The MBA Student Voice

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

My apologies to all for yet another writing hiatus.  Those midterms took a lot out of me and the rehab from the exam related injuries took longer than expected.  First, there was some carpal tunnel as a result of using some Excel functions too much, and then I tore my ACL walking to a printer in the computer lab to collect an accounting problem set that I printed out.  All kidding aside, there's not much of an excuse except to say things have been busy.

So, what have I been busy with?  Well, as I've eluded to before, I'm trying to balance the holy trinity of academics, job search, and a social life.  Of late, I've been attempting to focus on the job search and the related requirement of networking.  Since I want to get back into the entertainment world post-MBA, albeit on the business side this time around, I joined Anderson's Entertainment Management Association.  The organization regularly puts on panels to educate its members about various portions of the industry, be it film, TV, videogames, and music.  These presentations are led, more often than not, by alumni within said fields and they've proven rather informative.  Additionally, the EMA organizes Days on Jobs (DOJ), where we have an onsite visit with a particular company and executives talk to us about their various functions.  We had one such DOJ last week at Fox. 

Long story short, classes take up your mornings and afternoons and then there's plenty more activities to gobble up the rest of your day.  The key, it seems, is to choose the right events and not spread yourself too thin, especially this first semester.  Maybe if I do that, you'll hear from me a wee bit more.  But for now, I gotta go ice my ACL. 

The Ander-flu Strikes Again!

It's going around again. 

The Ander-flu, the nasty virus that isn't really the flu but still makes us Andersonians sick, is making a second pass around campus and decided to stick on me.  For a change, I've decided to fight back early: I took the day off from school (ok, so there's no classes because of Veterans Day, but I'm still taking credit), doused myself in Theraflu and Gatorade already.  And I slept very soundly for 10 hours.  

Poor Mrs. V. was up half the night, however.  Funny how that works. 

* * * * *

As I mentioned in my last post, entertainment industry titan David Geffen came to speak to us here on campus last week.  It was a massive opportunity for us to hear from someone so accomplished in music, film, television, and theatre.  The Dean of the Anderson school moderated the session.  

What I found most impressive was that Mr. Geffen took opportunities as they came, rather than having a clear goal in mind.  He started in the mail room of a talent agency, getting that job only because he lied on his resume about having graduated from UCLA.  (The Dean was quick to point out that (a) it was never too late to do his degree, and (b) that lying about graduating was not a path that she would advocate.)  He got into theatre because a friend of his recommended an opportunity.  

He donated $200 million to the UCLA Medical Center because he was tired of going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for his constant back problems.  (You know, for $200 million, I think the Dean can let some or even all of the credits slide and just give him the degree.  Although if he was in my section, I would definitely vote for him for social chair.)  

Most interesting for me, though, was his response to the question I got the opportunity to ask him: what is one thing that you would change in the entertainment industry today?  His response: "I wish there was no digital."  

That really surprised me.  I appreciate that digital content has been and will continue to be a massive driver for change in the entertainment industry, but I would have thought that Mr. Geffen would be in the camp of promoting the opportunities that come with it.  To be fair, I had the last question of the session before the Dean took back the reigns and asked more of her own questions, so maybe he didn't get a chance to elaborate.  But I definitely didn't expect that answer. 

But then that's the point with these events -- we get the first-hand experience and insights of some of the most respected captains of industry, across many different sectors, and in my experience, these insights have been genuine and unfiltered.  It's these insights that are such a big part of the MBA experience, especially at Anderson.  

* * * * *

If you ever surf onto this board and don't see any updates from me, you should definitely check out what my fellow blogeteers are up to.  I thought my buddy Simon Jaud's post on video games and brand management was insightful (especially as, for a change, he didn't mention DaVita!).  

My interest in video games is on the brand management of sports titles.  John Madden may have retired from broadcasting, but his video game sponsor, Electronic Arts, still hosts "Sundays with John" where EA clients can watch football with Madden in his office, which EA has kitted out with multiple HD LCD big screens.  Tony Hawk became legendary after his video games -- now an Activision property -- took off outside of X-games enthusiasts.  I found the Activision presentation equally as exciting as Simon did for that reason. 

Simon failed to mention a crucial detail though: he mentioned that at their corporate presentation on campus, Activision gave us free video games, including their massive hit "Band Hero".  But Simon didn't tell you about the raffle: they held a raffle whereby a few lucky winners won various prizes.  The big prize was a free Band Hero set.  And, for the first time that I can remember, my ticket was drawn!  So I got to walk away from the presentation with such a big video game hit.  It was very thrilling and exciting.  I can't wait to crack it open out of the box!  

