About Yadira: Yadira Rodriguez grew up in San Francisco, CA, and her love for the West Coast led her to attend Whittier College, where she majored in business administration with a concentration in marketing. After graduating, she launched her career in consumer-packaged goods (CPG) at OLLY, a vitamin and supplement company, where she quickly moved from customer service to marketing coordinator. Her passion for marketing deepened when she transitioned to Benefit Cosmetics, where she spearheaded global product launches for the brow category. Now an MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson, Yadira is specializing in marketing with a focus on healthcare. Her personal experience of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes fuels her commitment to making healthcare more equitable and accessible. She chose Anderson for its collaborative culture, strong connections in healthcare, and the opportunity to develop transformational leadership skills.

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When I decided to pursue an MBA, I knew it would be a journey of academic, professional, and personal growth. Initially, I planned to apply a year earlier but realized I needed more time to strengthen my application. I focused on improving my test scores and thoughtfully crafting my story to articulate why an MBA was the right step for my career. This extra time gave me the opportunity to reflect deeply on what I wanted to gain from an MBA and what I valued most in a program. By the following year, I felt fully prepared and confidently applied in Round 1. While I considered several schools, UCLA Anderson quickly rose to the top of my list. Its core values—Share Success, Drive Change, and Think Fearlessly—deeply resonated with me, as did its reputation for fostering a collaborative and close-knit community.

Getting accepted to UCLA Anderson was incredibly exciting! Beyond the thrill of the acceptance email, I found myself eagerly piecing together the logistics—marking down key dates like deposit deadlines, the start of classes, and when I’d need to move to Los Angeles. But while I had the basics covered, I still craved a deeper understanding of what life at Anderson would feel like. I wanted answers to practical questions: What does the day-to-day schedule look like? How busy is the fall quarter? When does recruiting kick off, and how do students balance everything?

Attending an admitted students’ weekend, like AROW, was pivotal for me. It wasn’t just about gathering information—it was about experiencing Anderson’s community and culture firsthand. AROW helped me envision what my life as an Anderson student would be like and gave me the confidence to commit. 

I started the day strong by meeting other potential MBA classmates. Through fun and engaging icebreakers, we had the chance to mingle and connect, leaning into skills like teamwork and collaboration—values that are core to Anderson’s culture. It was amazing to meet so many people with diverse and fascinating backgrounds, each bringing a unique perspective to the table. We also had the opportunity to interact directly with current MBA students and hear about their experiences at Anderson. This was incredibly insightful and helpful, as their stories allowed me to envision what my own journey might look like. The open Q&A gave us the chance to ask personal and candid questions, which really helped me understand their experiences on a deeper level. A highlight of the day was hearing from Parker Career Management Center. They shared insights into key industry areas, including healthcare—a focus that originally drew me to the program. To top it off, we participated in a mock class, where I got a glimpse of the dynamic and engaging learning environment at Anderson. Experiencing what classroom discussions and learning would look like made the whole journey feel even more real and exciting.

Overall, the day left me feeling inspired and fully confident in my decision to join Anderson. It wasn’t just an informative experience—it truly showcased the collaborative and innovative spirit that defines the program.  

If you’re admitted in Round 1, I highly recommend attending AROW. It’s the perfect way to get a genuine feel for the Anderson community and what life as an MBA student will be like!

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• Student Blogger: Yadira Rodriguez ’25
• Undergrad: Whittier College  ’18
• Pre-MBA: Senior Global Marketing Coordinator Benefit Cosmetics
• Leadership@Anderson: Marketing Association: Director of Recruiter Relations, Admissions Ambassador Corps: Marketing Director, Alliance for Latinx Management at Anderson: Director of Social, Women Business Connection: Member, Riordan MBA Fellow Mentor
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yadirarodriguez1/