Meet UCLA Anderson’s MBA Class Of 2026

TECH AND STARTUP HUB

Ask the Class of 2026 why they chose Anderson and Los Angeles is certain to be mentioned. From a business standpoint, the region is a tech and innovation hub headlined by Silicon Beach. Stretching from Malibu to Culver City to Playa Vista, the region has nurtured brands like Hulu, Snap, Tinder, Riot Games, ZipRecruiter, Pluto TV, and LegalZoom. As a whole, the area is home to over 500 high tech firms, including large offices for Google, Amazon, YouTube, Apple, Netflix, and the Aerospace Company. That doesn’t count nearby studios like Warner Brothers Discovery, Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Sony.  Brenna Turner points out that the LA region boasts every industry: “entertainment, sports, CPG, real estate, banking, and more!” That translates to a lot of opportunities in a variety of roles.

“[Los Angeles] is a hub for innovation, particularly in tech, entertainment, and healthcare,” observes Katie Lee. “This environment offers MBA students endless opportunities for networking, internships, and hands-on experience right in our backyard.”

According to Startup Genome. LA also ranks as the world’s 4th-largest startup ecosystems. From 2019-2023, venture capitalists socked $70 billion into regional startups. What’s more, LA spun out 41 unicorns from 2021-2023. UCLA Anderson certainly caters to this spirit. 68% of Anderson MBAs take an entrepreneurship-related elective, while 75% are involved with a startup. Even more, 38% of faculty teach an entrepreneurship, 4th-highest in the world according to P&Q research. Overall, UCLA Anderson ranked among the 20-best MBA programs for entrepreneurship in P&Q‘s latest entrepreneurship ranking – topped off by Anderson finishing 4th for Funding available to student startups.

“The Venture Accelerator and Price Center for Entrepreneurship were key assets for me when choosing the right MBA program,” explains Brenna Turner. “As an entrepreneur that is also trying to break into venture capital, both programs not only help accelerate and scale businesses with the right resources, but they also provide local networking opportunities with a ton of LA early-stage capital funds.”

JUST LIKE LIVING IN PARADISE

And the atmosphere? Picture year-round sunshine – little rain, sand, and palm trees. “Even if you’ve visited as a tourist, living here is completely different—and a thousand times better,” notes Mariah Montenegro. “LA offers everything for everyone: if you are a city person, you can go shopping at Century City Mall or enjoy a night out at one of many bars; if you are into nature, you can hike with your friends on a Monday after class or plan a trip to Yosemite; and if you are a beach person, you’ll spend your Sundays playing beach volleyball or sunbathing in Santa Monica or Venice Beach. Even the weather offers you “the best of both worlds”—sunny and warm during the day, with a cool breeze at night.”

What is life like in LA? Michael Bleggi, a 2024 P&Q Best & Brightest MBA, went so far as to outline his day.  “The feeling of freedom and opportunity is what I love the most about Los Angeles. Almost every morning during the warmer months, I go for a run from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach and back, stopping to get a quick workout at the old muscle beach. Depending on the day, I stop by a local farmer’s market or small café to get what is ridiculously consistently some of the best food I’ve tried in the world. From then, it’s time for classes, a friend’s local musical performance, a museum visit, or the start of a weekend road trip to Joshua Tree, a redwood forest, or Palm Springs…From the beach to the mountains to an outstanding art scene, I have access to paradise, the wilderness, and culture all in one (usually sunny) slice of the world.”

That said, don’t assume that Anderson is a place to sit back and chill for two years, adds Biaggi. “Contrary to popular belief, UCLA Anderson is more than going to the beach and enjoying the amazing weather. The L.A. vibe is a major bonus to attend, but I was impressed by how rigorous the academics can be. My classes in corporate finance, investment management, and real estate finance and investing were demanding, requiring skillsets in (my rusty) multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and statistics. I felt that my classes translated what I had learned in undergrad into useful applications that gave me a firmer understanding of both theory and practicality.”

THE PARKER CAREER CENTER

Another Anderson advantage is the Parker Career Center, which consistently ranks among the world’s ten-best according to Financial Times student surveys. One reason, says Mariah Montenegro, is that the center starts early, including summer immersions in Consulting, Finance, and Technology before classes even start. From there, Montenegro adds, MBAs can enjoy sessions in these fields, along with “Healthcare, CleanTech, Real Estate, and Entertainment.” Even more, career services is an integral part of the MBA programming, adds alum Richard Balagtas (’24)

“Parker collaborates with our professional clubs on campus such as Healthcare Business Association (HBA) to host company information sessions, our company Career Night, and our Days-On-The-Jobs week where students in partnership with Parker organize on-site visits to several companies. Parker’s motto is to “Trust the process” and to “Do the work”. This encourages students to practice patience but also diligence in their preparation towards recruiting!”