* * * * *

Capitals update: 10-3-4.  Am very happy with the win over Florida on Saturday especially because the goals we scored were the grinding, banging in front of the net type goals that we will need in the playoffs.  And to score seven goals with Ovechkin hurt and Semin a non-factor is a HUGE plus.  Check out the highlights here!

Till next time! 

-- Sreesha

UCLA's Stature in the Entertainment Industry

One major reason I came to UCLA Anderson was the school's ability to connect with major leaders in the sports and entertainment industry.  For further evidence of this, all I had to do was check my diary over last week and this week. 

Last week Mitch Kupchak, the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, came to speak to a small group of 40 students from the Sports Business Association, as well as 30 students from USC Marshall's sports business club to attend; every year, each school puts on an event for which both clubs are invited.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Mr. Kupchak and hearing about how he came to UCLA Anderson because he had a long-term knee injury that he needed to rehab and figured an MBA would give him a leg up (that's my pun; he was far more eloquent) on a career after his playing days were over.  He said two things that resonated with me.  He said that after graduating from UCLA Anderson, he gained the confidence that he could hold his own in any business negotiation.  As a career-switcher, I'm stepping into a new arena, industry and possibly location; hearing from him helped me gain some confidence in that respect as well. 

I also had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Kupchak personally after the session, where he also weighed in on a big debate happening right now in sports.  Social media has allowed athletes to strengthen their individual brands dramatically; some teams are concerned that the athletes are starting to become bigger than their teams.  Mr. Kupchak, in his usual candid demeanor, put a succint perspective on it, saying that the Lakers were around for 20 years before Magic and Kareem, and will be around for 30 years after Kobe.

Am running out of space, so I'll be quick: this week, David Geffen is speaking here on campus.  I am really looking forward to hearing the thoughts and vision of one of the most respected titans of the entertainment industry.  The Dean of UCLA Anderson herself is moderating the event.  You'll hear all about it in this space - till then, I'm going to enjoy the 28 degree sunshine! 

-- Sreesha 

  

Another Adventure in the MBA Career Search

Hi Everyone,

As you all know, I am a first year MBA student and already riddled with questions regarding what career I should focus on. If any of you read my previous post, you'll know that I am still in the process of deciding - sigh. Yes, I am a bit overwhelmed. But like all those before me, somehow I will manage to get through this, especially with support from my fellow students and faculty at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Yes, that was a plug for my school, but hey, when it's the truth what does it matter?

Okay, let's get real. With my background in accounting, I could fair reasonably well in consulting (would be like working for the Big 4 - long hours but a variety of interesting projects and clients), finance (but then why did I come to MBA school when I could have found a finance job on my own), entreprenuership (not exactly sure what this is but it sounds cool), and a whole assortment of other areas. I think the areas that would instantly get me labeled a career switcher if I chose them are Marketing, Investment Banking, Human Resources, or say, Sports Management. Nothing against these avenues, but I decided that I need to pursue a field where I can leverage off of some of my skills. That's not to say I couldn't switch completely if I wanted to, but quite honestly I enjoyed being an accountant - at least parts of it. So why go off on a completely different course?

So, I just completed my second week of orientation. There were so many fun events! We did a ropes course where you have to basically compete with yourself the whole time and learn to trust your team members. You learn a lot about your determination and courage and also learn that your class is comprised of many awesome individuals. I came over my fear of the dreaded 40 foot log (or however high it was) and stood on top of it. Then I jumped off of it and sucessful grabbed a trapeeze bar several feet away - my legs were shaking the whole time. Sheer determination kept me from falling I think. Okay, enough sap. For the readers who are still with me, thanks for hanging in there. Back to business. Suffice it to say that I met a lot of people because Anderson put together these amazing events that just naturally made you bond with members of your team. After talking with several of them, I realized that I am not the only one confused about which career path to take.

I attended a one-on-one Parker Career Management Center (CMC) meeting last week and had the chance to talk to a counselor about my career options. It was really helpful. She gave me a guide as to how to do some introspection and see where my skills and desires align. The Parker CMC also put together this really comprehensive and insightful package explaining all the different career options, tips/tricks for recruiting and resumes, and quiz sheets and assessment tests to help me figure out what types of careers migh be suited to my interests and skills. I have my work cut out for me.

This coming week is going to be fun as well. After doing some community service with Junior Achievement we all get chance to pick our Anderson Career Team (ACT). This team will provide all sorts of career guidance throughout the MBA experience. Will let you know how that goes.

Until next time!

