Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Alex Lawrence is in the east coast this week meeting prospective students and alumni. Today he provides a sneak peek into his busy schedule during his stay in New York.
I always enjoy traveling to New York. Whether it be personal or business, I love the opportunity to return to the East Coast where I grew up and interact with the so-called “City that never Sleeps”. After a red-eye from LAX to La Guardia, I arrived in the city around 10am. A quick infusion of Starbucks products revived me in time to connect with The Riordan Programs alumni for lunch. Of course this is a special organization supported by UCLA Anderson for 26 years and one that is near and dear to my heart. I brought them up to speed on my recruiting efforts and activities not only in New York but all over the country this month. They are my eyes and ears for talent in the City…sort of like a special forces that can get me anything I need if/when I want it.
After watching (on my iPad NFL app) my beloved Cowboys lose to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, I hustled over to the QS World Tour event. I shower/changed into my “uniform” with plenty of time to participate in a panel titled – “Successful Strategies when Applying to Business School”. It was a perfect platform not only to share the activities/habits of candidates who are competitive and successful, but a chance to showcase the UCLA Anderson brand too. It must have worked because the line at my career fair table that night was 15-20 people deep at all times until the event closed. I met some really talented candidates who had questions related to UCLA Anderson’s 6 Centers, partnership with the Consortium, other fellowship opportunities, the school’s tracks and specialties, culture of our students and the community, concerns about the recent NY Times article focused on gender equity, and at least ½ dozen more topics of interest. I talked to every one of those visitors because I want them to know who we (UCLA Anderson) are as an institution.
The next couple of days included some “ground work”. I
hosted a Women in the MBA Luncheon with my friend Valerie (’97 alumna)
targeting female MBA candidates. I returned the next day for our MBA Diversity
luncheon at OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria. Reggie (’14 MBA candidate)
joined me to answer the candidates’ questions about UCLA Anderson. Reggie
really “knocked the ball out of the park” with his candid comments about the
caliber of students, the power and influence of having a great career
management team like the Parker Career Management Center directed by my
colleague Dean Regazzi. The next subway
stop was meeting with another great Riordan alumna – Adrienne - who has always
supported me. She provided ½ dozen names as potential recruits within the
banking organization she works. Thanks Adrienne!
Washington DC is next on my travel schedule….I’m looking forward to the Consortium MAPs event, another Women in the MBA luncheon, and more “ground work” before returning to LA.
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