Meet The UC Riverside School Of Business MBA Class Of 2024

CLASS HANGOUTS

In their downtime, you’ll find the Class of 2024 at many of Riverside’s hotspots: The Getaway Café, The Barn, and Duke’s Bar and Grill. The Barn, in particular, is a place where MBAs and staff can kick back and get to know each other, says Snigdha Ojha.

“This is also a good way to learn the formal culture in an informal setting,” Ojha adds. “Tuesday has become my new Friday, as I can take a break at the start of the week by just sitting and chatting with everyone. A fun fact about the Bar: The beverages offered are brewed at UCR. Sometimes, there are also concerts or performances with affordable ticket prices for students, which also gives me a glimpse of the L.A. lifestyle I had heard about. And that’s all on campus.”

Off campus, the class often descends upon downtown Riverside and the Riverside Food Lab, a food hall featuring over a dozen spots for cuisine ranging from Creole specialties to Lebanese recipes. “It’s such a fun atmosphere, and there are so many great cuisines to try—there’s something for everyone,” observes Harman Dhillon, who is using her MBA to transition from hospitality to international project management. “More importantly, this time away from campus helps form closer friendships and learn more about each other as individuals.”

CLASS GOALS

What does the Class of 2024 discuss at places like Mixies Ice Cream and Cookies or Mi Cafecito Coffee? Like all MBAs, the future is bound to come up. Looking ahead, Grant Rueca aspires to work in a Fortune 500 company as a marketer, with the long-term goal of creating a family-like atmosphere.

“As the oldest son in my family, I have the role as leader for my 10 siblings. This means during difficult times it was often up to me to step up and lead my family to success. Therefore, when I think of being a leader and manager, I think of developing my team as a family and creating great results with that family. I’ve always aspired to be a leader and manager at work, and earning an MBA will get me much closer to that goal.”

Evelyn Lazo isn’t taking anything for granted. Remembering the hurdles and delays she faced in getting into business school, Lazo pays it forward by devoting her time to volunteering in her community. For her, a career is less about a role, but more about finding a community that shares her values and provides a platform to make a difference.

“My definition of success is not only achieving a personal or professional goal, but it is being happy with oneself and one’s unique accomplishments. After graduation, I hope to pursue a career in project management with a company that values its employees and empowers them to be better than they were yesterday. This happens when a person follows his or her own dreams without allowing society’s paradigms to influence how one should act, achieve, or exist.”

A CLASS PROFILE

By the numbers, the Class of 2024 represents improvements across the board from the previous year. The class size rose from 56 to 68 students, as did average GMAT score (632 to 646). By the same token, UCR AGSM achieved gender parity, with the percentage of women climbing from 45% to 54%. The majority of the class – 54% — are international students who hail from 9 countries. Overall, GMAT scores ranged from 600-710 in the 85% percentile, while Verbal and Quant GRE scores averaged 152 and 162 respectively.

Academically, 41% of the class majored in Business and Commerce as undergrads. 18% of the class hold degrees in Humanities-related fields, while 16% studied Engineering. The remainder of the class earned degrees in the Social Sciences, Computer Science, Economics, and Hard Sciences.

In terms of professional experience, the largest segment of the class – 19% – last worked in Financial and Insurance Services. 13% held sales-related positions, with eCommerce and Retail (10%) and High Tech (8%) professionals representing sizable shares. The remainder of class also boasts experience in consulting, consumer goods. Education, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, human resources, law, manufacturing, media and entertainment, real estate, and the military.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM

The arrow is definitely pointed up for the AGSM MBA. Thanks to heavy investments in infrastructure, programming, and student services, MBA can access more resources and opportunities than ever. What can current and future MBAs expect from the program? This fall, P&Q reached out to four members of the URC AGSM leadership team. They included the following individuals:

• Yunzeng Wang, Dean, School of Business
• Rami Zwick, Associate Dean of Graduate programs and Professor of Marketing
• Ashish Sood, Academic Director of MBA and PMBA Programs and Associate Professor of Marketing
• Sabine Freij, Director of Student Affairs and Student Services

Here are the team’s thoughts on areas ranging from how the MBA program leverages its Los Angeles ecosystem to how it is increasingly integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into its programming.

P&Q: What are the two most exciting developments at your program in the past year and how will they enrich the MBA experience for current and future MBAs?

Dean Yunzeng Wang: “This fall, UC Riverside School of Business breaks ground on our new School of Business building that is part of the school’s complex, encompassing three buildings. As our undergraduate and graduate student populations continue to grow, we have outgrown our current building – the iconic Anderson Hall. The ground-breaking on the new building is an exciting development for our school, equipping our future students and faculty with a central hub for group study projects, speaker events and networking, a fintech lab, seminar room, and state-of-the-art technology in the classroom.”