UCLA Anderson - Choosing a MBA Focus

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to my first official blog. I am a first year MBA student at the Anderson School of Management. School has not yet begun, but I just attended a one-hour Q&A session at the Parker Career Management Center, which is a group that helps MBA students find internships as well as choose a career specialty (for those of us, like me, who are still not sure in which direction they want to go). The information session was informative to say the least. The discussion touched upon things like recruiting timelines, recruiting tips and tricks, and research tools and people that might help students decide on a MBA focus.

So, yes, the session was informative. Do I feel completely overwhelmed now? The answer is YES. You've heard it before, but I will say it again, students who know what they want to do with their careers have an easier time in MBA school. What the Q&A session reminded me is that B-school moves fast and decisions like career focus (and by extension the clubs you want to join) must be made within the first few weeks of starting school. The reason being that the summer internship recruiting process starts in the fall/winter.

So what am I to do? Some might call me a career-switcher, but I like to think of myself as an explorer - which still doesn't make it any easier but sounds cooler. I am not sure what I want to do, and I came to B-school to, dare-I-say-it, explore my options. Well, hope is not lost. I am not the first MBA student to feel this way, as the folks at the Q&A session reminded me, and I won't be the last. Countless students like me have made it work, so why can't I? The one great thing was that UCLA Anderson made me feel like they were there to support me in any way possible through one-on-one counseling sessions and other events. They also have second-years and a huge alumni network who are there to share their experiences and advice regarding summer internships and careers.  

I invite you all to join me on my quest in determining which career direction I should go. Will it be finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, strategic operations, consulting, or back to my previous career in accounting? I will describe the events I attend, the people I talk to, and the research I do to help me make a decision.

Until the next blog fellow explorers!

My First Networking Event in LA

The importance of networking is something that I've heard of for a while. As a young associate making my way up the corporate law firm ranks, I was encouraged to go meet juniors at clients or potential clients. The rationale was that those juniors, while not currently in a position to retain the firm, will be in such a position sometime in the future. Therefore it made sense to start building relationships now. While I enjoyed going out for lunches, drinks and events, it was not something that I was able to make a priority. The top priority for a young associate is to meet your billable hour targets, and believe me, focusing on that makes networking and other things (like friends, family, eating etc. o_O) ancillary.

However, now freed from the shackles of billable hours, I am able to focus on networking and other things (like friends, family, eating etc. ;P). Networking is of particular importance to me considering the industry to which I am trying to transition: media and entertainment. Like most people, I've heard the adage that in media and entertainment, it's all about "who you know". Therefore, in advance of starting the program at UCLA Anderson, I undertook a networking project, in part as preparation, and in part to see if the adage was in fact true.

Prior to moving down to LA, I met as many executives in the media and entertainment industry in Toronto as I could. Ideally I would have undertaken this project in LA, however due to F-1 visa requirements, the earliest I could move down to LA was August 15. While Toronto's media and entertainment market is not nearly as large as LA's, it still has quite a presence in that area. Utilizing personal and professional contacts, I was able to arrange 30-45 minute meetings with executives in various fields related to media and entertainment ranging from production, cable TV, post-production and distribution. I learned a great deal (including that yes, to a large degree "who you know" does matter), received information of people they suggested I contact once I got to LA and overall gained a sense of confidence that I would be able to hit the ground running. In addition I was amazed at how accommodating and available they were.

My focus on networking has continued since arriving in LA. The other day a friend of mine forwarded me an email about an event held by The Asian Professional Exchange. The event was a panel discussion on the development of Asian-American media and entertainment. As an Asian, and interested in media and entertainment, it was a no-brainer to go. The discussion was extremely eye-opening and one of the panelists, a producer, also happened to be an Anderson Alumni. Needless to say I approached him after the discussion and we'll be meeting in the near future.

I know networking isn't exactly at the top of people's list of things to do, but I bet meeting people new and interesting people may. Being a people person myself, seeing networking in that light has certainly made things easier. And while I expect UCLA Anderson to provide a wealth of opportunities and I know the Parker Career Management Center is there to provide a tremendous amount of help and resources, at the end of the day my career will be what I make it, and getting to know, befriending, networking or whatever you want to call it, as many people as I can will only help. So if you ever see me at an event, remember to come say hi!

~Opportunity does not knock, and then ring the doorbell, and then knock again, and then leave a note that says, "Sorry I missed you", and then call you on the cell phone.~ Fez, from That '70s Show

One way ticket to Los Angeles...

You have to admit, it is a fitting picture. 

