Enquire to study in the UK 
The world needs transformative leaders who can tackle complexity, inspire others, and drive meaningful change. Oke Oluwatomilola from Lagos, Nigeria, understands this better than most. Determined to advance her leadership skills and embrace new challenges, she sought an MBA programme that would push her boundaries and help her grow.
Her search led her to the University of California, Los Angeles’s (UCLA) Anderson School of Management, renowned for producing visionary leaders who are prepared for the future.
“I was particularly drawn to Anderson’s strong sense of community and its reputation for producing leaders who make a difference in the world,” she says. “I knew it would be the perfect place to learn, grow, and connect with people from all over the world who share a passion for creating meaningful change.”
Located in the heart of the “City of Angels,” UCLA Anderson School of Management provides direct access to one of the world’s largest business hubs. Its proximity to leaders in technology, entertainment, and entrepreneurship connects students to top companies and influential networks.
“What makes LA even more unique is its global connectivity,” Oluwatomilola says. “It’s a city that attracts talent and ideas from all over the world, and you can feel that diversity everywhere you go. This global influence has enriched my MBA experience, providing opportunities to engage with people and perspectives from different industries.”
UCLA Anderson focuses on shaping forward-thinking, tech-savvy leaders with strong problem-solving abilities and the soft skills to inspire positive change. Source: UCLA Anderson School of Management
Preparing the brightest aspiring MBAs to become leaders in the business world
Recognised by The Princeton Review as one of the best business schools in the West, Anderson consistently ranks in the top 10 for Best Classroom Experience and top five for Best MBA for Marketing. The Full-time MBA is also the top programme in the West for entrepreneurship.
Less tangible but just as crucial is the school’s mission: nurturing students into transformative leaders. These are forward thinkers who are adaptable and innovative problem solvers. Not just fluent with tech and analytics, they also have the soft skills to inspire others to make a positive difference. It’s a complete package that’s landed many graduates at the likes of BCG, Google, and Goldman Sachs.
Before that, however, the MBA takes students on a 22-month journey, the start of what many come to describe as “their best life.” In their first year, students dive into core business fundamentals while choosing from 15 optional specialisations and over 115 electives, tailoring their coursework to suit their ambitions. The second year takes an experiential turn, featuring hands-on projects like the real-world master’s thesis, completed in collaboration with regional and global organisations.
From day one, leadership development is central to the UCLA Anderson experience. Through the Leadership@Anderson programme, the school integrates its transformative leader framework into academic and real-world opportunities.
Take Sebastiaan Esselens from Belgium, for example. As a product manager at Live Nation Entertainment, he didn’t just want to be a technology user; he wanted to be a technology creator. Fuelled by a deep interest in data and AI, he appreciated how tech-focused the MBA curriculum was.
“I’m on track to complete the Easton Tech Management Specialisation, which offers a comprehensive mix of tech-focused classes,” Esselens says. “Whether it’s product management, tech strategy, or exploring the societal impacts of tech, Anderson brings in some incredible product leaders from the world’s top tech companies to teach. It’s been exciting to learn directly from people who are shaping the industry.”
Esselens’s passion for technology and data led him to an internship at Apple, where he worked on Siri for music and podcasts. This project seamlessly fused his love for product management and innovation.
Life on campus was just as exciting. Esselens had the chance to lead AnderTech, UCLA Anderson’s largest professional club, which has around 500 members. His role as President has been a steep learning curve, teaching him the value of collaboration and influencing people without formal authority. “Leading a team of over 70 volunteers taught me how to be more empathetic, communicate clearly, and align people around a shared vision,” Esselens says.
Oluwatomilola had an emotional and impactful experience in Rwanda, with one of the most unforgettable moments being a visit to the Genocide Memorial. Source: UCLA Anderson School of Management
Oluwatomilola’s experience at UCLA Anderson mirrors Esselens’s in many ways. One of her most rewarding experiences was the Social Impact Consulting Capstone, a project that allowed her to apply her leadership skills to real-world challenges. Her capstone project focused on developing a curriculum for Ethiopian universities to support students pursuing advanced degrees in development, economics, public health, and education.
Her team worked with PM, an organisation founded by Ethiopian refugees. Initially focused on aid, PM has shifted its focus to sustainable development, aiming to transform the Global South through its Integrated Human-Centered Development (IHCD) approach. Oluwatomilola found it inspiring to work with an organisation with a rich history and a bold vision for the future.
Another highlight was her visit to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda. There, Oluwatomilola met students who displayed resilience and determination that were likely unfathomable to many in the developed world. As someone from Africa, she was familiar with the strong sense of community in the region, but it was heartwarming to see her classmates from around the world experience this firsthand.
Through these projects, Oluwatomilola and her classmates learned the importance of thinking beyond themselves and considering the bigger picture. They worked in diverse teams, tackling complex issues while developing solutions that were both impactful and sustainable.
“By working on real-world challenges in different cultural contexts, we learn to approach problems with an open mind and a deep understanding of the people we’re trying to help,” Oluwatomilola says. “These experiences shape us into leaders who can navigate complexity and drive meaningful change.”
Follow UCLA Anderson School of Management on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn
