Meet UCLA Anderson’s MBA Class Of 2022

10 REASONS TO CONSIDER UCLA ANDERSON

Culture. Career Services. Academics. These were some of the benefits of a UCLA Anderson MBA by students and alike. Here is what they had to say about their favorite parts of their MBA experience (in no particular order):

1) Entertainment Management: “My goals are to pivot into tech with a long-term goal of starting my own venture at the intersection of media, technology, and education. Anyone considering a focus in the world of entertainment knows that UCLA Anderson has to make their list. UCLA Anderson’s commitment to an Entertainment Management specialization and the Center for Management of Enterprise in Media, Entertainment, & Sports (MEMES) make it unlike any other program. Couple that with Los Angeles being home to one of the largest tech startup ecosystems in the world, UCLA was an easy decision.”
Jordan Budisantoso (’22)

2) Technology: “I decided to go to UCLA because of the resources and opportunities the program provides for students transitioning into the tech industry. In conjunction with AnderTech, the student-run club also known as the “Gateway to Tech,” the Parker Career Center primes students for a career in tech through personalized coaching and interview prep. Additionally, students have the opportunity to work with the Easton Technology Management Center to pursue a Technology Leadership specialization, which prepares students how to be a leader of change in a technology-driven world. I am strongly convinced that these resources, combined with a curriculum emphasizing leadership and communication, will help me successfully transition into a Product Manager role in tech post-graduation.”
Garima Narang (’22)

3) Career Services: “Anderson provides a collaborative, case-focused curriculum and supportive environment that would enable me in pivoting my career. The Parker Career Center is regularly recognized as a top MBA Career Center, and the students I spoke with only had incredible things to say about the Parker advisors and Parker Programming. This was especially important for me as I plan to transition my career in both industry and function.”
Sami Sciacqua (’22)

“My biggest motivators were culture and career development opportunities. When I was considering schools, everyone I connected with strongly emphasized the collaborative culture at UCLA Anderson – your peers, second years MBAs, faculty, and administration are cheering for your success. People always make themselves available to support each other – that is clearly seen when peers who are applying for the same positions get together to practice and help make each other better candidates. The second driver for my choice was the Parker Career Management Center, ranked as a top career center. As I was applying for a summer internship and full-time positions, I felt empowered by Parker’s resources and staff, and supported along the way.”
Dani Ebersole (’20)

4) Business Creation Option: “The Business Creation Option capstone is something I am really looking forward to. The opportunity to launch a business within the safety net of school is invaluable. There won’t be another opportunity in my life when I can start a business with such low risk. And when you layer on the resources of the #1 public university in the country, you really do get an unparalleled experience.”
Jordan Budisantoso (’22)

5) Social Impact: “I am interested in impact investing and Anderson offers academic and extracurricular opportunities to explore this area. I was attracted by the opportunity to earn a social impact specialization, join Anderson Venture Impact Partners (student run impact fund), or pursue an internationally focused, pro-social Applied Management Research capstone project. I also had a chance to interact with members of the Parker Career Management Center and knew I would be supported in pursuing a meaningful career.”
Emily Dinino (’22)

6) Entrepreneurship: “UCLA Anderson has extraordinary entrepreneurship programming relative to many of the schools I looked at when applying. The Price Center and Entrepreneur Association are both first-in-class and offer so many opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship. Additionally, all students have the opportunity to start a business while in school through the Business Creation Option (BCO) capstone project. As someone who is interested in eventually pursuing entrepreneurship in the food and beverage space, I think this is an exceptional opportunity to build true entrepreneurial skills that I would not have available to me at other schools.”
Alexandre Moritz (’22)

“Some say it is counterintuitive to get your MBA to become an entrepreneur, but hiyo would not be where it is today without the help of so many individuals from UCLA Anderson. My teachers pushed us to research the feasibility of our concept. The Price Center and the UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator have opened so many doors to mentors, industry experts, and potential investors. The Wolfen Fellowship awarded by the Wolfen family gave me the opportunity to work on hiyo full-time in the summer between my first and second year. My fellow classmates participated in countless sampling events and surveys, giving us critical feedback. Four MBA classmates – Ben, Julia, Andrew, and Alex – worked on hiyo alongside me for their 9-month master’s thesis project, working tirelessly to position the company for sustained success. Lastly, through the presentations, competitions, and investor showcase I participated in (many of which my non-Anderson co-founder George joined me in), UCLA Anderson pushed me to have the confidence and resiliency to believe that I could become a great leader and entrepreneur. It takes a small army to make any venture successful, and I am forever grateful for my UCLA Anderson small army.”
Evan Quinn (’20)

7) Teaching Method: “I was very drawn to UCLA Anderson’s hybrid teaching style that combines lectures, case method, team simulations, and fieldwork. This dynamic approach helps me learn business fundamentals while preparing me to find my own leadership style. Aligned with its belief that the best leaders are also the best team players, the school offers many important leadership development opportunities to students, from numerous association board seats to executive coaching program.”
Kelly Zhang (’22)

