The MBA Student Voice

Mentors + New Job

Let's talk about mentors.  I'm a big proponent of hustling and carving your own way, but I'm also a huge advocate for cultivating mentor relationships.  I like to think of my life as a garden, and while I ultimately get to decide which seeds to plant, mentors have given me invaluable advice on how to achieve the tastiest vegetables.

Pictured above are two of my mentors, Jen and Paula, at an Anderson x Disney mixer we helped co-host.  They're both Anderson alumni and current Disney cast members who have helped shape my career into what it is today.

Jennifer Roth Dickerson (FEMBA '12): Jen entered my life while I was only a first year and she's been an amazing mentor and friend.  She helped me secure my internship and resulting full-time job, gave me advice on how to navigate the landscape here at Disney, and it's been great to see how our relationship has developed.  I'm extremely grateful to have her as a part of my circle, and we still regularly meet for happy hour or lunches.

Paula McMahon (EMBA '12): Paula is a VP at DI Media and we were paired up when I first started.  Sometimes paired mentor relationships can fizzle out, but we're actually very compatible, and she's given me everything from emotional guidance to great pieces of advice.  One of the earliest (but one of the most impactful) nuggets of wisdom she gave me was when she told me to fly up to SF to visit the LucasFilm team.  I was new and hesitant to spend money on Travel & Expenses.  However, I took her advice, and that face time with the team was crucial in establishing my relationship with them and it lead to an easier working relationship down the line.

Some Advice: People often ask me for advice about how to maintain a strong mentor relationship, and I would say that the most important thing to remember is that mentoring is a two-way street- you have to invest in the relationship as well.  And, I really encourage that you pay it forward and mentor others as well.

New Job: Speaking of mentors, they've been so important to my career so far, and they're how I was recently able to make the jump to a new position at DI Media.  I know it's only been 7-8 months at Disney full-time, but I couldn't resist when it was offered to me!  As my new role, I'll be the Chief of Staff to the SVP of DI Media, focusing on strategy and brand.  Basically, I get to run around and do special projects for our business unit.  I'll definitely keep you all posted on how it goes, but I'm excited!

 

This Is The App You're Looking For

Fun fact: I actually became a "fake FEMBA" and started my full-time job at Disney before I graduated.

Although it was hard balancing both work and school (I don't know how FEMBAs do it!), I couldn't pass up my dream job.

So what do I do?  My job title is Marketing and Operations Manager and I work within Disney Interactive Media.  Disney Interactive Media provides Disney fans with new ways to experience their favorite stories and characters through various digital platforms.  Currently, my main responsibilities include managing the Disney, Star Wars and Babble brand guides, marketing efforts for DI Media's suite of mobile apps and our team's budget and analytics

Recently, I've helped launch two new apps- Disney GIF and the official Star Wars App.  App launches are always one of the most exhilarating experiences- you work behind the scenes to put everything together and it's thrilling once the product is in someone's hands and you're able to see their responses to it.  And, both of these apps are so different that each had it's own set of quirks and learnings.

Disney GIF:

Disney GIF is a messaging keyboard that allows people to express their emotions in a whole new way and send GIFs to their friends and family.  This app is constantly adding more content and it has a wide range of IP including Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars.  I work very closely with mobile product, content programming, and synergy for this app to make sure everyone is in sync and on the same page.

Star Wars App:

The official mobile connection to a galaxy far, far way.  This app not only has the latest news and a slew of other features, but it also has a selfie experience and my personal favorite, Star Wars emojis. I  work really closely with the LucasFilm team on this app, and it's only going to get more interesting closer to the release of the next Star Wars movie in December.

So, there it is- a look at what I do.  I'm having a lot of fun at Disney, and bonus- there are a ton of Anderson alumni here!

 

 

Mouse Ears On!

As the inaugural blog post, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself.  I'm a recent full-time grad of the class of 2015 and currently doing Marketing and Operations for Disney Interactive in their Media division.  In my subsequent posts, I'll share more in depth about my job, my mentors, and life in general post-grad.

