About Bebe: Bebe Silberzweig is a first year MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson. She went to Lehigh University and majored in Finance and Economics. Bebe started her career as a consultant at PwC and more recently, worked as the Brand Strategy Manager at Flywheel Sports, a boutique fitness company offering nationwide indoor cycling and precision training classes. Bebe is interested in furthering her career within the sports and fitness space post-MBA.
East coast or West coast!? Well, I grew up in Westchester, New York and for undergrad, I went to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. After college, I moved to NYC, where I had been living for the past 4 years. I’ve spent my whole life on the east coast, and most of my family and friends live there. When deciding where to apply for business school, I felt it could be a great opportunity to move somewhere new and different. There were SO many reasons I was excited about the possibility of attending Anderson, and a big draw for me, personally, was the school’s location in Los Angeles. I was drawn to the weather, the beach, the endless outdoor activities, the restaurant scene…the list is endless. How exciting: the opportunity to go to a leading business school in a vibrant city with an ideal climate!
Moving from NYC in the middle of the Corona pandemic seemed stressful at first but, it was actually pretty seamless. I found an apartment online in Santa Monica (about half a mile from the beach), and planned my move for early August, when our summer quarter would begin. When I first arrived, I settled into my apartment and explored the neighborhood. Many of the restaurants and bars have successfully arranged new set-ups with outdoor dining (which will last year round!) There’s a farmer’s market on Wednesdays and Sundays just a few blocks from my apartment. I love hiking in the Pacific Palisades and biking along the boardwalk to Manhattan Beach.
My transition to L.A. was great because I instantly connected with many other Anderson students. In the summer quarter, we were separated into Learning Teams, where we worked on projects with a select group of 5-6 other students. This helped create immediate connections with other students regardless of the virtual format. Another fun thing about moving to Los Angeles is the possibility to explore nearby areas. I have gone to Santa Barbara and Palm Springs, and am excited to plan trips to Tahoe, Big Sur, and Joshua Tree in the future! Within a relatively short distance, you could be at the beach surfing, in the desert hiking, or up in the mountains skiing.
So NY and LA are very different. I loved New York City’s hustle and bustle, fast pace, and buzzing traffic. I would jump on the subway and go from one neighborhood to the next, and I appreciated the city’s vibrant energy. However, L.A. (so far) has exceeded all of my expectations. Instead of the NYC skyline, I bike through streets of endless palm trees and views of mountain ranges and the Pacific Ocean. I am still learning L.A.- it is much more spread out than NYC and I am getting used to driving around. But, it’s been three months, and I am already OBSESSED with it!
And, since I’ve gotten here, the LA Lakers won the NBA Championship and the LA Dodgers won the World Series, so I guess I moved at the right time!
Student Blogger: Bebe Silberzweig 2022
Undergrad: Lehigh University 2016
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