Meet UCLA Anderson’s MBA Class of 2018

UCLA's Tazia Middleton in the Class of 2018

UCLA’s Tazia Middleton in the Class of 2018

Tazia Middleton

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

Assistant Dean’s Scouting Report: “Already has some of the key leadership characteristics we hope to develop and continue to grow at Anderson.”

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Unambiguously enigmatic

Hometown: Dublin, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I kayaked with my best friend and killer whales off the coast of San Juan Island.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University – Major: Applied Economics & Management, Minor: Law & Society

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Palace Sports & Entertainment

  • Community Relations Assistant

Wetherby Asset Management

  • Financial Operations Specialist
  • Investment Associate
  • Senior Investment Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My greatest professional accomplishment was obtaining my CFP® certification in less than a year, but I most value the personal relationships I developed with my clients.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?  

Start early. You want to have the strongest application possible, so don’t rush through any of the components. If you need to improve your GMAT/GRE scores, start working on that immediately. Meet with your recommenders early in the process and talk through specific examples upon which they can draw when writing their letters. Compile a list of essays you will need to write and then get started. Do not wait until the last minute to write these. They take a lot longer than you think.

Do your research. Pursuing your MBA is a huge commitment that comes with a lot of change, so you want to make sure to choose a program that makes you happy. Determine what is most important to you first, then evaluate schools against that list. Online rankings are a good start, but they don’t tell you everything. MBA fairs allow you to get to know a lot of schools at one event and make contacts who can help during the application process. If possible, visit the schools on the top of your interest list and talk to as many people as you can to evaluate the cultural fit.

Prepare for interviews. Be able to articulate why you want to get your MBA, why now, and why at that particular school. You should also be comfortable talking through your resume without having it in front of you. Other than that, relax and be yourself.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I was initially drawn to UCLA Anderson by the Parker Career Management Center’s strong reputation. As a career switcher, I knew I needed knowledgeable advisors to help me transition.

Anderson became the obvious choice when I visited. The staff and students were so generous with their time and always willing to connect me with others to answer additional questions or provide different perspectives. It was exactly the kind of collaborative environment I was seeking.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? I would love to work in consulting within financial services. I enjoy building relationships with people, understanding their problems, and collaborating to develop creative solutions. Encountering and overcoming challenges at different companies would aid in my professional growth toward becoming a COO.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  I hope my peers will say that they witnessed me stretch myself and grow, that I aided them in their own growth, and that I did something to leave Anderson better than when I arrived.

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