To get to know me a bit better, here's a couple of things about myself:

• I'm a double Bruin and bleed blue and gold
• I live with another Anderson alum who works at Mattel
• I was a "fake FEMBA" and started my full-time job before I graduated
• I've never met a donut I didn't like

And, here's what to expect from my blog posts:

• Plenty of Disney (and Star Wars!) references
• Random alumni cameos
• An honest look at life working at the House of Mouse

I look forward to writing these posts and connecting with all of you!

Live to Eat or Eat to Live?

Sure we all joke about taking a vow of poverty by returning to graduate school, but let's be honest--most of us will have a bit of coin to spend on some good eats that will satiate even the most finicky foodie.  Although up for debate (a debate I will strategically avoid in this post), Los Angeles is without a doubt one of the most recognized cities in the world for diverse, delectable, and delicious cuisine.  So, for your viewing pleasure, let's dive in to my top 10 eateries in the LA area!!!  Take copious notes.

Global Trips, One Wedding, No Funerals: Spring Break @ UCLA Anderson

Spring Break! When was the last time you had 1 1/2 weeks off? No work, no school, no responsibilities, no kidding? Well, for me, it was just this Christmas (wrap-up post here), but you can have all these breaks too if you come back to b-school! I'm going to hit a few of the spring break highlights and what's happened since we got back. 

My fellow blogger Connie reported on her trip to Cabo, and a few other large groups of Anderson students dispersed around the globe to create havoc and get ideas for their next great business venture (depending on who you ask). Costa Rica got rave reviews for gorgeous weather and amazing scenery like the famous waterfalls:

Cloud forest vs. Cloud storage. (Photo by Marshall Mawson.)

And every picture I've seen from the legendary Japan trip that almost 100 students went on makes me either wildly jealous or hugely relieved I didn't go!

Luiz, Heloisa, and Camila prove that what happens in Japan should probably stay in Japan. (Photo courtesy Aspan Dahmubed.)

You may be wondering why I didn't get to partake in any of these amazing trips. That is, unless you are an avid reader of this blog, in which case you have been following along for the past 9 months and already know why (no, not THAT!). Stanton and I finally tied the knot!

Stanton manages to hold up his left hand in a salud despite the ball and chain beautiful ring he now sports.

Having been working on planning the wedding behind the scenes during all the craziness of moving across country, surviving fall quarter, and recruiting and doing four high-profile races this winter, it is definitely a relief that the big event has happened. That's easy to say though because it was such a huge success and my husband is so amazing! Really, to all bridezillas out there, it turns out you don't have to micromanage everything to have a fabulous wedding. Have good food, a crowd-friendly venue, an awesome band, and a guest list of people that love to dance, and you can't go wrong. We partied deep into the night and still no one wanted to leave when it was over!

It's my wedding and I will jump awkwardly higher than anyone else on the dance floor and otherwise show off my two left feet if I want to!

The big day was March 31st in Atlanta, GA, where spring had officially sprung. I'm always going on and on about the amazing weather here in LA, and I guess my hometown was getting a bit of a complex because the flowers were in bloom and it couldn't have been more perfect.

Although this pic was included to show off the illustriously blooming azaleas, I suppose it bears explaining that one of the activities at my bachelorette party involved puffy painting matching hoodies. What can I say, my bridesmaids and I are children of the 80s. (L to R: Kara, me, Lucy. Don't get any ideas Gentlemen, we're all spoken for.)

My beautiful family! I couldn't have done it without their support, especially my lovely mother Gaylen. Just in case you weren't sure, she's the one on the left. My sisters Jordan and Allie are next, then my Dad. He was really relieved I finally dragged another man into the family! 

So now it's back to the grind (yes, we got married on Saturday and I was in class on Monday), and the last week has been filled with getting up to speed on my new duties as president of the HTBA, starting my first TA position, and getting used to all the new classes. We had ASA Transition day on Friday, a 7-hour haul where we learned all the ins and outs of being presidents. It was a long day, but I am so impressed by all the leaders of the student council (ASA), the associations and clubs. The class of 2013 is pretty amazing! 

Finally, just because I spent so much time making this collage-style picture and in another plug for LA weather, here is a shot of me smiling with relief after finishing the LA Marathon in 3:29 on March 18th. I loved getting to tour my new city on foot with no traffic, but I did not love the fierce headwind for the entire race. I'll definitely do it again next year and recommend it to my readers!