That preparation even requires a mandatory Career Series, adds Montenegro. “[It] offers weekly sessions to tackle the general recruiting strategy (target definition, resume, interviewing preparation, etc.). Additionally, each student is paired with an advisor aligned with their goals, who provides guidance throughout the entire journey.”

Clarence Narcisse has been particularly impressed with Anderson’s One-on-One Leadership Coaching model, where students meet with experienced coaches once a month. “This unique approach to leadership development was crucial to my decision because, as a long-time follower of Tony Robbins’ and Kevin Samuels’ work, I knew one-on-one coaching would help me gain the tools and insights I need to unlock my full potential and achieve lasting success.”

Katie Lee credits the Parker Center with helping her land fellowships with Forté Foundation and The Consortium, which enabled her to meet many new friends. And that’s not the only way that the center broadened Lee’s network.

“The Parker Center also facilitated connections with Anderson’s robust alumni network, who have been incredibly generous with their time and insights, guiding me through every aspect of the MBA process—from recruiting to navigating student life. This network embodies the collaborative spirit that Anderson is known for, and it’s reassuring to know that I have such a strong community behind me.”

ANDERNOONS: “THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK”

Mariah Montenegro also points to the Global Immersion course as a tradition that she can’t wait to be a part. “As part of this program, we spend a week in a selected country, gaining firsthand experience of how businesses operate in these dynamic markets,” she tells P&Q. “What makes this course particularly compelling is its emphasis on practical learning, offering a blend of company visits, cultural activities, and interactions with business leaders and alumni. For instance, past participants have visited leading companies like Shein and Alibaba in Singapore, gaining insights into cutting-edge technology applications and business models. The course, led by Professor Terry Kramer, is designed to broaden our perspectives, providing us with the global mindset necessary to lead in an increasingly interconnected world.”

When it comes to connecting on campus, there is no better venue than Andernoons. The weekly happy hour, Andernoons bring together the full-time and executive MBAs, along with faculty and alumni, for food, spirits – and entertainment!

“Every Thursday, we have students from all graduate business programs come together and mingle over food and drinks in our North Terrace,” shares Nkemdilim Chukwuma, a ’24 alum. “It’s like a weekly reminder to celebrate the small wins and an opportunity to connect with friends and administration in a fun, stress-free way. Occasionally we’ll have clubs sponsor Andernoons and plan cool events and performances for the student body to enjoy. Some notable ones include Black Business Student Association (BBSA) hiring a church choir last year during Black History Month and the South Asian Business Association’s (SABA) Diwali performance that included non-SABA members. It’s truly the highlight of my week.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSOCIATE DEAN

Last fall, UCLA Anderson was hit with big news: Dean Tony Bernardo decided to step down after five years in the role. What can applicants, students, and alumni alike expect in the coming year? Here are some thoughts from Gary Fraser, associate dean of the Full-Time MBA program.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year?

Fraser: “Over the past year, we have been very intentional in the rollout of our mission to create transformative leaders – please refer to our diagram for the transformative leadership qualities we strive to develop in our students.

The second development is to consciously grow our students’ ability to lead and participate in teams by investing the time for them to get to know each other personally and professionally.  With a class size of about 300 students, it’s critical to create a sense of purpose for each student and to identify their individual contribution as a leader within the collective group.”

What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

All incoming students will participate in activities that will create the foundation for becoming a transformative leader while they are at Anderson and in their professional lives after they graduate.  This includes taking key assessments like the Intercultural Development Inventory to first understand their current level of Intercultural Competence and next discover how they can grow it.  We also invest in every student taking The WorkPlace Big Five Profile, a personality assessment that reveals a leader’s five personality super traits; and the Intercultural Conflict Style to understand how they deal with conflict – empowering them to transform into a leader in resolving conflicts when they occur.”

P&Q: Every January, P&Q publishes a “10 Business Schools to Watch” feature that highlights how schools are raising the bar and enhancing the student experience through innovation or expansion in programming or resources. What is one innovation that sets your school apart from your peer programs and makes you a business school to watch? Why is it so groundbreaking?

Fraser: “Building on the resources mentioned earlier that we share with all our incoming students, every incoming student is assigned a leadership coach to guide them through the execution of their own transformative leadership development plan. With a class that represents the domestic and global diversity that exists in today’s world, we know successful teams need to embrace this diversity for success. In the first two weeks at Anderson, students have dialogue about their differences in a way that educates and informs their peers and establishes an opportunity for everyone to better understand each other. Professionally and outside of class, in their first month, we offer two-week immersions in key industries like Technology, Consulting and Finance so that students are well-versed in industry trends before they begin their search for their summer internship.”

Next Page: Profiles of 12 Members of the MBA Class of 2026

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