Jose Mendez

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

“Friendly, lighthearted individual who values connecting with others and has a passion for outdoor activities.”

Hometown: Santiago, Chile

Fun Fact About Yourself: My two childhood friends and I created a soccer board game called Sunday League Football. It will soon be on your tabletop!

Undergraduate School and Major: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, BSc in Industrial Engineering and MEng in Transportation Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Falabella Retail, Project Manager

UCLA Anderson is founded on the Three Pillars: Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. Which pillar resonates most with you and why? Share Success is the pillar with which I most identify, primarily due to my involvement in team sports since childhood. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so personal success must be seen as a collective victory supported by the entire community.

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? Balance. On one side, you have access to world-renowned education. On the other, you can enjoy the nature and entertainment the city has to offer.

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? The Parker Career Management Center. I was fortunate to start working with the team in early May for The Consortium’s Orientation Program, and their excellence and professionalism made me realize that Anderson is the place where I’m going to propel my career and achieve my professional goals.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at UCLA Anderson? I’m very interested in taking the course ‘Healthcare Technology Entrepreneurship.’ I believe healthcare is on the brink of a technological revolution, and business professionals will play a crucial role in driving it forward.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? I’m always seeking to create communities where everyone feels comfortable and can truly express themselves. I believe that when individuals are authentic with one another and share their unique qualities, their differences can spark creativity and innovation.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I led the team responsible for reopening operating rooms during COVID-19, doubling the number of ambulatory surgeries in a three-month period by defining and executing pre- and post-operative protocols.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? I hope to return to the healthcare industry, particularly the US healthcare market. I hope to be part of an organization that seeks to improve patients’ health and well-being through the application of technology.

DON’T MISS: MEET UCLA ANDERSON’S MBA CLASS OF 2026