses.

Fall 2023

ECON 181C: International Trade This class focused on the effects of international trade on companies and markets, using the Ricardian Model to explain changes in prices, wages, skill premiums, and the quantities of goods and companies.

SOCIAL 113AC: Sociology of Education An inspirational class that emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and education. The discussion-based format highlighted how education is crucial for societal advancement.

UGBA 101B: Macroeconomic Analysis of Business Decisions I learned about macroeconomic principles and their impact on GDP, savings, and consumption.

UGBA 104: Introduction to Business Analytics This course demonstrated the practical application of statistics and Monte Carlo simulations in business. We used data to identify optimal outputs, target customers, set profit-maximizing prices, and minimize costs, emphasizing efficiency within a business.

Spring 2024

ECON 165: Money and Banking A fascinating exploration of the history and role of money in society, taught by a FED employee. The course covered the FED's monetary and fiscal policies, stress testing strategies, bank-run prevention measures, and the emerging relationship between cryptocurrency and traditional banking.

UGBA 122: Financial Information Analysis An advanced accounting class that delved into GAAP and IFRS, auditing, and sophisticated record-keeping. I learned the correct methods for depreciating and amortizing assets and liabilities to accurately reflect a business's financial health.

UGBA 135: Personal Financial Management This comprehensive course covered all aspects of personal finance, including 401Ks, IRAs, portfolio construction, loans, credit building, insurance plans, financing, and retirement planning.

UGBA 180: Introduction to Real Estate and Urban Land Economics I acquired fundamental knowledge in real estate valuation, modeling, and pitching. Through teamwork, we valued properties using future projects to justify current bid prices, ensuring we met our debt and equity IRRs.