8) Facilities: “As for the campus and location, Anderson really can’t be beaten. The class of 2020 likes to joke that we got the short end of the stick with our timing – our campus was under construction basically the entire time we were here, but now it’s better than ever. Its newest addition, Marion Anderson Hall, is truly an architectural jewel. It’s welcoming, ultramodern, high-tech, and somehow helps keep me focused on whatever I’m doing. Not sure how that’s possible when there’s so much beauty to be distracted by, but that’s just another piece of its magic. And then there’s Los Angeles, my adoptive home. It really does make you so much happier living here, I love it so much. The sunshine melted my icy New York heart right away.”
Ezra Glenn (’20)

9) Anderson Afternoons: “My favorite MBA tradition at UCLA Anderson is what we call ‘Anderson Afternoons,’ which takes place every Thursday. The student government, with support from administration, hosts a happy hour with heavy appetizers for the entire Anderson community, and it’s hosted directly on campus. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to unwind from a busy week over some delicious food and a glass of wine with some of their closest friends. As Anderson also has thriving non-MBA programs, Anderson Afternoons also serves as a great tool to meet students from the Masters of Financial Engineering, Ph.D., or Masters of Science in Business Analytics Programs.”
Ajey Kaushal (’20)

“The Anderson Student Association hosts a casual party in what’s basically our backyard, a beautiful, woodsy multilevel patio behind campus. We cater it and have a beer and wine bar for everyone in the Anderson community. There’s music and mingling, a very relaxed guest policy, and an extremely Cali-chill vibe. Professors and administrators come, as do the deans, and students from all the different programs. Sometimes prospective students in town for their interviews participate as well. It’s usually around 300-400 people, predominantly full-time students. It’s a sweet and fun way to end the week with everyone from your best friends to people you are just getting to know, and an essential piece of the Anderson social ecosystem. I’ll miss it dearly next year.”
Ezra Glenn (’20)

10) Student Peers: “Honestly, I just thought business school would be full of squares! I thought that no matter where I went, I’d be surrounded by people who I had nothing in common with as someone coming from a creative profession with an arts background and socialist values. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Anderson is teeming with like-minded people whom I will spend the rest of my life subverting systems of oppression alongside. Turns out we’re a very Bernie Sanders-friendly place. I can imagine some programs’ student bodies (most, probably) aren’t like that at all. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of this one.”
Ezra Glenn (’20)

ADVICE TO APPLICANTS

What qualities and experiences garner interest from Anderson admissions? What can you do to keep your application out of the reject pile? Who better to ask than Anderson MBAs themselves? This is what the Class of 2020 had to say about improving your odds of landing a future spot in the Anderson MBA.

1) Show Servant Leadership: “Anderson offers such an enriching student-led experience that we intrinsically love not just leaders but servant leaders – those individuals who take initiative and find ways for others to succeed while expecting nothing in return.”
Ajey Kauschel (’20)

2) Bring Ideas: “Show us how much you want to be a part of this environment. Tell us why Anderson is the ideal place for you to not only find your ideal job, but also the place where you can find and discover yourself. Do you see yourself wanting to be entrenched in Southern California’s thriving venture and startup scene? Then tell us how you will facilitate that for you and your fellow students through Anderson’s Entrepreneurship Association. Do you want to share your love and thirst for wine? Consider planning programming for your classmates by leading the Anderson Wine Club. There are so many professionally and culturally enriching facets of the Anderson experience – tell us not only how you plan to leverage those opportunities but also how you plan to lead and contribute to that experience.”
Ajey Kauschel (’20)

3) Reach Out: “Talk to us! The students make Anderson the incredible place that it is. If you’re interested in our program, talk to us. Pretty much everyone I know devotes a good chunk of their time to talk to prospective students. All student leaders (basically everyone) have their emails listed on the Anderson website. Reach out. There is an unprecedented willingness among Anderson students to share our experience and what we love about this place with others. Don’t be shy. If you find yourself wanting to be friends with the people you talk to, you’ve found the place for you. Channel what endears you about us in your essays and interviews, and demonstrate that you want to be a part of this community.”
Ezra Glenn (’20)

What led the UCLA Anderson’s Class of 2022 to pursue an MBA degree? What programs did they consider? What was the toughest question they were asked in the admissions process? How did they determine the right school fit? Find out answers to these questions and many more by clicking the student links below. 

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergrad Alma Mater	Last Employer
Ben Antoine	Brooklyn, NY	Carnegie Mellon University	The Boeing Company
Nahum Armas Fuentes	Monterrey, Mexico	Tec de Monterrey	NetPoint
Jordan Budisantoso	Diamond Bar, CA	California State Polytechnic University, Pomona	Washington Leadership Academy Public Charter School
Emily Dinino	Westlake Village, CA	Vanderbilt University	New Classrooms
Alexandre Moritz	Los Angeles, CA	University of Chicago	Commis Chef at Pasjoli
Garima Narang	Thousand Oaks, CA	University of Notre Dame	Fresh Curry Chefs
Gabriella Pesce Eliezer	Sao Paulo, Brazil	Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado (FAAP) and The University of Northampton	Kimberly-Clark
Sami Sciacqua	Lafayette, CA	University of Michigan	Oracle
Lincoln Sedlacek	Farina, IL	Yale University	Open Up Resources
Kelly Zhang	Diamond Bar, CA	University of California, San Diego	Vitality Health Plan