The MBA Student Voice

Giving

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. Inspired by the commercialization of the week after Thanksgiving (in the vein of Black Friday and Cyber Monday), Giving Tuesday asks us to donate to causes we care about, using our privilege to help organizations in need of financial support.

For me, UCLA is - and always will be - one of the causes that I care about most. Many arguments against giving to universities seem valid. For example, we pay for the service of education (it is not free), and we often spend a decade repaying debt. I argue that we must give back to the schools that made us who we are today.

As an Anderson student, I delivered a presentation arguing for giving back to one’s alma mater. Our professor made a quip in the beginning of the year about those pesky student telemarketers from university alumni associations asking for money he didn’t want to give, and the class heartily agreed. As the co-chair of the UCLA Young Alumni Development Council at the time, and an active philanthropic advocate, I took that as a challenge. 

I argue that giving back to our alma maters protects the value of an institution and concretizes a culture of paying it forward. By giving, we ensure that our degrees retain their value. And the generosity of alumni before us makes our institutions great for generations of students to come. Apparently, my classmates and professor were convinced (I was voted “Best in Room” and got an A+ on my “Take A Stand 2,” for those familiar).

I give to UCLA, and I give to Anderson, but “giving” extends far beyond donating financially. On this Giving Tuesday, in addition to donating to nonprofits, I supported a fellow alum’s crowdfunding campaign. I used my network to find a freelancer for a friend. I sent a few friendly emails to former colleagues. And I edited resumes for undergrad mentees. I also reflected on the power of the UCLA Anderson network as a power for giving of good. UCLA Anderson engenders a culture of giving - a culture that I experienced as a student, and now again as an alum.

Today is also World AIDS Day. In addition to supporting education, for over 10 years, I have committed much of my activism and philanthropy to the battle against HIV/AIDS. While in college, I helped raised over $1M for research and education to help end pediatric AIDS around the world. After graduation, I worked for an NGO in Tanzania on the ground as an HIV/AIDS educator and community organizer. Since then, I have worked with numerous organizations, most notably an arts camp for HIV+ youth.

Anderson students, alumni and Sig-O's volunteer at Camp Hollywood HEART in Malibu, CA in August, 2015.

This summer, I volunteered for the camp once again (click here to read my 2013 post about camp). In launching a new program for this year’s camp focused on college readiness and career preparedness, I reached out to the UCLA Anderson network for help.

I was truly touched (though I suppose not thoroughly surprised) by the outpouring of interest from fellow alumni - over 10 responses in the first 12 hours. Most from individuals I had never met. Ultimately, five fellow alumni, several Anderson Sig-O’s, and a current student all joined me in the mountains of Malibu to launch our new program and give back to the community. I witnessed, first-hand, our shared passion for giving.

Thank you, Anderson family, for giving. Giving Tuesday is just one day, but the Anderson culture of giving lasts all year.

Alumni Spotlight: JJ Haglund

This post is a part of the Alumni Spotlight series where we highlight an Anderson alum and learn what they have been up to since their time at Anderson. We will also get hear about their favorite Anderson memories and get their advice for current and prospective MBA students.

Today we are featuring JJ Haglund, Anderson Class of 2015.

What brought you to Anderson?

What first grabbed my attention about Anderson was the list of top employers and who recruited there. Before I even realized what career I wanted to pursue I was just impressed that so many grads went to Disney, Nike, Google, Adobe, Microsoft, and the like. Then the more I learned about the school and the culture, the more I wanted to be there. The collaborative environment and sense of community really resonated with me. 

 

What have you been up to since graduation?

Since graduation, I started working for Adobe as a PMM for the Marketing Cloud. I moved back to Utah, where Adobe's Digital Marketing headquarters is located (corporate HQ is in San Jose). I've still been able to maintain ties with my Anderfriends though - my job sends me to the Bay Area about once a month. We also took trips to Hawaii and Yellowstone this summer as a family.

 

How to Keep Up

During my first graduate program, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, I studied the potential of leveraging media and technology to spark social change. Among my exploration of television and film as tools for activating people around important social issues, I studied the Twitter revolution in Egypt and the uncanny popularity of YouTube, integrating philosophy, sociology, education theory, and technical knowledge to develop my new understanding of how the world works - and evolves - in a new digital age.

My most poignant take-away from my time at Harvard: The key to creating change is the ability to keep up with change.

Constant waves in new technologies do the best job of illustrating this phenomenon. For example, any successful marketer today must understand the new technological tools that customers use to communicate. In this way, studying technology from the outside is nearly impossible - as soon as we have a grasp of a technology’s presence and impact, technology has evolved once again.

This week, Dean Olian hosted Robert (Bob) E. Moritz, Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC on campus as part of the Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series. As a member of the U.S. leadership team of the one of the largest professional services companies in the world and a well-published thought leader, Moritz shared insights on leadership style, new trends that traverse industries, and Millennials in the workforce. Throughout the conversation, his responses were anchored around a very familiar core concept: To succeed, we must keep up with change. 

In professional services - arguably more than in any other industry - success is dependent on a deep understanding of the latest ideas and trends, and then bringing those to clients as tools for change. Internally, applying such tools is just as important.

