Lucas Nichols, UCLA Anderson MBA Class of 2020
Age: 30
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Undergraduate Institution and Major: George Washington University, Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 9; healthcare, education
Why business school? Why now?
I’ve always wanted the hard skills the MBA provides, and I wrestled with whether I needed the actual degree. After seeking counsel from several sources, I concluded that the networking and recruiting opportunities at business school would outweigh the opportunity cost of the alternatives I was considering.
In terms of timing, I had a moment at the last company I worked for when I realized I didn’t want the future before me. I liked my boss, but I didn’t want his job. And I didn’t want his boss’s job. So even if my career trajectory proceeded perfectly, I didn’t want to be where I would end up in the next 10 years. This was a wake-up call! I had taken this job instead of pursuing an MBA, so I went back to the pros and cons list to reevaluate. Several people encouraged me about the tremendous value of an MBA, and their insights, as well as career paths, confirmed that now was the time for me to pursue an MBA.
Why Anderson? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I applied to Anderson because of their core value “Share Success.” Teamwork and collaboration are extremely important to me, and I wanted to be a part of a culture that shared these values. During the application process, my interactions with current Anderson students demonstrated this value was truly embraced on campus, and my experience thus far has confirmed this to be true.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020?
One of the most pervasive yet least discussed elements of business school is fear. What if I get rejected for that internship? What if I try something new and completely fail? What if I don’t have what it takes? I believe most students experience some element of fear, but instinctively feel like they need to have it all together to impress professors, recruiters and classmates.
Because of a few personal life-changing experiences, I have learned how to step through fear to overcome anxiety and doubts that can be paralyzing. My hope is to help build a culture at Anderson where students know that it’s okay to experience fear and that we can be vulnerable with each other. More importantly, however, I want us to know that fear can be overcome. By building a high-trust environment and supportive community, we can take on challenges we might eschew otherwise, knowing we have each other’s backs, ready to celebrate successes together or to pick each other up when we fall.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I played drums and my brother played organ behind 4-time Grammy-Award winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard for a couple Christmas concerts several years ago. It was definitely one of my favorite musical experiences! She has such a powerful voice, and my brother is just incredibly talented. It was a joy playing with them.
Post-MBA career interests?
I plan to work in consulting, preferably in the healthcare space. I believe healthcare will undergo dramatic transformations in the next 10-20 years: new delivery and care coordination models, transparency of pricing, restructuring of insurance products, significant advances in neurocognitive therapies and more. I want to be a part of bringing these advancements to fruition.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Get a high GMAT score. Show schools you can bring value to them by helping them raise their average accepted GMAT score. Employers will like it, too (I imagine).
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Prep more for how to guide in-person interviews. I had a great conversation with one interviewer, but we ran out of time before I could delve into a key aspect of my value as a candidate. With more preparation, I would have known early in the interview that I needed to lead the conversation, and I could have steered the discussion to ensure I had time to fully develop this key element.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the essays. I believe I’m better at communicating my heart and who I am face-to-face than through the written word. Sign me up for interviews or public speaking instead! Writing is more difficult for me.
Thankfully, I had some friends who reminded me that writing multiple drafts is just part of the process; I don’t have to nail it on my first try. Also, Wittgenstein comforted me. Language is just a series of games, right? So it should be fun, of course!
What is your initial impression of Anderson’s students/culture/community?
The collaborative culture at Anderson has truly impressed me. This is exactly why I applied to Anderson—so perhaps I should not be so surprised—but I am just incredibly grateful to be in a culture that really values working together and helping each other succeed.
Though we’re graded on a curve, students have not hesitated to share insightful comments, study resources they have developed, strategies for approaching problems and more. People genuinely care that their classmates understand the content and can apply it when writing papers or exams. This concern for collective success really encourages me.
One thing you have learned about Anderson that has surprised you?
I have been most surprised by the breadth of post-MBA career interests of Anderson students. This breadth is an indicator of the diversity of the class, and the plurality of perspectives adds so much value to the MBA experience. I’m excited to review the summer internship and career reports from our class to see how many industries and functions we covered with our relatively small class.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
There are so many exciting opportunities and events through Anderson and the UCLA community, and I know I need to avoid overextending myself, which I have tended to do in previous academic environments. Several second-year students advised me time management is the most important skill to develop during first year, and I’ve been learning the importance of saying “No” to opportunities over the last couple years. Now I really need to put these skills into practice.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
There are so many exciting opportunities and events through Anderson and the UCLA community! (It’s a cause of anxiety and excitement.) Due to its alumni network and location, Anderson brings in some fantastic speakers and hosts engaging events. At this school in this city, there are always 45 amazing things you could be doing at any given time. Come check out the scene!
