This post is part of our “From the Dean’s Desk” series, where we hear directly from our UCLA Anderson leaders across the school.
Last month, I had the extreme pleasure to visit regions in the world on behalf of UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions. Most of those areas were very familiar to me, while another was a new area for me to explore. I enjoy the opportunity to engage with the future leaders of business, especially individuals interested in an MBA at UCLA Anderson. Here is my 7 day trip around the world……of course, all accomplished with the modern conveniences of airplanes, hotels, buses, subways, and a few taxis.
1st stop – London: This literally was a 5 hour layover from LA to my first recruiting event in India. However, I will add that I enjoy going through one of the world’s busiest airports to break-up the 20+ hours of total flying time that is required to reach Bangalore. A strong suggestion from me to you is “upgrade” to visit an airline lounge if you're able to “refresh” before the 2nd half of the journey. PS – and travel as light as possible to avoid items being confiscated/thrown away like oversized toiletries, unmarked electronics, etc. that may not fit into the 1 visible plastic bag that must go through the x-ray machine. PS2 – I have never had anything confiscated or thrown away...yet!
2nd stop – Bangalore, India: This is my third time this year visiting India. The people here are extremely nice and hospitable. I’m not going to give you the rundown on my every move. But, get out of your comfort zone to meet people, understand the culture, explore the food choices, and leave with no regrets. On the business side – UCLA Anderson has a strong global reputation with many alumni in the area, as well as in the US and beyond. The strong brand of UCLA is recognized around the world and people are always curious about the MBA degree offered by the school. Each time I visit this region, many of the questions revolve around career opportunities in technology, entertainment, and entrepreneurship. So, I wasn’t surprised when the audience of nearly 100 individuals asked how can the Parker Career Management Center “help me”. The night session proved to be very successful given the combination of content, alumni, and reception that followed. I am sure the current UCLA Anderson students originally from India will be busy in the coming weeks and months with inquiries from the many individuals I met given the level of interest by the attendees. Even though I only spent 24 hours in this city, it was an “A+” experience including the recruiting event and opportunity to meet with alumni in the area.
3rd stop – Mumbai, India: This proves to be another “short” trip to a fabulous city. The schedule is relatively the same, host an evening recruiting event with another large audience. Just some subtle differences – Mumbai has a larger population, but Bangalore has a larger IT presence…and both attract talent for sure. The business landscape is global and the race for talent is fierce. The concerns and interests of event attendees were basically the same with no surprises. However, there is a subtle difference…..I find being near the Arabian Sea has a calming effect ….people are a bit more casual and seem comfortable. Thank you to the alumni who did come and support me in delivering the UCLA Anderson message :)
4th stop – Delhi, India: Another familiar territory as this is my 3rd time visiting Delhi. And as an added bonus, I am arriving on India’s Independence Day (8/15/18). I truly enjoy the displays of national pride including those wearing clothing reflecting the vibrant colors, art, and genuine discussions with hotel staff, flight attendants, and random strangers about what the day means to him/her. Again, no surprises in terms of interest in UCLA Anderson nor any unusual questions. I think many were surprised at the diversity of career opportunities and the diversity of the student class knowing that UCLA Anderson is not simply a finance school or a tech school. Many appreciated hearing about the “new" essay question that focuses on one’s passion and what the admissions team is interested in learning through the responses.
5th stop – Tokyo, Japan: It was my first (and hopefully not my last) time visiting this beautiful city. I only spent 24 hours here but what I did experience was memorable to say the least. The food is fantastic, the people are so nice/friendly, the city was clean and easy to move around even though I do not know any Japanese. I sound like a broken record when I “say” that the event was successful, but when you have nearly 100 people in the audience interested in learning more about UCLA Anderson, then it is definitely worth writing about. Plus, current international students gave me explicit instructions to share how welcoming the campus environment is to incoming international students.
Final stop – home (Los Angeles): I wished I could have stayed longer in Tokyo and explore the area. But I think I will be back next year! The flight home was uneventful filled with sleeping, 2-3 movies, plenty of reading, and some email correspondence. But after 21,732 air miles in 1 week, I was happy to be in my own home again in Los Angeles…one of the BEST cities in the world!
-- Alex Lawrence
Assistant Dean and Director - MBA Admissions and Financial Aid
UCLA Anderson School of Management
310.825.6944
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Today’s post is from Alex Lawrence, Assistant Dean & Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program. Alex is a UCLA Anderson MBA alum (Class of 1999), spending his post-MBA career working in Management Consulting prior to returning to UCLA Anderson, where he served as the Executive Director of The Riordan Program prior to joining the Admissions team.
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