Polished and practiced, Moritz spoke in concise, yet comprehensive bullet points and lists (e.g., “four fundamental questions,” “three shifts,” and “five trends”). PwC understands that it must continuously evolve its service offerings and adapt to an increasingly globalized society, and do so faster, and faster.

Moritz called out that firms like PwC need leaders who “can navigate the grey zone.” The grey zone no longer only symbolizes ambiguity; it references the space between present and future, the active state of shifting from one point to the next. And in that grey zone, Moritz reminds us, failure is not only encouraged, but embraced. Failure signifies risk. And in a faster world, we must take risks in order to keep moving.

Moritz posed a question that he then subsequently answered: “What skills do we need to keep up with the pace of change?” And, in my opinion, that is the key. We - both organizations and individual professionals - must all cultivate the skills to “keep up.” It is no longer enough to just know how to create change; the most critical skills are agility and flexibility in a rapidly changing world.

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!

 

The Gift of Taking Time

Quick Prelude:

What a two years it has been! It's a pleasure to be back on the UCLA Anderson blog, sharing my experiences as a bookend to my blogging days from summer 2013. I look forward to staying connecting over the next year as a I track my progress as an Anderson alumni in year one (now officially a #doubleBruin!).

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When I accepted my offer from Deloitte Consulting last year, I considered all three start date options. July seemed awfully early, with just over one month’s rest between school and work. September would give me an entire summer off to rest and travel. The other option was quite far away - February.

But when in my life would I ever again be able to take off so many months, with relatively few responsibilities and a supportive partner with a stable career, and know I had a secure, well-paying job at the end? Maybe never. So, I asked to start in February.

Reactions from classmates range from Are you crazy? to What are you going to do with that time? Most alumni think I am genius. That is SUCH a good idea. Or, Why didn’t I do that?

Originally, I chose the latest date to give my fiancé and I more flexibility to have our wedding in the months after graduation. Yet, beyond that, the decision was fairly simple. The opportunity to take a seven month sabbatical was a gift I had to accept. My time in business school was purposefully intense. Perhaps my biggest talent is keeping busy (closely followed by saying “yes” and making to-do lists). I knew that if I gave myself permission to pause after graduation, I would challenge myself even more up to that point. Rather than succumbing to senioritis, I would sprint to the finish line.

My last two quarters at Anderson, I built some of my closest relationships, excelled academically while unnecessarily overloading my class schedule, and made significant impact on the UCLA and Anderson communities through my student leadership positions. I made a difference. I learned more. I liked school more. I was happier because I pushed myself.

I also decided to wait until February because I knew the importance of taking time. Since graduation, I have invested in my physical, mental and emotional health. I have taken the time to process my business school journey and contemplate my goals today and my steps for tomorrow - with friends, family and in my head. In the long-run, my time as an MBA student will be better spent for the opportunity I have to understand what I’ve learned, how I’ve changed and where I hope to go next.

I am often asked how I am filling that time. In addition to joining several nonprofit boards, I have been doing other volunteer work, and am working to start my own small social enterprise. I attended a leadership summit for LGBT leaders in New York. I have caught up with many friends, caught up on a bit of television I skipped over the past two years, re-organized my physical and digital life, and have been giving myself permission to focus on me. My partner and I spent several weeks traveling, with another trip on the horizon. Oh, yes, and it’s finally time to plan that wedding after a two-year engagement.

I have many more plans - some big, some small. Projects, favors, and catch-ups with friends, and a map for self improvement. I am keeping an open mind to opportunities that may arise over the next few months. And I accept already that after seven months, there will still be more that I wanted to do.

Yet, when I begin at Deloitte in February, not only will I have the tools I need to succeed from the two incredible years I spent at UCLA Anderson, I will be ready. Ready to go back to work. Ready for the intensity that management consulting brings. Ready to start the next chapter.

Until then, I am taking my time.

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!

Alumni Perspectives: Strength of the Anderson Network

In just under two months, it will have been a year since I graduated from UCLA Anderson.

Wow. Time flies yet again. 

For those of you who haven't been introduced to me via this blog before, my name is Kyle Forrest. Here's a link to my first post as a student blogger during my two years at Anderson. 

For those of you who have read my previous posts, it's good to see you in this space again!

I'm returning for a guest appearance to share my experience as an alumni thus far. 

For a little about me - I work at Deloitte Consulting, in our Human Capital Practice, where I focus on advising clients on HR Strategy and HR M&A. While at Anderson, I had the opportunity to serve the student body as the ASA VP of Social Events, an Orientation Co-Director for the class of 2015, and a variety of other roles. 

Below is a picture of the Orientation Board for the Class of 2015 having a fun group dinner. 

 

The inspiration for this post came after I had been working at Deloitte for a few months. At Deloitte, in addition to working on a client project, people are encouraged to work on 1-2 additional activities that contribute to the firm in some form or fashion. For example, one of the activities I worked on was returning to Anderson as part of the recruiting team. Not only was this a great way to connect with Anderson alum at Deloitte, but a way to stay in touch with the administration, class of 2015, and meet new members of the class of 2016.   