Over four years ago, I arrived on a one-way ticket into London Heathrow's Terminal Four, at the time its nicest terminal.  My firm was transferring me to London; I flew business class, was picked up in a corporate Mercedes Benz E-class, then was whisked into a corporate apartment, fully kitted out including a 50-inch plasma TV. 

Now, I am sitting in Heathrow's worst terminal, Terminal Four.  My firm, Lehman Brothers, famously went bankrupt.  Mrs. V drove me to the airport in our VW Golf; I bought my own economy class ticket and will turn up in Los Angeles needing an apartment and, among other things, a new 50-inch TV. 

When I decided to go to UCLA Anderson, I knew nothing about Los Angeles.  So I bought, then binned, the Lonely Planet guidebook and decided to watch a lot of LA-based TV shows.  Research, I explained to Mrs. V.   

After marathon days of "24" and "Entourage", I confidently explained what will happen upon my arrival at LAX: I will immediately be issued loads of military gear so that I can arrest some terrorists before going to see the Lakers or Kings at the Staples Center with Emmanuelle Chriqui.  

Mrs. V was not amused. 

I'm excited to go to UCLA Anderson.  Like many others in my class, for me, the MBA course will be the start of a career change. 

I spent the past seven years trading, structuring, and selling the now-infamous derivatives known as collateralized debt obligations.  I love the energy and pace of a trading floor, where decisions that affect millions of dollars are made in an instant.  Doesn't every job involve being in seven conversations in three languages at once (two phones, chat, email, Bloomberg, your neighbor, and someone shouting at you from two rows away)?  

But after seven years, I knew it was time for something new.  Being laid off made me realize how much of a sports geek I really was - not as an armchair quarterback, but in a business sense.  After boring Mrs. V, my friends, family -- anyone who would listen, really -- about my ideas for the sports industry, it finally occurred to me to try to make a career out of it. 

For me there were many reasons to come to UCLA Anderson, but one sticks out in my mind more than any other.  It's no secret that investment banks and consulting firms recruit heavily at MBA programs; but I felt that UCLA Anderson had a great mix of other potential employers as well -- not to mention strong links into the sports and entertainment industries.  UCLA Anderson's famed entrepreneurial bent was icing on the cake.

Time to board.  Last thoughts before the flight: to London -- I love you, will miss you, and am proud to call you my adopted hometown.  

To Los Angeles -- tell Emmanuelle my flight lands at 2pm. 

Moving On Up to the West Side at UCLA Anderson

Well, I'm less than 48 hours from my official move from New York to Los Angeles to begin my two-year journey at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.  It’s a pretty big change for this guy.  I’ve been living in New York for almost exactly ten years now (four for college and six as an “adult”). 

But this past decade doesn’t really begin to explain my affinity for New York.  It started far earlier.  My parents grew up in New York, and even though I was born and raised in Florida, we went north to the city a few times a year.  Broadway shows.  Museums.  Mets games (don’t get me started).  It was my second home.  And when I got into Columbia University, it really became my primary home.  My folks would rib me that it never seemed like I wanted to return to Clearwater to visit them.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see them – I just had little desire to return to the land of the early bird special when New York was so great.  Florida, I would tell them, was where old people go to die.  It’s ingrained in them the same way homing pigeons know how to travel.  That’s why your grandparents live there.  Admit it.  They do.  Plus, my parents came up to New York a lot during my college years.  So much, in fact, my sophomore year roommate saw them more often than his own folks, and he lived an hour’s drive from Manhattan.   

Needless to say, it’s been really strange packing up not for a move to a new apartment across town, but for a trip clear across the country to a city I never imagined calling home.  I admit it, I’m a New York snob.  I think it’s the greatest city in the world.  Even if I take to Los Angeles, I will probably never admit that it stands up to New York.  I’m that delusional about this town and simply that stubborn.  I thought I’d never leave.  However, when it came time to evaluate my future, Los Angeles just made sense.  I’m a media and entertainment maven and LA is at the epicenter of the field.  I already have New York contacts, so why not make some left coast inroads?  And quite frankly, if I stayed in New York, it just felt like my life wouldn’t change all that much.  I wouldn’t be fully testing my mettle.  There’d be no inner challenge.  

And that’s what I need right now.  I want to challenge myself.  I want to learn about facets of the biz I’ve never encountered before.  I want to meet a new and diverse group of people to call friends and colleagues.  I want to enjoy In N Out Burger.  I want to embrace perennially gorgeous weather.  But most of all, I want to determine if Los Angeles is really like how it’s depicted in Swingers or Entourage.  Because if things turn out even remotely similar to Mikey or Turtle for this transplant, maybe leaving New York isn’t going to be so bad.  See you next time in Westwood.