Dr. Sabine Freij: “As our graduate student population expands, our students have had a direct hand in shaping the learning environment and community at our school. Last year’s MBA cohort initiated the launch of five clubs and organizations including the Programming Club, the Entrepreneurship Club, and Women in Business. These student-led organizations provide opportunities to engage in career and intellectual aspirations. They are a safe and supportive environment for students to learn, explore, and grow together as a community while leaving a legacy for future students and the larger community of Riverside.”

Dean Yunzeng Wang: “Additionally, our school has permanently moved to a test-optional admissions policy, which looks at candidates from a holistic perspective. We are excited about the opportunity this policy brings us to continue to provide access to students from diverse backgrounds, recognizing that you do not have to be a good test-taker to be highly qualified and competent in the business world.”

P&Q: If you were giving a campus tour, what is the first place you’d take an MBA applicant? Why is that so important to the MBA experience?

Dr. Rami Zwick: “Other than our historic building Anderson Hall, we’d take you to The Barn for one of our events or weekly happy hours. The Barn is one of our favorite locations on campus for socializing! Built in 1917 as part of the citrus experimentation campus, it was a working barn and horse stable, and was later transformed into a dining and music performance venue. The Barn received a renovation face lift in 2018. The Barn now has an outdoor bar and an entertainment stage for concerts. You can catch our students networking there once a week for happy hour!

“From The Barn, we’d take an easy walk to the center of campus to see our iconic Bell Tower – only one of five true carillons in California–where student organizations and clubs gather weekly. Also of note are the UCR Botanical Gardens, 40 acres of gardens and trails with more than 3,500 different plant species!”

Dean Yunzeng Wang: “The Anderson Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus, formerly the California Citrus Experimentation Station. Built in 1917, the Citrus Experimentation Station was the groundbreaking research facility that laid the foundation for the University of California, Riverside, which was established in 1954 for admission to the general public. Today, we call this iconic building Anderson Hall, home to the School of Business and the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management. When visiting the building, you’ll want to take in the view and take a picturesque stroll to the south of the main building. There, in Anderson South, you’ll find our Academic Advising & Student Services and Career Development Center offices, housing amazing staff that provide academic, student life, and career support to our students.”

P&Q: What is the most innovative thing you have introduced into the MBA program in recent years? How has it been a game changer for your program?

Dr. Rami Zwick: “Our MBA program offers 7 concentrations in accounting, business analytics, finance, information systems, marketing, management, and operations and supply chain management. In Fall 2023, we are launching a new concentration in the growing field of business analytics. The concentration will require five elective classes related to statistics, business analytics, and big data, and can be paired with other functional disciplines to equip students in the areas of marketing analytics, supply chain analytics, and financial analytics. Courses include Business Analytics for Management, Marketing Research, and Applied Business Forecasting.”

Dr. Ashish Sood: “An enhancement offered in the MBA program is access to Coursera at significantly discounted rates. This allows candidates to earn certifications and mini-credentials from Google, IBM, Meta, and more. We draw students from a diverse variety of backgrounds. Some may already have quantitative skills, some may have more business knowledge. Coursera gives students additional information and skillsets to ensure their success in the program and after graduation. It also gives candidates tools and certifications that set them apart in the competitive tech market.”

Dr. Rami Zwick: “Additionally, our STEM-designation (based on a scientific curriculum) within each concentration and across all graduate business programs is a significant advantage for candidates. It signals to employers that they have quantitative skills, and for international candidates it awards them the opportunity to work in the U.S. for up to three years on Optional Practical Training (OPT). Our curriculum is also currently under revision to better align with the cutting-edge skill-demands of today’s workforce and to better prepare students for the job market.

“Beginning in 2021, our Academic Advising & Student Services and Career Development Center offices introduced a summer preparatory program and peer-mentorship program, getting students engaged, involved, and prepared before the formal start of their program. These programs prepare students for success by providing them with leg-up opportunities before courses begin. No student is left behind when entering the program.”

Dr. Ashish Sood: “Not only do these programs prepare students for the academic environment of graduate school, it supports them in their career readiness. In the program, candidates are asked to practice interview skills and elevator pitches, forcing them to think critically about what makes them worthy of being hired. Further, this pushes them to consider what competencies they want to develop early in their program and gives them a better understanding of the courses they will need to build the skills and expertise that will drive their success.”