Next blog post, I'll have more info on the events the HTBA is planning, as well as an update from the Knapp Business Plan Competition, where Sarah Fixler, Aviva Altmann and I are pitching our business plan Yogameo in the semifinals on Thursday. As always, we never stop here at Anderson!

-Charlotte Baxter Maines

Follow me on Twitter: @CharlotteK

Spring Forward

As I write this, I’m sitting on a beach drinking a Mai Tai. Actually, that’s a lie. I’m sitting in my apartment watching SportsCenter. But it is spring break and that’s cause for a celebration worthy of some sort of umbrella-garnished beverage. Winter quarter is now over, which is a relief. For most of us, the past quarter was characterized by a mad dash for internships. As I previously posted, I spent much of it recruiting for an entertainment/sports internship. I’m happy to report that I’ll be working at Nike this summer. So I now have two things in common with LeBron James. We both can dunk, and we’ll both be getting paid by Nike this summer. Ok, maybe it’s just one thing in common. Still, I’m pretty fired up for my adventure in Oregon.

I’m also excited for what’s to come in the following weeks. From what second year students tell me, spring quarter is second to none. For one, we can expect beach weather every day (yes Randy Newman, I love L.A.). Also, there are several amazing Anderson events on tap this spring. Next week we have the PULSE Conference. The Entertainment Management Association, Sports Business Association and UCLA Anderson Center for Managing Enterprises in Media, Entertainment and Sports are hosting a day-long conference to address some of the biggest issues facing the entertainment and sports industries. A number of prominent industry professionals will speak, including Ron Meyer, the President and COO of Universal Studios. If you’re in SoCal on April 6th, you should come check it out.

This photo has nothing to do with this post. But I was told that the readers of this blog like pictures, so I didn't want to disappoint. Also, if you come to UCLA, you can look at views like this all of the time. Trust me, it never gets old.

The following week, more than a hundred Anderson students will head up north to Stanford for the annual Challenge 4 Charity Weekend. This weekend is a culmination of a year’s worth of fundraising and volunteering. Nine west coast business schools will compete in a variety of athletic events, including basketball, dodgeball, ping pong and dancing. I’ll be playing golf and flag football. The top-performing school brings home the coveted Golden Briefcase. There will also be a heavy amount of “socializing” going on. So it’ll provide a good opportunity to hang out with other MBA students.

Another irrelevant picture. I went to my first Lakers game this past quarter. Sat eight rows up. To quote Larry David, it was "pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good."

In addition this spring, we have the annual UCLA Anderson Fashion Show, as well as Ander-Prom. There’s nothing like reliving your high school glory days for a night. Plus we have A-Days, where we’ll wine and dine new admits. Add all of that to a full load of classes and it should be a busy quarter. But that’s the thing about business school: you’re never not busy. And as exhausting as it can sometimes get, I don’t think any of us would want it any other way.

--Willem

Follow me on Twitter: @willsouthwood

 

 

Hire Learning

In college football, signing day is a big deal. It marks the first day a recruit can sign a letter of intent to play college football. It also represents the culmination of what can be four years of recruiting. Signing day was especially kind to UCLA this year, as the Bruins hauled in a class that some analysts rank as high as number 12 in the nation. Why am I mentioning this? I don’t know. Maybe more people will go to Anderson tailgates next year.

What I’m getting at is that it’d be really nice if business school had a signing day. Why can’t the first Wednesday in February be the day in which every first-year student signs a letter of intent for a summer internship? Wishful thinking, I guess. Still, many of my friends have landed their summer gigs. If you’re an investment banker, you’ve most likely accepted an offer. Same goes with some on the consulting and marketing career paths. But for those of us who are chasing more non-traditional MBA roles, the recruiting process can take longer.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I’m recruiting for entertainment. I liken entertainment recruiting to Chicago winters. They can start as early as September and last into April or May. I started the recruiting process in September by reaching out to alumni for informational interviews. Right now I’m sending out applications and doing a few interviews. But I’ve fully conditioned myself to the fact that I may not have an offer until the spring. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not throwing a pity party. Instead, I look at this process as an opportunity to network more, learn about the opportunities out there, and find the perfect one.

