This post is a part of the Student Perspectives series – each post is written by a current UCLA Anderson student, and provides first-hand perspectives and experiences about being an MBA student at UCLA Anderson.

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Hi Everyone!

My name is Iman Nanji and I’m a dual-degree student, pursing a Master’s in Public Policy and an MBA at UCLA. I wanted to share with you what a typical day looks like for me. I will say, every day at Anderson is different but one thing is for sure – there is never a dull moment!

To give you a little bit of background about myself, I was born and raised in LA and moved back to sunny SoCal after a stint in New York for undergrad at Columbia University. After graduating from Columbia, I worked in Asset Management at J.P. Morgan and then in business development for an economic think-tank based in LA. While in school, I also work part-time at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office on data-driven solutions to the homelessness crisis. I am interested in the intersection of business and policy and want to pursue a career where I am able to drive positive impact in both the private and public sectors.

Here is my Day In The Life from Winter Quarter:

8:00am: Wake up and stay in bed while I check my email, calendar and the news. After convincing myself that I must get out of bed, I make coffee and breakfast and head to campus. I live in West Hollywood, so my commute is a little longer, but most Anderson students live in Westwood or the Sawtelle area since it is easy to get to campus.

9:00am: Head to the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs for a meeting about my Capstone Project. This year I am only taking classes at Anderson, but I am working on the Capstone Project for the MPP. This project is similar to the AMR capstone that Anderson students do in the second year of the MBA. It is a great opportunity to work with a real-world client to address a strategic challenge.

11:30am: I attend the weekly Management Consulting Association meeting where we talk about recruiting for first-years and discuss upcoming events. Consulting recruiting is grueling, so MCA meetings often turn into group therapy with second years supporting first-years who are in the thick of the recruiting process. MCA and other professional clubs are great resources for first-years and help with interview preparation along with the Parker Career Center.

12:45pm: Marketing Class! Marketing and Finance are both part of the core curriculum at Anderson, but students choose which one they want to take in the Fall and then they take the other in the Winter. Given I worked in Finance, I decided to take that in the Fall because I thought it would be a little lighter with consulting recruiting in full swing, so I am in Marketing now. I started Anderson with my best friend from Middle and High School and this is the first class we are in together which is very exciting. I am usually running in just before class, so she saves me a seat and we quickly catch up before the Professor starts his lecture.

4:00pm: I am a Director for the Anderson Venture Impact Partners, a student-led impact investing fund that makes minority investments of about $50,000 in early stage ventures with social and/or environmental returns alongside financial returns. Our team meets to discuss companies we have each sourced and discuss whether they fit our investment thesis and if we think they will be a financially sound investment.

7:00pm: Anderson Strategy Group class with Professor Alderton. ASG is a non-profit, student-led organization that works on 10-week consulting projects for real-world clients. These projects start in the Spring Quarter, but during the Winter we take a class with Derek Alderton, a former McKinsey Partner, to make sure we are prepared to work with clients.

10:00pm: Finally home! Catch up with my roommate and get ready to do it all again tomorrow!

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Student blogger: Iman Nanji

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Undergraduate Studies: Columbia University

Pre-Anderson: J.P. Morgan; Milken Institute (Economic Think-Tank)

Post-MBA Goals: Consulting and Social Impact

Activities @ Anderson: Director, Admissions Ambassador Corps; Director of External Affairs, Management Consulting Association; Consultant, Anderson Strategy Group; Director, Anderson Venture Impact Partners; Director of Alumni Affairs, Anderson Student Association