Candace Graham

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

“Love stories. Love challenges. The wildcard in the group – always doing the unexpected.”

Hometown: London, UK

Fun Fact About Yourself: I spent one summer running camps in the Canadian mountains, and had to deal with 15 teenagers, a bear, and a tornado in one night.  

Undergraduate School and Major: Theology, University of Cambridge

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: BBC Studios, Production Coordinator

UCLA Anderson is founded on the Three Pillars: Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. Which pillar resonates most with you and why? Drive Change. I’m coming from an industry (Film and TV) which has undergone a lot of turbulence recently, and still faces many conflicting pressures. We need to become a sustainable industry that can adapt to changing markets and circumstances, as well being a good place to work for those in every role (right down to the on-set runners!). To do this, we need to have real change – in operations, strategy, financing, and even values. Anderson’s value of ‘Drive Change’ is perfectly aligned with this, and hopefully will allow me to push new initiatives, change old, inherited ways of thinking, and graduate with the potential to be a transformative leader during my career.

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? Aside from the many benefits of Anderson – which, being part of the UCLA campus, gives you access to brilliant recreational facilities and other benefits – LA is a great place to live. From the buzzing downtown it’s a short drive (or bus ride) to miles of beautiful sandy beaches, or an equally short journey to shaded hiking trails and stunning views in the hills. There’s a great mix of people around, and everyone is welcoming and just happy to be here! It’s well-connected to other cities (and close to a lot of stunning National Parks for road trips) and has a broad range of industries and global brand headquarters. And, of course, the weather – it’s bliss to wake up to sunshine and warmth every day in the summer (especially coming from London!).

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of UCLA Anderson’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? When researching MBA programmes, I really wanted to attend a school that valued a range of industries alongside the more traditional professional traditions. I was drawn to the diversity of programming at UCLA; there was such a range of electives and concurrent specialisations – all with incredible faculty, many of whom are key names in their field. Alongside the strong research centres associated with the school, this really attracted me to Anderson.

I was confident that there would be breadth of business thought, as well as an active understanding that business acumen and transformational leaders are needed right across the working world. Coming from a non-traditional background this was essential for me; I wanted a business school that would encourage and support me to further my career as a leader in whatever field I chose to pursue. Anderson’s rich offerings and the variety of careers among graduates and alumni showed me this would be the place for me.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at UCLA Anderson? I’m really excited to join the EMA (Entertainment Management Association). They have brilliant connections with the Film and TV industry – an advantage of LA! – and encourage small group networking through Dinner-for-Eights and Spotlight sessions. They are involved in hosting the Pulse Conference, where industry leaders discuss key challenges facing the market at the moment. Also, they offer a trip to the Sundance Film Festival!

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Before working in-house at BBC Studios, I spent several years as a freelance crew member on big-budget TV dramas. It was incredibly fast-paced and high-pressure, as challenges with large cost implications or high-risk safety concerns would be thrown our way constantly, with an expectation to provide a solid, workable and safe solution within hours. It taught me how to think clearly and logically, considering all options and implications, and I also learned to keep calm under stress. I hope to bring this to my class at Anderson – an ability to problem-solve in difficult situations, and efficiently execute solutions. Also, my perspective as an international student from the UK will also enable me to contribute a varied perspective on global issues and business dynamics.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I went into the Film & TV industry in 2018 with no contacts and no experience. By the time I left to come to Anderson in 2024, I had been continuously employed for over 5 years, primarily as a freelancer on short-term contracts (3-12 months). I had to constantly search for new jobs, build my network, and deliver professionally (you’re only as good as your last job!). It was often hard to have no job security, and frequently face the threat of unemployment, but I learned to rest in uncertainty, and evaluate each job offer on its own merits. Sometimes I look back to when I was first trying to enter the industry, and can’t believe how far I came.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? I’m always going to love Entertainment and ultimately that is where I want to build my career. One reason I chose to come to the US was the fact that it is the global centre for the industry. After graduation, I’m hoping to find a role in Media Consulting in order to more closely examine the challenges facing different companies in the industry, and have the experience of actively problem-solving on the corporate level, as well as evaluating solutions. Ultimately, I hope to then transition to a role within a major studio, or a streamer, in corporate strategy.

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