 

Pictured (from left to right): Me, Jacqueline Sutro, Geoff Hewitt, and Mark Joshua, all within Deloitte Human Capital in LA. Not pictured, two of our classmates also in Human Capital, Dan Kiernan and Fran Benjamin, and all of our classmates and colleagues in the Technology and Strategy & Operations groups. 

 

 

Separate from recruiting, I became a co-lead of an initiative doing research about start-ups, and determining what types of human capital and talent related challenges start-ups face. 

Given Anderson's reputation in the entrepreneurial and start-up world, I knew the best place for me to start my research was within the Anderson network. 

Over the course of a couple of months, I spoke to fellow alumni, current students, and professors, of which a few are listed below: 

- Leo Petrossian, class of 2014, CEO and founder of Neural Analytics

- Ari Zandman-Zeman, class of 2014, co-founder of Rubberbanditz

- Elaine Shi, COO, & Bryce Luken, co-founder, both class of 2014, COO and  - BodySpec

- Max Mauro, class of 2015 and President of the Entrepreneur's Association

- Prof. Jeff Scheinrock, who teaches Entrepreneurial Venture Initiation and Business Plan Development at UCLA Anderson, in addition to the number of other ways in which he supports Anderson's budding entrepreneurs. 

In addition to proving incredibly insightful, every single person I spoke to personally introduced me to other contacts who they felt would be helpful for me to speak with. The support was incredible. While I had interacted with alumni and seen the strength of the Anderson network in action while I was in school, I had never seen it work to this degree for myself personally. 

Since that time, I've been more active on the alumni list serves that students and alumni can join. I've seen alumni from all programs, full-time, fully employed, and executive, ask for questions, pitch investments, or seek contacts, and each and every time someone from within the Anderson network is able to help out or point someone in the right direction. 

While I miss being on campus every day, knowing that I have this incredible network standing by has made me feel closer to the school than I realized. 

Also, it doesn't hurt that Alumni Weekend 2015 is coming up, along with Tour de Strand, a major alumni attraction where I'll get to catch up with friends who have moved out of LA to pursue their careers. 

I'll close with a comment for people currently considering applying to Anderson - don't hesitate to contact alumni. We're always willing to talk about our experience, if for no other reason than to reminisce about the unforgettable two years we had. 

And with that, I hope everyone enjoys has a great day! 

Mini-Anderson alumni reunion at Lake Tahoe catching a true snow day. 

 

Update from Los Angeles

Things are starting to pick up speed here in Los Angeles. (No, I am not referring to the traffic conditions..) A bunch of students have been moving in and settling down over the past few weeks, so let me share with you some quick updates on some of the local action as things start to heat up!

Over the summer, the Parker Career Management Center does a great job getting incoming students toned, ripped, and into shape for the Fall. In addition to introspective self assessments that would make Warren Buffett second-guess his career choice, 360 degree feedback that would make Shaun White's head spin, information interviews with a thoroughness rivaling that of Bob Woodward, career industry and function research exercises, resume writing guidance with more action-bullets than Grand Theft Auto V, and technical skill building, there's room for some fun preparation too! The Summer Mixer Series hosted by the Anderson staff and Student Clubs is one example.

Dean Judy Olian speaking at the Summer Mixer event at Shutters on the Beach

TED at UCLA Anderson!

 

 

Hello everyone. Last week we had a very exciting event at UCLA Anderson, the second annual TED Live Streaming! TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) is an annual set of global conferences about "ideas worth spreading". The topic can be anything as long as it is an innovative idea and they last at most 18 minutes so it is a fast and fun way to learn something very interesting. For example I got to listen to a talk about how music should be free and another about how the best experiences and products are those that stimulate more than one of your five senses. 

UCLA Anderson has an agreement to live stream these conferences at the campus and they designed an amazing room so students could sit and enjoy the talks. Take a look here:

 

 

Doesn't it look awesome? Those bean bag chairs were very comfy! If you want to see how they set it all up you can see that in a video here. It looks much better there; my pictures don't do it justice. 

After the live stream three or four panelist comprised of alumni, students, faculty, and industry specialists would go up on stage and discuss the TED talk to provide more insight on the subject and allow guests to ask questions. 

 

Second year Ana Peña (on the left) was moderating the panel I attended.

 

There was also a campfire at the end of the event on the third day where students and faculty would go and present their own TED inspired talks. I was not able to attend but fellow blogger Ashley Mallison did and here is what she had to say:

 

 

"The campfire was a great event. The photo is of Bhavna from our year who gave an inspiring talk about changing the way we design our cities to inside healthier lifestyles! It was a fabulous event that spoke to the power of TED and the UCLA Anderson community with great drinks and food, and black light chalk wall for people to write “What would you name your own TED Talk” and truly inspiring presentations from students and professors!"

I hope this inspires you to attend the TED Live Streaming event at UCLA Anderson next year and if you are planning to visit campus make sure to ask a current student if there are going to be any events on the dates of your visit. There is always something interesting going on at UCLA Anderson! 

 

-Alejandra Rodriguez '14
Follow UCLA Anderson at @UCLAMBA