So what is the perfect role? I’m glad you asked. I don’t know. But what I do know is that Anderson is doing everything in its power to help me figure that out. Thanks to the resources of the Entertainment Management Association (EMA), I’ve been able to do some incredible networking this quarter. Since being back from break, I’ve made recruiting trips to a number of studios, including Sony, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney and Fox. I’ve also participated in sponsored trips to Hulu and Creative Artists Agency.

Our esteemed group at Paramount. I’m the guy in the dark suit.

If you’re not impressed, consider my recent trip to New York. In two days in the Big Apple, a number of entertainment-focused classmates and I visited NBC Universal, IAC, Focus Features, Tribeca Enterprises, Google, ABC/ESPN and Fox. We met with alumni at pretty much each stop and adhered to my b-school motto: ABN (always be networking). 

I know what you’re thinking, but no, I did not make the cut in the Rockettes tryouts. Why do you think I'm looking for a job?

I also found time to go to the Sundance Film Festival with some friends from the EMA. I saw a few great movies, soaked up the celebrity scene, and attended a Stella Artois party that was highlighted by free waffles. Free waffles! I mean, seriously, does it get any better?

Snow in Utah. Very pretty. You know what it doesn’t do in L.A.? Snow. And I’m fine with that.

My point is that if I already had my job, maybe I wouldn’t be as eager to take advantage of these amazing opportunities. Still, if you’re hiring, let me know. 

-Willem

Follow me on Twitter: @willsouthwood

 

School Is Cool

As the great Austin Powers would say, “Allow myself to introduce myself.” My name is Willem Suyderhoud and I am a first-year full-time MBA student at UCLA Anderson. I’m honored to be one of the school’s social media ambassadors (it sounds very regal, doesn’t it?) and I look forward to sharing my insights and perspectives with you.

I wanted to be a social media ambassador for a few reasons. For one, I’m quite interested in social media and its ability to facilitate communication and connection in a way that was unfathomable just a decade ago. So taking on this role will hopefully add to my social media education (and hey, it can’t hurt to have on a resume). But I also wanted to do this in order to share my story with prospective students.

I come from what we at school call a “non-traditional” business background. Prior to arriving at Anderson, I was a television sports anchor/reporter/producer in Butte, Montana, Medford, Oregon and San Francisco. I was on TV for five years delivering nightly sports reports, so I didn’t have much time to learn about such fun stuff as net present value and regression analysis. As a result, I was a bit insecure as I embarked on the business school application process. I wasn’t sure if my background would scare off those wonderful folks in admissions. Seeing that I’m writing this blog post in UCLA’s scenic business school library, I guess I fooled enough people. Of course, I’m kidding. But what’s no joke is Anderson’s celebration of diversity. I have classmates who are Grammy award-winning musicians, standout division one athletes, and successful entrepreneurs. And the diversity isn’t limited to professional backgrounds. I now have friends from all over the world. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to engage with these diverse and fascinating fellow students because I get a fresh perspective every day. In other words, the education doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom.

The point I’m trying to make is no matter what background you come from or where you come from, Anderson can be a great fit for you. I’m hoping that over the course of the year I can use this outlet to prove that. 

Also, if you have any questions about the application process or the Anderson experience, please feel free to contact me. My e-mail is [email protected]. You can also follow me on Twitter @willsouthwood. 

 -Willem

 

The Most Bittersweet of Endings

On the morning of April 14, I wrote a blog post about the numerous conferences going on on and off campus, and inviting the broader community to join in on those conferences.

Until now, this was my last blog post, because something that afternoon occurred that has changed my life.  Forever. 

In one of my previous posts, I talked about Sari Closet, an online nationwide rental service for saris (formal South Asian women's apparel).  To recap: Sari Closet started as a class project in our Business Plan Development class.  At the end of the class, our "final" was to present our business to the class and to a group of guest venture capitalists, whose commentary / Q&A compromised the bulk of your grade for the quarter. 

The feedback we received was tremendous, to the point where one of the guests contacted us to help us get started.  We launched the business in January and went live in May. 

So on that fateful afternoon of April 14, I was in a pod at Rosenfeld Library with my classmates-turned-business partners, preparing for the Knapp Venture Plan competition that evening.  This is a business plan competition across Anderson, with the winner getting $30,000 in prize money, presumably to launch the business (although that's not a requirement). 

