Steven Yang, UCI Paul Merage School of Business MBA Class of 2026
Age: 27
Hometown: Anaheim, CA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of California, Riverside; Mechanical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Program and Operations Manager, U.S. Army, 4 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had the opportunity to serve and do things in the military that most people can only imagine, but I also had the opportunity to perform duties and responsibilities beyond my rank and position. Part of my duties included helping other organizations solve a variety of issues, which mattered to me a lot considering I was helping people I had personal relationships with to ultimately make their lives just a little bit better. As I worked through these issues, I learned so much more than I expected, but my growth was limited. I wanted to continue tackling greater responsibilities that could lead to greater impact, so I chose to attend business school to build my acumen and set myself up for further success.
Why did you choose UCI Merage? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose UCI Merage due to the level of personalized support offered not only by the career services and program services teams, but the students, faculty, and staff as well. One factor that stood out the most was veteran support. Most veterans do not come into MBA programs with any relevant business background, so the personalized support to pivot both industry and function was a deciding factor for me.
Another factor was the growth potential. Everyone is truly invested in each other’s success; resources and information are shared, experiential opportunities are abundant, and students hold each other accountable throughout the recruiting process.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I believe my ability to handle stress stands out to the Class of 2026. Whether it’s long hours, short deadlines, lack of bandwidth, and/or conflicting opinions, I know at the end of the day that the right people with the right attitude will get things done. I bring that positive outlook during stressful times to inspire teams and help them grow.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I once spontaneously flew to the other side of the world on 4 hours’ notice and spent a week traveling.
Post-MBA career interests:
Management Consulting; Program Management
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would absolutely participate in as many coffee chats as possible with current students across prospective programs. Find students with similar and dissimilar backgrounds to yours. This will give you a candid look at student life and the opportunities offered at different programs.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have prepared and applied earlier. Early on, I found that the more I learned of the application process and different programs, the more questions I had. I found a post-MBA mentor to help me navigate the process once applications opened, but had I started the process weeks or even months earlier, I would have felt more confident.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The resume. We don’t use the typical resume in the military, so it felt like a whole other language when trying to create my own. Demilitarizing our information and connecting our achievements in a way that’s understood by the average reader proved to be much more difficult and time-consuming than I imagined. I had a mentor through Service To School and industry connections give me feedback time and time again.
What is your initial impression of the UCI Merage students/culture/community?
My initial impression of the students, culture, and community at UCI Merage is that every single person you meet is wishing for your success. With our MBA cohorts being relatively smaller than others, the setting is much more personable, and the class can learn about each other much easier.
What is one thing you have learned about UCI Merage that has surprised you?
I was surprised at how involved alumni are in supporting current students. From non-profit opportunities to guest speakers and mixers, Merage alumni are very open and considerate in helping current students navigate career exploration and industry recruiting.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Like most other first-year students – internships. Without a relative business background, learning the right skills and preparing for cases and interviews is like drinking from a fire hose. However, with such a great support system in place, I’m becoming less worried by the day!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited about the meaningful relationships and life-long friendships that I hope to form in this next year. As iron sharpens iron, my cohort of genuine, intelligent, similar-minded individuals continues to amaze me every day as we push each other toward our goals.
