About David: David Matthews is from Wisconsin and loves all things green and gold. He went to the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater where he majored in Finance and minored in Middle Eastern Studies. He began his career as a financial analyst at Epic, before pivoting within the company to their implementation division. After five years in the healthcare industry, he decided he wanted to be in an industry he was more passionate about – entertainment. He found himself at UCLA Anderson because of its strong ties to the entertainment industry and its helpful alumni network that has many people who proved double pivoting is possible.

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Embarking on a full-time MBA journey involves more than just attending classes; it’s a transformative experience that requires strategic planning, networking finesse, and a clear understanding of how to leverage your past experiences. Double pivoting, changing both your industry and function, is a journey, but I’d like to offer some advice and perspective for those looking to walk this path like I am. I’m writing this with the assumption you’ll be doing MBA-style networking anyway; these are a few additional suggestions to keep in mind that I’ve learned through hindsight.

Before You Get to School: Preparing for Your Double Pivot

1. Research: Thoroughly research MBA programs to find the best fit for your goals. Does this program have alumni you can find that have made similar double pivots? Does the career center have advisors who are supportive of this? I knew that Anderson would be able to support me on my journey in both of these dimensions.
2. Skill Building: Look at the descriptions of internships or jobs you’d be pursuing and identify skills or knowledge gaps you have and work to fill them before starting your MBA. This could include taking online courses, but also gaining relevant work experience. For example, do the roles you’re interested in want someone with data analysis skills? If you’re lacking, try and find a project with your time left at your current job that involves data analysis so it can be on your resume and you can speak from experience.
3. Networking: Start building your professional network early. While it might feel goofy at first, connecting early with students and alumni while you’re trying to make this life changing decision on whether to pursue an MBA will help you gain insights into the MBA experience and potential career paths. It will also help with your networking down the line – have a conversation now, then you have the opportunity to strengthen the relationship and talk to that person after you’ve begun your program and have some more specific questions about them and their role. For double pivots, it is so important to be on people’s radar. 

Once You Get to School: Navigating the MBA Experience

1. Extracurricular Activities: Get involved in extracurricular activities that align with your interests and career goals. This should include joining student clubs and taking on leadership positions. For me, this was joining the Entertainment Management Association (EMA) and working on the professional events team during my first year. EMA helped me learn a lot about the particulars of the entertainment industry, and as an added value, most interviews I’ve had this year have come from a referral from someone that I’ve met through the club.
2. Networking Events: Attend networking events on and off campus to expand your professional network. Someone doesn’t have to graduate from the same program for there to be a helpful relationship. An .edu email is a powerful thing, and asking local LA entertainment conferences for student discounts or volunteering in exchange for attendance is a great way to access people you wouldn’t have been able to before. I went to a conference, Bloomberg Screentime, during my first month of school, with a massive student discount (just because I asked, it wasn’t advertised) and made connections that were willing to talk to me and refer me to others down the line.
3. Career Services: Utilize your MBA program’s career services office for guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and job search strategies. You won’t be the first or last person to walk in the door looking to double pivot and they can help connect you with alumni and industry contacts you might not have otherwise found.

Translating Previous Skills: Demonstrating Your Value in a New Context

For double pivots it’s very true that your networking skills will be important, but your resume carries weight, and you still have a wealth of knowledge and experience to pull from. One of the key aspects of double pivoting during an MBA is demonstrating how your previous skills and experiences are relevant in a new industry or function. Here are some tips to help you make this transition:

1. Identify Transferable Skills: Identify the skills from your previous experiences that are transferable to your new career path. For example, I don’t have any experience in analyzing a movie’s initial box office performance, but I did have experience supporting new hospitals that opened  with the use of my company’s software, which meant I indeed had experience using data and comparables to evaluate how well a hospital’s initial use went. Is it exactly the same? No, but is the idea between the two pretty similar? Yes! 
2. Tailor Your Story: Craft a compelling narrative that highlights how your previous experiences have prepared you for success in your new role. For me, perhaps the most important pieces of getting into the entertainment industry are being passionate about the area and having opinions on current events. I don’t need any industry experience to be interested in the Barbenheimer phenomenon and read post-mortems to understand their marketing campaigns, nor do I need industry experience to read the news and have an opinion on the terms of the most recent labor strike. But I do need passion!
3. Seek Feedback: Seek feedback from mentors that you’ll find during the MBA experience, career advisors, and industry professionals in your class on how to best position your passion and previous experiences. They can provide valuable insights and help you refine your messaging. Whatever your target industry is, I guarantee someone from your class is switching out of that area and can be a good sounding board. People are excited and willing to help!

Double pivoting during an MBA requires careful planning, networking prowess, and a strong ability to translate your previous skills into a new context. By following these tips, you can navigate the MBA journey with confidence and set yourself up for success in your new career path.

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• Student Blogger: David Matthews FTMBA ‘25
• Undergrad: University of Wisconsin – Whitewater ‘18
• Pre-MBA: Implementation Manager at Epic
• Leadership@Anderson: Entertainment Management Association, Anderson Tennis Club, Admissions Ambassador Corps, Outdoor Adventure Club, Undergraduate Business Society Mentor