by Jessica Kimball
One of the many things I love about UCLA Anderson is the diversity of perspective we all bring to the table thanks to our varied professional backgrounds. We have leaders in advertising, consulting and banking. We have future marketing execs, doctors and entrepreneurs. To quote the diversity page of our Anderson website, “We believe that diversity — whether of backgrounds, gender, cultures or ideas — is what creates a vibrant and inclusive community.” Nevertheless, by taking a quick look around, it is clearly evident that we need to continue working towards greater gender and racial representation, not for the sake of numbers, but for the added benefits we will see by increasing this diversity of thought enriching our time at Anderson.
Growing up in Southeast Los Angeles, I understand the multitude of vibrant cultures that makes L.A. one of the most diverse cities in the world. This city prides itself on bringing together multiple perspectives to build new paths together. In this same light, I worked with the administration to create the VP of Diversity and Inclusion position on our Anderson Student Association board when I realized the need for a student representative to help unify our diversity efforts and reaffirm our commitment to unity. Over the next year, I hope to work with the administration and Anderson students to increase our diversity outreach, to find high-caliber MBA talent and to build awareness within the Anderson community by bringing in leaders of various backgrounds to share their experiences.
Anderson is a leading business institution, and with the creation of this VP of Diversity and Inclusion position we will continue our move towards becoming the thought leader on diversity in business as well.
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