After working within investment banking and ed-tech in NYC, Emily Dinino (Anderson, ’22) returned to the west coast to explore a career in Venture Capital and Impact Investing at UCLA Anderson. During her application process, Emily was drawn to Anderson’s humble, collaborative culture, which has been a highlight of her first quarter in school. For this interview, Emily spoke about her journey to her MBA at Anderson, and her advice for prospective MBA applicants.
Name: Emily Dinino
Class: 2022
Hometown: Westlake Village, CA
Career Interests: Venture Capital / Impact Investing
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
I started my career in investment banking in the technology, media and telecom group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in NYC. Most recently, I was the finance manager at an EdTech non-profit called New Classrooms. When reflecting on my existing skillset and passions, and what abilities and experiences I needed for my next career steps, an MBA was the clear choice. I had these two diverse professional experiences and felt prepared to take advantage of all an MBA program has to offer.
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend Anderson?
I grew up just outside Los Angeles and had always planned to return eventually. I loved Anderson’s collaborative culture and really connected with the students and alumni I spoke with. I also knew I was interested in social impact and impact investing and was excited about the opportunities to explore these areas at Anderson.
MBASchooled: What was your decision process like?
I applied round 1 to only CA schools – USC Marshall, UCLA Anderson and Berkeley Haas. I heard back from all of them in December, connected with more students at each program, and made my decision before the February deadline.
MBASchooled: What resources were most helpful to making your decision? Did you talk to any people that were especially helpful?
I wanted insight into the three phases of the MBA experience–in school, job hunting, and after graduation. Talking to current students was most helpful in making my decision. They provided specifics on culture, classes and professors, as well as the recruiting process and opportunities. I also spoke to some wonderful alumni who were very generous with their time. I also connected with members of the Parker Career Management Center so I knew I would be well supported in my job search. Going to admitted students events and meeting potential future classmates also helped in my decision.
MBASchooled: Did you attend any virtual admitted students events? If so, what were those like? Were they helpful?
I actually attended only in person events – I applied round 1, so I was able to attend AROW (Anderson’s round one admit weekend) in person.
MBASchooled: Now that you’ve been at Anderson for a semester, is there a specific moment or highlight where you felt confident that you made the right decision?
Honestly, there have been many! I’ve met so many brilliant, interesting people and had great experiences with professors and the Parker Center. I really took the time to get to know the program, and everything that made me choose Anderson has proven true in this quarter (other than the beautiful campus).
MBASchooled: Oftentimes, the word “culture” gets thrown around when talking about MBA programs. Can you characterize the culture at Anderson? Can you share an example of an experience that you think personifies what this means?
I know these words are thrown around a lot, but Anderson truly has a humble and collaborative culture. Any time I have interviewed for roles on campus or internships, my classmates and I have supported and helped one another. There are lots of driven and generally competitive people, but there is a genuine desire for everyone within Anderson to work together and be successful.
MBASchooled: Obviously, it’s a little more challenging to find out what a school or program is like as a result of COVID-19. What advice do you have, or what specific actions would you recommend admitted students take, to really get to know a school before selecting a school?
While visiting campus is great, I think you can get a great understanding of a school by talking to students and alumni. I recommend doing the “coffee chats” with students and asking to be connected to other students or alumni they recommend, who share your career goals. I also searched LinkedIn for Anderson students/grads with internships or careers in my areas of interest. People I contacted were always happy to talk with me. If possible, I would try to attend any virtual admitted students days because it can be helpful to envision who your future classmates could be.
MBASchooled: What’s something you wish you knew more about before starting your MBA at Anderson?
People had told me, but I did not really appreciate how disciplined you have to be with your time. There are so many events and activities and it is so tempting to be part of everything. Before starting school, I would recommend admitted students spend time thinking about their top priorities and what clubs or activities will be most important to them. Then, be strategic!
MBASchooled: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to recently admitted MBA students about how to make the best possible admissions decision?
Talk to students and alumni! They are so helpful and can give you a great understanding of the school and your career opportunities post-MBA.