Nisha and I were going to present, so we dressed as best we could like fashion executives.  Patrick was dressed like an MBA student in his last quarter: a t-shirt from a band nobody has ever heard of, old jeans, and at least one tennis shoe. 

(Digression: we made it to the next round of the Knapp competition, the semi-finals.  But in this round, all of the businesses were put into different rooms based on industry, and the judges chose the best business of the ones that they saw, and that team moves on to the finals.

I didn't realize that you had to "win your room" until 20 minutes before we were supposed to present, I thought the judges all listened to the pitches, then got togeher and chose their favorites based on all of the rooms. 

But I was wrong, and naturally, we ended up in Food and Beverage.  Any muppet can figure out that a sari is neither a food nor a beverage.  But our objections were shot down (apparently, our industry room was "Retail".)  So there we were, presenting Sari Closet after two food trucks, a beer business, and a pastry shop.  Of course, we didn't win.)

So we are meant to present at 6pm, and I get the call at 4:45pm that changed everything.  It was from Mrs. V.  I left right away, and 4.5 hours later, Mrs. V and I introduced our daughter to this world.

Like I said, something happened that changed me forever.

So I never had the chance to post again to this blog, and then I graduated.

Tearfully, it is time for me to say goodbye. To the blog, and to UCLA Anderson, at least as a full-time student. I'm officially an MBA graduate, and a father. 

I'm not going too far.  I'm still dedicated to Sari Closet, and will stilll be following the sports industry closely - the sports entertainment business remains my professional passion. 

Those of you who have enjoyed my writing (all three of you) can follow me over at Perfecting the Upset, a new sports blog started by Rahat Ahmed, a friend from college, and focusing on the sociology of sports: why are we fans, what makes us tick.  There will be a heavy dose of nostalgia, plus coverage in a way that isn't blinded by commercial interests. 

I'll be focused on my beloved Washington Capitals and Manchester United, and possibly UCLA football / basketball and the Steelers, if my daughter lets me.  I'll join there later this month. 

I'll always love my two years at UCLA Anderson, and writing this blog.  It's a bittersweet good-bye for me, a time that I will always cherish and remember fondly.

Go Bruins.

 

 

Conference Season at UCLA Anderson

Today is the Conference edition of the blog - because there's lots of news on all of them! Contact me if you want details any of the events happening on campus!

* The International Food Festival is on Thursday, April 7, starting at 17:00 (that's 5pm) at Alumni Plaza here on campus.  This is where the International Business Association turns Alumni Plaza into a street market atmosphere with food stalls representing 15 different nationalities, music and dance performances from around the world, and a global selection of beverages -- all run by UCLA Anderson students!  Last year, over 500 people were in attendance.

Entry is just $20 which includes five free food tickets (additional food tickets can be purchased for $1 each).  All UCLA graduate students are welcome - from any school, not just Anderson - as are all UCLA faculty and staff.  And yes, you can bring your family!  Children's entry is just $10.

* UCLA Anderson is putting on the PULSE Conference on Friday, April 8. This is UCLA Anderson's first-ever Sports and Entertainment Conference!  The conference is a collaborative effort between the Sports Business Association, Entertainment Management Association, and UCLA Anderson's Center for Managing Enterprises in Media, Entertainment, and Sports (MEMES).

Ann Sweeney, President of Disney / ABC Television Group is the keynote speaker.  Other speakers include AEG CMO Sean Dee, WME's Head of Digital Media Chris Jacquemin, and Yahoo! Sports's Director of Product Strategy Dana McGraw, plus many more!  Check out the PULSE Conference website for more details!

* The International Business Association is working with the African-American Students Association to put on UCLA Anderson's first-ever conference about Africa!  The day will highlight opportunities to invest and grow on the continent, with a fantastic array of speakers including MobileXL CEO Guy Kamgaing-Kouam, Sterling Energy Partners CEO Clyde Sotomey, and the Consul-General of South Africa's Los Angeles consulate, Cyril Sibusiso Ndaba. The conference will be on Thursday, April 21 here on campus, starting at 14:00. 

So to recap, you could expand your business mindset around the world, learn about different cultures, and become a more global citizen, all from within the confines of our beloved university in two weeks.  Not a bad deal!

-- Sreesha