Kalyn Saulsberry 

University of California Los Angeles’ Anderson School of Management

“I love to learn simply for the sake of learning.”

Hometown: Saint Louis, MO

Fun Fact About Yourself: I once participated in a bowling league.

Undergraduate School and Major: Harvard University, History Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: COPE Health Solutions, Program Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I fearlessly made a career pivot that ultimately helped me realize my career goals and values. After graduation, I moved to DC to launch a career in health care consulting at The Advisory Board Company and was excited to stay in the field of health care. However, I unexpectedly received an offer to work at Google, so I decided to change industries. While I learned that big companies and the tech sector were not for me, it solidified for me that I wanted to be in the health care sector. Getting this clarity has helped me immensely in determining what classes and clubs I will join at Anderson and what companies I will recruit for.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Enthusiastic – Everyone I have met is so excited to be back in school. While most people have clearly defined interests, they are all open to learning about new experiences.

UCLA Anderson is founded on three pillars: Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. Which pillar resonates most with you and why?  Share Success resonates with me the most. I am someone who has been privileged to have a number of mentors, family members, and friends who have been willing to share their wisdom, advice, tough love and encouragement with me over the years that has helped me make important career and personal decisions. I’ve always felt a drive to pay this forward and help others (whether its classmates, colleagues or members of my community) succeed.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  I appreciated that when I visited Anderson during an information session, the second-year student presented emphasized not only Anderson’s excellent academics and career services, but also their dedication to social impact. Going to an MBA, I definitely want to grow into a successful career, but I am also compelled to engage in and contribute meaningfully to my community. I really appreciated that Anderson made it clear that social impact was a priority.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Healthcare Business Association

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? What are you most proud of that’s not listed on your resume?

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  I want to keep growing within the health care industry and needed to develop more technical skills such as finance and stats to be able to be an effective leader in this space.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Northwestern University (Kellogg), Georgetown University (McDonough), Washington University in St. Louis (Olin)

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I visited each school where I applied. This helped me because the location was a key factor in determining where I would go to school. I knew that I wanted to be in a city that I would consider living in after graduation. Los Angeles had the sunshine and a number of appealing companies.

I also made a point of connecting to both students and alums in the city to learn more about their experiences. I listened for factors that I valued in an MBA program: collaborative culture, strong health-care-related academics, and a hands-on career center, and I also listened to how passionate each individual was about their school.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I can’t think of a single moment, but one inspiring moment for me recently was seeing an old picture of my grandmother who earned her master’s years ago. She earned her master’s at a time when it was even more rare for women, especially black women, to be able to pursue higher education. I am very proud to be following her legacy and hope to keep paving the way for others.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself using the leadership skills I have developed at Anderson to be a change leader in the health care industry. Outside of my work, I hope to continue mentoring and coaching high school students to help them build confidence and get accepted to a school.