Meshach Boyce

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

“Purpose-driven, socially conscious leader who advocates for the advancement of underserved communities while making impact fun.”

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a passionate Lego builder and have a collection of more than 5,000 pieces and counting!

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University, Industrial and Labor Relations

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Red Robin’s Academy of Learning, Inc. – Lead Program Manager, Strategy & Operations (early childhood education nonprofit in Memphis, TN focused on providing low-income and underserved youth aged 6 weeks to 6 years old free to low-cost, high-quality education)

UCLA Anderson is founded on the Three Pillars: Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. Which pillar resonates most with you and why? Shared Success is the bedrock of how students engage at Anderson and is the pillar that resonates with me the most. When I think of my background growing up in a low-income, predominantly Black community in Memphis, TN, I am reminded that I am a by-product of my community. The diversity within our class has allowed us to develop a shared understanding that we have so much to learn from each other’s past and future journeys, which enables us to fearlessly celebrate each other’s success.

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? Los Angeles is an incredible place to earn an MBA because of its unique combination of climate, culture, and access to entertainment. Few cities in the U.S. offer year-round coastal weather, countless beaches, and hiking trails for every level. No matter the season, there is always something exciting to do outdoors. Los Angeles is also the entertainment capital of the country, offering premier access to every type of entertainment (music, movies, art, etc.) to ensure you are never bored. Most importantly, Los Angeles offers a niche for everyone. Whatever your passion, you can find a community here that shares it.

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? I chose UCLA Anderson because of its distinct emphasis on social impact and experiential learning. One of my goals in business school is to strengthen my approach to social impact strategy, and Anderson’s course offerings and programs with professors such as Gayle Northup provide a clear path to achieve this. Equally important is the ability to apply program learnings in real-world environments. The student-led culture, capstone projects such as AMR, and global immersion programs offer valuable opportunities to guide my growth into a socially conscious business leader.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at UCLA Anderson? The club that excites me most at UCLA Anderson is Net Impact. I look forward to exploring the intersection of consulting and social impact strategy through programs such as the Social Impact Consulting Corps (SICC) and the Net Impact Consulting Challenge (NICC). These opportunities will provide hands-on consulting experience while helping nonprofit organizations expand their reach to underserved communities.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? My zeal for social impact is the unique quality that will allow me to make a meaningful contribution to Anderson’s Class of 2027. Anderson’s student-led culture fosters an environment where students can advocate for real-world change within the school, the greater Los Angeles community, and beyond. I look forward to channeling my passion for social change to inspire classmates to engage in issues they care deeply about. By promoting a culture that rewards collectivism, we can remind one another that our impact extends far beyond the classroom and workplace.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment thus far is advocating for the successful renaming of the Memphis VA Medical Hospital after my grandfather, Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers Jr. This milestone not only honors his legacy but also establishes a lasting symbol of inclusive excellence in aviation and equality for the City of Memphis, affirming that I am on the right path toward championing his vision.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? My goal after graduation is to pivot into management or strategy consulting. My experience in the nonprofit space has shown me the power of inclusive and strategic leadership, and I look forward to applying this skillset to support Fortune 500 companies in driving progress toward a more sustainable future.

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