Grace Seekins

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

“Curious, family-oriented, passion-forward; driven to understand not to prescribe; a hopeful realist; (somewhat) extroverted introvert.”

Hometown: Bend, OR by way of Marietta, GA

Fun fact about yourself: I’m a classically trained singer and have been lucky enough to sing in several beautiful cathedrals and venues in the US and Europe alike.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Davidson College; B.A French & Francophone Studies, Minor International Studies

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? SOUNDBOKS; Brand Experience & Partnerships

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? McKinsey & Co., SCA (Southern California)

Where will you be working after graduation? Associate, McKinsey & Co.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Riordan Mentor; Board Fellow (Garden School Foundation); Anderson Career Teams (ACT) Coach; Admissions Ambassador Corps (AAC) VP of Marketing; Anderson Student Association (ASA) VP of Social; EVP Wine Club

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m proud of the relationship I’ve built with my Riordan Mentee; she is a bit unclear on when/where her MBA trajectory is going to occur or take her, but in the meantime, we’ve become awesome resources for each other. She has founded a nonprofit, for which I’ve been able to provide feedback and insight based on my experience. It has become a mutually beneficial relationship that is about a lot more than the MBA at this point, which feels like a success.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m most proud of how I created opportunity for myself early in my career – I set out to learn about and work in an industry of passion and I did just that. I took a big risk moving to a new city with no one, diving into the mechanics of an unknown industry. However, I came out strong and capable on the other side with a rich community and a business to show for it. I’m proud of myself for learning more about myself and my capabilities outside my comfort zone and establishing some core strengths and competencies in my work. I learned a lot about myself; these skillsets served me well at Anderson and will continue to serve me professionally long after I depart.

Why did you choose this business school? The community – the ethos of ‘shared success’ is not a buzzword. It’s a living, breathing concept that’s nurtured by the students in everything that they do. It allows us to show up as ourselves, encourages courageous vulnerability, and allows for growth through experience (and failure). I knew this was the energy I needed to surround myself with to learn and grow most effectively and I was correct!

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Hal Hershfield – He talks about his work and research with such passion and in such a way that you cannot help but listen. He cultivates a curiosity and excitement in his students by engaging with them as adults. And he meets you where you are on whatever journey of discovery you are on, rendering his content much more accessible for all.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My capstone, the Business of Behavior Change with Professor Hershfield, had me wondering if I should stay in school and get my PhD because I found myself so endlessly curious about the topic and enthralled by the way he taught it. It engaged my love of learning in such a way that I wished for more time in the classroom. I’m predisposed to interest in the topic because of my background (and future) in marketing, but beyond that, the group mentality of the classroom, approachability of the teaching team, and acknowledgment of the humanity in it all made the class stand above the rest.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Andernoons – every Thursday 4:30-6:30 the entire Anderson community comes together for free food and drink. When a school logistically builds and invests in creating opportunities to bring the student body together across degrees and lifestyles, you know they genuinely care about curating community. It’s not lip-service, it happens in real time every week. This is very much the case for Anderson. I appreciate that so much that I became part of the team that plans them!

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Candidly, there’s nothing I would do differently because every decision I’ve made has brought me here, a place I feel very lucky to be. I think the more apt question is probably, ‘What would you tell yourself at the beginning of this process, knowing what you know now?’. To that I say – breathe! Trust yourself and view the change as an opportunity, less a challenge. You’re surrounded by abundance.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I think there’s a (not untrue) perception that West Coasters are a bit laissez-faire. And while I do believe that this rings true culturally in California, I’m here to tell you that the students at Anderson are attentive, driven, intelligent, thoughtful, and so unbelievably on it – while simultaneously profiting from the laid-back atmosphere of our West Coast environment.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Los Angeles is such a special place – if you want to experience, do, watch, or eat something, you’ll be able to find it here. The opportunity for development and growth as a whole person is endless. It makes for a multi-dimensional experience as an MBA student; you get to exercise different aspects of your psyche and sense of self. Plus, many of us will stay here after, providing an incredible foundation for a growing community in this beautiful place.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Most of my television watching is in the form of Severance, Real Housewives, and Charlie Kaufman films, so I hesitate to draw any parallels between the content I consume and the topic of business. But I do think that Severance teaches us that even bifurcating ourselves in service of having a ‘home’ and ‘work’ self isn’t totally feasible; we need to bring our whole selves wherever we go to benefit the most – and have the institution benefit from our presence.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Anderson has been a great testing ground for integrating AI usage into my research process and understanding how to use it as a tool for growth and discovery without fostering a reliance. Professors have been creative and open to our use of AI in a way that enhances our learning. In my New Product Development class, Professor Andres Terech had us prompt AI to do the same exercise delineating consumer pain points as we did with our own eyes and ears after the fact – helping us see the benefits and limitations of the technology.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I really admire my classmate Alina Orendain-Calderon; she has seamlessly juggled having a job with being in the Full-Time program and all the demands on one’s time that being an Anderson student brings. The way she’s able to show up fully despite having such strong demands on her time is something impressive that is to be emulated and learned from.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1) Being an effective leader (and being perceived as such)

2) Happiness

What made Grace Seekins such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Starting with the first day of Orientation, Grace has been an authentic relationship builder, not only with the class of 2025, but with the entire Anderson community.  In her first year she brought people together in her section and in her second year as VP of Social for student government, she helped to bring the entire Anderson community together through a successful year of Andernoons, our weekly event to celebrate the Anderson community.  Collectively, we had a record turnout at these events that celebrated the Chinese New Year, Diwali, Nowruz (the Persian New Year), Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and many other community focused celebrations.

As a mentor and coach, Grace has paid it forward in many ways, including working with first year MBAs to guide them on the path to making a career switch to the consulting industry like she did or preparing future students to apply for an MBA through the Riordan Mentorship program. She has been able to do all of this while excelling academically and securing a coveted position and McKinsey & Co. – evidence that she can successfully multitask in a way that not only has benefits for her but for the entire Anderson community.”

Gary Fraser
Associate Dean
Full Time MBA Program
UCLA Anderson School of Management   

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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