P&Q: What have MBAs told you is the most memorable, signature experience they’ve had in your program? Why did it resonate so much with them?

Dr. Sabine Freij: “Student Association Community Events and Banquets – From our welcome week activities to our quarterly banquets, AGSM is great at hosting parties. Our graduate Academic Advising and Student Services office together with the Student Association plan and execute these events to build a familial and inclusive community. These events are also often attended by faculty, staff, and alumni so students get the opportunity to connect right away in a fun and relaxed manner. The social activities enable incoming MBAs to ease into student life while still being connected to school and responsibilities. As a result, many students come to us during important turning points in their life, and we have the opportunity to speak into the lives of our students, an aspect we as faculty really value.

Networking Events and Career Fairs – Our MBA candidates appreciate the many opportunities to network and connect with companies in a 1:1 environment. Last spring, our Career Development Center (CDC) hosted a dinner and networking night. The event included a cocktail reception on an elegant outdoor patio followed by a 3-course dinner with career table topics and MBA alumnus and entrepreneur Ruben Hernandez as keynote speaker. Employers in attendance included Bank of America, Baker Tilly, Dunmore, Cintas Corporation, and Century Group. This fall, the CDC hosted an internship and job fair with more than 20 employers including Caltrans HQ, Aragon Construction, Bazic Products, County of Riverside, Eadie + Payne, MPK Advisors & CPAs, Hub International, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ambassador program – Our ambassador program is consistently named as one of the best opportunities available at the school and is reserved for our top candidates. If selected to be an ambassador, candidates get to be the face of the school to all external constituents including alumni, donors, our Executive Fellows, the community, prospective students, and other key stakeholders. As ambassadors, candidates receive exclusive professional development opportunities, get to give back to the community through service, attend special networking events like our Economic Forecast Conference, mentor undergraduate students, and connect with prospective graduate students– influencing one of the most important career decisions a person can make, where to get an MBA!”

P&Q: You are breaking ground on a new business complex this fall. When will the building be completed? What are some of the unique benefits that it will provide to MBA students? How does the building reflect the culture and possibilities of the program?

Dean Yunzeng Wang: “Our new state-of-the-art building will be completed in fall of 2024. It will enable us to continue to grow and achieve our mission of creating knowledge through impactful research, unlocking potential through exceptional educational experiences, and fostering success in an innovative and collaborative environment, thereby contributing to the upward mobility of our diverse student population at scale. The new building is 63,400 square feet, nearly tripling the total space for the school. The building includes two 80-seat classrooms; a 350-seat auditorium; a computer/finance lab; a studio to record podcasts, lectures, videos, and other media; group study areas; a student lounge; administrative offices; an executive board room; and large indoor/outdoor event spaces. The expansion of the school’s footprint allows us to bring in new faculty and additional staff, increase enrollment, and also enhance our engagement with the community, creating a central hub for connection between business leaders, our research faculty, and our students.”

P&Q: UC-Riverside is an hour away from the heart of Los Angeles. How does the MBA program tap into the LA ecosystem (and its alumni base) to provide school projects, employer partnerships, and job opportunities for students? What types of jobs are your students landing and which companies?

Dean Yunzeng Wang: “An internship is a major component of our MBA curriculum, and our Career Development Center (CDC) works closely with employers and students to create and facilitate the internship experience at companies in Los Angeles and across Southern California. Thanks to the rise of remote and hybrid working environments, students are able to commute much more easily while balancing their course loads. These internships and jobs include MBA rotational programs in leadership and finance; analyst positions in data, finance, business, and research; accounting positions including tax and audit; marketing positions including digital, social media, strategy, and product management; operations and supply chain position; plus project management, human resources, business consulting, DEI, learning and development, and business development at companies including The Walt Disney Company, The Fox Corporation, EY, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Northrop Grumman, Esri, Amazon, Niagara Bottling, Tesla, T-Mobile, Zendesk, Deloitte, HME, and more.

The CDC has also made it easy for our employers to engage with our UCR AGSM students through virtual or in-person employer relations services. These employer services include campus visits, information sessions (in-person or virtual), job board postings, promotional emails, and participation in our in-person and virtual career fairs. In addition, the CDC hosts virtual recruitment panels each quarter, engaging diverse employers to expose students to myriad new opportunities and industries.  Furthermore, UC Riverside partners with other UC business schools to host employer information sessions. Finally, we partner with major companies who host our students and share about their company business model and culture, and connect their recruiters with our top MBA candidates.

As a result, AGSM graduates are landing jobs across California from San Francisco to San Diego, as well as in major cities across the globe.”

Next Page: Profiles of 12 Members of the Class of 2024