To learn more about what it is really like being a UC Davis MBA student you can turn to our volunteer group of UC Davis MBA Ambassadors. Our ambassadors are available to answer your questions, share their experiences and give you an inside peek at UC Davis.
Elena is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in Public Healthcare Management. She has a background in the non-profit sector and came to business school to learn the business fundamentals needed to run any successful venture. She worked at Planned Parenthood’s corporate office in New York, NY for four years as a project and budget manager and recently worked on a project with a local county health system. She is VP and Director of Student Affairs for the Associated Students of Management, on the boards of Net Impact, Women in Leadership, and the Sacramento Latino Medical Association (as a Board Fellow). She grew up in sunny San Diego but has lived on the East Coast for the past 8 years -- she is happy to be back in California. She received her undergraduate degree in Social Studies from Harvard University.
Kendra is a second-year MBA student with aspiration of working internationally after completing her MBA specializing in Finance. At the GSM, she is a co-chair of the Community Consulting Group and the Director of Community Affairs for the Associated Students of Management. Prior to coming back to school she spent seven years in business development for various consulting agencies creating international economic development programs around the world for the United States Agency for International Development and the World Bank group. She holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD.
Jackie is a first-year MBA student with concentrations in Public Health and Strategic Management. She is the Co-President of Women in Leadership and the Co-Director of Career Development for Net Impact. Before coming to UC Davis, she worked in healthcare research for the government, where she coordinated studies on mental health issues. Jacqueline received a Bachelor of Arts in economics with a minor in psychology from UC San Diego. She can also incorporate random quotes from popular tv shows (such as 30 Rock, the Simpsons, and Family Guy) into any conversation with ease.
Srinivas is a second-year MBA Candidate with emphases in strategic management and finance. He received his undergraduate degree in engineering (electronics) from Osmania University, India and a graduate degree in computer engineering from University of Cincinnati. Prior to entering the GSM, Srinivas worked in various roles and responsibilities in telecom and financial service industry. Srinivas is co-director for Team Management for Big Bang and Director of Finance for Net Impact and also an active member of other professional clubs at GSM. As team leader of Brass Tacks, Srinivas led the team to the finals of 2008 Innovation Challenge, conducted by Idea Crossings and Darden School of Business. Srinivas loves studying, cooking and socializing with friends.
Benjamin was born and raised in beautiful Sonoma County. While earning his BA in economics at UC Davis, Benjamin interned as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley and coached a youth league basketball team. After graduation, Benjamin moved to San Francisco to work as a broker/analyst for a commercial real estate firm for five years, evaluating and managing multi-million dollar retail and shopping center assets. Benjamin's desire for a more direct social impact led him to become involved in the local Bay Area non-profit community. These experiences influenced his decision to go to business school to explore how he could further integrate his for-profit and non-profit background. After graduation, Benjamin hopes to pursue a career in real estate finance for a socially responsible firm. In addition to being a Student Ambassador, Benjamin is the Director of Finance for the Associated Students of Management, and the Director of Community Outreach for Net Impact at UC Davis.
Matt is a second-year MBA Candidate with a focus in marketing and strategic management. Matt graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in English. He had a number of eclectic jobs before becoming an editor of books in San Francisco, where he worked for four years before landing at UC Davis. Matt is the current Director of Orientation for the class of 2011 and a board member of the Arts and Entertainment Business Club. Among other things, he enjoys baseball, football, and basketball (both real and fantasy), and implores you to join the GSM's intramural sports teams next year--you'll love it.
Sam is a second-year MBA candidate with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. He worked as a marketing consultant with a focus on new product launches before coming to Davis. Sam holds a BA in Sociology and Economics from Brandeis University. Sam grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and has lived in Boston and New York City. He chose Davis because of the program’s excellence in entrepreneurship both in and out of the classroom. Sam is involved in several consulting projects through the Consulting Center and the Energy Efficiency Center. He is Vice President of Finance & Development for the Big Bang!, UC Davis’s business plan competition, and a member of Women in Leadership, Net Impact and the Marketing Association. Sam enjoys experiencing different places and cultures. Before business school, he spent two months in Australia, Vietnam and China. He is an avid skier and takes advantage of Davis’ proximity to Lake Tahoe when possible.