Danielle Ostrove, UCLA Anderson MBA Class of 2026
Age: 29
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Skidmore College, English major (business minor)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Enterprise Customer Success @ Darktrace, 2 years; Account Manager, Partnerships/Go-To-Market @ GlossGenius, 3 years; Community Management @ Success Academy Charter Schools, 2 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to attend business school to supercharge my career trajectory and upskill myself in analytics and leadership. I was also really excited about the prospect of connecting with peers who were also looking to grow personally and professionally but who came from different backgrounds so I could expand my understanding of the world and learn about roles and industries not yet on my radar.
In terms of timing, this was the right time for me to go to business school because I had a good amount of work experience under my belt, which allowed me to understand what my skills were and what areas I wanted to focus on strengthening. I believe the work experience allowed me to develop a better understanding of what I was looking for in an MBA program and what I wanted to get out of it.
Why did you choose UCLA Anderson? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose UCLA Anderson for a few reasons. The number one reason was undoubtedly the strength and character of the community, further supported by the school’s values. Anderson’s inviting and innovative spirit continued to call to me as I refined my list of target business schools and conducted research during my application process (e.g., attending virtual events, chatting with current students or alumni, and connecting with the Admissions team). It was important to me to find a school community that was welcoming and diverse across backgrounds and experiences where I’d be able to show up as my authentic self. Furthermore, I was looking for a community that prioritized innovation and ideation—not only encouraging big ideas but providing the tools to help bring them to fruition. I believe Anderson does this quite well.
From a professional standpoint, I was drawn to Anderson for the extensive and proud Bruin alumni community, the structure and strength of the Parker Career Center, and connections to the tech industry. Lastly, of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention getting to live in sunny Los Angeles! To sum it up, community environment, professional focus areas, and geography were the most important factors to me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
Staff and faculty will say our class loves to clap for a speaker or lecturer because we made a habit of doing this during our onboarding presentations. Yes, this is a funny trait on the surface and is always enjoyable, but I believe it hits on a core trait of the 2026 FTMBA cohort, which is that we are collectively engaged in our experience, excited to be at Anderson, and eager to hear from others that will expand our perspectives and enhance our business acumen to help us in our journeys to become transformative leaders.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’ve been skiing since I could walk.
Post-MBA career interests:
- Tech Marketing/PMM
- Business Strategy
- Strategic Partnerships and Business Development
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
-What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
For me, I talked to students at the schools I applied to and asked them about their day-to-day experience. I wanted to know: could I picture myself in their shoes, joining the clubs and classes in their schedules, etc? Thoughtfully asking questions during these conversations really helped me get a sense of the unique persona of each campus/experience and see what would align best with me, as well as where I could positively contribute. I’d absolutely do this again if I were going through the application process today. Also, I’m sure prospective students are already doing this, but reviewing the employment statistics and class profiles of the recently graduated classes to identify alignment with my post-MBA goals was also important.
-What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Business school admissions is different from undergraduate college admissions, so I would try to understand the fundamental differences in the processes and admissions criteria between the two; this was something that I wasn’t keenly aware of while going through the application process.
-What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GMAT Prep! This is the dreaded part for most applicants, but the motivation for getting into business school and earning my MBA allowed me to put the endless studying and practice tests into perspective.
What is your initial impression of the UCLA Anderson students/culture/community?
I found a great balance between individuality and community, where everyone brings their unique background and skillset to a shared environment to enhance the experiences for all. I was also initially impressed by how driven yet down to earth everyone (students, staff, etc.) have been since I first arrived on campus.
What is one thing you have learned about UCLA Anderson that has surprised you?
This is a tough question! There have been so many things that have surprised me since starting in the FTMBA program at Anderson. I’d say how many other programs are also in full swing at Anderson on a given day across FEMBA, EMBA, MSBA, and more.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Landing a summer internship
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year
The clubs I joined; there are truly so many ways to get involved and genuinely develop your network at Anderson! I’m excited about my leadership positions as the president of my section, and director roles in our Tech Business Association (AnderTech) and Anderson Admissions Corp (AAC).
