About Nicole: Nicole Martin is a Full-Time MBA student at UCLA Anderson and Co-President of the Black Business Students Association. Before Anderson, she worked in management consulting at Accenture and held customer facing roles at Nike and Levi’s. At Anderson, Nicole is focused on building community and preparing for a career in Human Resources, where she hopes to help organizations grow through strong leadership and talent development.

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During Black History Month, our team in the Black Business Students Association had the opportunity to bring something special back to Anderson: the BBSA Legacy Conference.

This conference meant a lot to us because it had been over 10 years since BBSA hosted a large-scale conference like this. We wanted to create a space where students, alumni, and industry leaders could come together to talk honestly about leadership, career growth, and the moments that shape professional journeys.

Seeing it come to life was incredibly rewarding. The conference brought together 96 attendees and 15 speakers, and what made the day especially meaningful was that 11 of those speakers were Anderson alumni who came back to campus to share their experiences with the next generation of students.

Throughout the day, one of the themes that kept coming up was how nonlinear leadership journeys really are. Many speakers talked about career pivots, unexpected opportunities, and moments where they had to take risks or step into something new before they felt completely ready. Hearing those stories was a powerful reminder that careers rarely follow a straight line, and that growth often comes from being open to possibilities you may not have originally planned for.

Another takeaway from the day was the importance of relationships. Several alumni reflected on the role mentorship and community played in their careers, and how connections from their time at Anderson continued to shape their professional paths years later. For students in the room, it was a great reminder that the Anderson network is not just something you benefit from during your MBA, but something that can stay with you long after graduation.

One of my favorite parts of the conference was watching first year students moderate panels throughout the day. It gave them the chance to engage directly with senior leaders while building their own executive presence and confidence in front of a room. Moments like that are a great example of how leadership development happens at Anderson in very real ways.

The networking conversations throughout the day were just as impactful as the panels. Students were able to ask candid questions about career decisions, learn from alumni who had navigated similar paths, and start building relationships that may continue well beyond the conference.

Another thing that stood out to me while organizing the conference was how supportive the Anderson community can be. When someone has an idea and is willing to ask for help, people really do show up. Faculty, staff, alumni, and students all played a role in helping make this event possible, and that collective support is something that makes Anderson feel special.

Hosting the conference during Black History Month made the day even more meaningful. It created space to reflect on the impact of leaders who came before us while also focusing on how current students and alumni are continuing to shape the future.

The hope is that the BBSA Legacy Conference becomes a lasting tradition at Anderson, continuing to connect students and alumni through conversations that inspire leadership and community for years to come.

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Student Blogger: Nicole Martin ‘26

Undergrad: DePaul University ’16

Pre-MBA: Management Consulting at Accenture

Leadership@Anderson: Co-President, Black Business Students Association; VP of Inclusive Excellence, Admissions Ambassador Corps; VP of Women’s Hoops, Anderson Basketball Club; Consortium Study for Management Liaison and Fellow; Peer Advisor, Parker Career Center; Riordan Scholars Program Mentor; Alfred E. Osborne, Jr. Fellow