The MBA Student Voice

The Summer of All Parts

This blog post is long overdue (what’s new?) and I think at this point, the admissions office has hired a personal investigator to chase me down. But my thinking is that television networks aren’t running new shows during the summer, so why should I be producing new blog posts? It’s fuzzy logic, but it’s all I have.

No, the truth is, I’ve been really busy this summer with my internship. I’m working a lot of hours (to all my banker friends, don't laugh), which hasn't given me much time to wax poetic about my life these past nine weeks. But as I’m writing now, I’m stuck on an airplane on my way to New York for work. So I’m trapped with a subpar Eddie Murphy movie on in the background (can we just have 1980s Eddie back, please?) and have nothing to do but put some thoughts down on paper.

I'll be in New York for a photo shoot. Not of me. That’d make just too much sense.

For those of you who aren’t regular readers (and I don’t blame you, because I’m not a regular writer), I’m spending my summer working in global corporate communications at Nike in Beaverton, Ore. It’s been an incredible experience so far. I’m contributing to some very interesting projects, learning quite a bit about how Nike operates and the products it makes, and meeting a number of remarkably talented people. I’ve also been able to take advantage of some uniquely Nike perks, such as attending the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials in Eugene, Ore., as well as utilizing the plethora of phenomenal athletic facilities on campus (the “Bo” is my favorite, partly because it’s named after Raider great Bo Jackson). If I get bored with the Bo, I can always stay busy on the sand volleyball courts, the indoor or outdoor basketball courts, the regulation-size soccer pitch, the turf field, the outdoor running trail, the golf putting green and chipping area, etc. Yeah, it’s pretty amazing here.

The “Bo.” Bo knows working out. I know very little. At least that’s what my boss says. KIDDING. Don’t worry, Parker CMC. Things are going fine.

I’m also enjoying my summer in the Pacific Northwest. This isn’t my first rodeo when it comes to living in Oregon, but it is my first time in Portland. So far, I love it. It’s a gorgeous city that oozes personality. 

 

Kat An, class of 2012, taking time out of petitioning Anderson for a third year with a weekend visit to Portland.

Another great thing is that it also stays light until about 9 p.m. here, so it’s the twilight golfer’s paradise.

The sun setting on my golf round a few weekends ago. I couldn’t find my ball. Darkness wasn’t the problem.

In short, it’s been a memorable summer so far and I’m anxious to see what the final few weeks bring. And to my Anderson family, I miss you guys and look forward to seeing you back in L.A. soon.

-Willem

Follow me on twitter, @willsouthwood

 

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

 

Winter Break? Not Quite

I’d like to start this post by wishing everyone a happy holiday season. I’m especially happy this holiday season because finals are over. Not that I don’t like taking four three-hour exams in consecutive days, but…wait, yeah, I don’t like taking four three-hour exams in consecutive days.

All kidding aside, last week was finals week and it was an incredibly challenging experience. After I wrapped up my accounting exam, the final of all finals, I thought I’d want to run out of the room and be greeted by falling confetti and an overflowing bottle of champagne. Instead, I was so mentally exhausted from the week that all I wanted to do was sleep. To all of my classmates, I apologize for my zombie-like demeanor the rest of the day. 

But honestly, now that I’m a week removed from finals, I can look back on the quarter and really appreciate how much I learned. The professors were fantastic, the material engaging, and the classmate collaborators inspiring. It was an unbelievably arduous and humbling quarter, but one that I can look back on quite fondly.

You know what else I can look back on fondly? The Anderson Breckenridge Ski Trip. Yep, once finals wrapped up, I, along with 100-plus of my classmates, left on a jet plane to (John) Denver and bused to Breckenridge, Colorado. There we skied (or boarded depending on your preference), hot tubbed, enjoyed a few adult beverages and were model guests at the Mountain Thunder Lodge. Jim Mora, Jr. would have been proud.

 Sitting by the fire in Breck-not a bad way to recover from figuring out LIFO and FIFO!

But the fun didn’t end once we got back from Breckenridge. Some of us headed immediately to the San Francisco Bay Area for “Silicon Valley Days on the Job.” The High Tech Business Association and Entertainment Management Association hosted this trek and it was nothing short of amazing. In a three-day span I visited eight companies, including YouTube, Twitter, Pixar, Meebo, Yahoo!, Pandora, Ustream, and Revision3. Others made stops at Google, Visa, and eBay to name a few. I’m amazed at how much I learned in such a short time at each company. Even better, I met several fascinating people who hopefully will be great contacts down the road as I search for a summer internship and, later, a full-time job.

Pixar won these Oscars. Not me.

So winter break is underway, but it hasn’t been much of a break. I think that’s a theme here at the MBA Student Voice. But it’s better to be busy than bored, so I’ll take this hectic December. However, once the college football bowl season picks up, I'll probably revert back to my zombie-like state. Just fair warning.

 -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