Top MBA Clubs in the Los Angeles Metro
If you’re seeking to round out your resume and to make lifelong connections during your MBA in Los Angeles, there are no shortage of options at your disposal. MBA clubs provide a great outlet for learning outside the classroom. The city is a fertile ground not only for those in the entertainment management field, but also in a wide variety of other specialties. Here is a look at some of the region’s top MBA student organizations.
Top MBA Clubs in Los Angeles
Claremont Graduate University Drucker School of Management
Are you looking to hatch an idea into reality or to grow your venture with the help of others? Claremont Graduate University’s Drucker School of Management offers the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club (E.V.C.) for those in any stage of the venture capital and entrepreneurial process. The club holds speaker events with executives, workshops, and competitions in which members can vet their ideas.
The Drucker School’s Net Impact chapter encourages those with an interest in sustainable business practices to put their ideas to work in order to make a better world. Upholding the school’s philosophy that “business leaders have an ethical responsibility to make a positive difference in institutions which they touch,” Drucker Net Impact allows students to develop their strategies in a nurturing and energetic setting comprised of those with similar goals.
UCLA Anderson School of Management
UCLA’s Anderson School of Management’s Energy Management Group (EMG) explores strategies to increase sustainability in global resource consumption. The EMG enables members to connect directly with industry experts, along with alumni, who advocate for maintenance of standards in oil and gas, and who share their awareness of renewable/alternative energy sources. The group places MBAs in positions to advance into the ever expanding field of responsible energy management.
Anderson’s Entertainment Management Association provides a haven for MBAs pursuing executive leadership opportunities in the film/television/digital media industries. Through networking events, speaker series, and the signature ‘studio trek’ trips, students gain valuable insights into what makes the entertainment world spin. Studio treks take place during the winter term and allow MBAs to visit Hollywood’s major studios such as Paramount, NBC Universal, Netflix, and Warner Bros. The club also sponsors visits to New York City and Silicon Valley.
Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Management
Along with industry specific groups, the region’s schools are host to many governmental organizations that allow students to hone their leadership skills and to serve as a learning tool for those pursuing a career in government. Pepperdine’s Malibu Graduate Business Society acts as a supervisory entity overseeing the other clubs at the Graziadio School. It is responsible for assigning students to committees that address issues affecting the MBA program. This club also hosts speaker events, along with opportunities for networking and social gatherings.
Graziadio’s Black Graduate Business Association provides students with a forum to network with fellow black professionals. The club also serves as a venue for addressing and implementing strategies to increase diversity. The group aims, through advocacy, speaker engagements, and mixers, to foster visibility for current and future black students and leaders in all avenues of business.
The goal of gender diversity in business is also represented in an organization at Pepperdine. Graziadio’s MBA Women at Pepperdine group hosts speaker events and arranges placement for women in their prospective fields. The group works to increase visibility for women of all walks of life.
USC Marshall School of Business
USC’s Marshall School of Business’ Global Executive Organization (GEO) fosters a sense of awareness in its members of the various cultures, frameworks, and processes that make the business world go round. Students who seek careers in international relations are encouraged to join the GEO. The organization provides its members with internship opportunities in such countries as Brazil, Japan, Singapore, and China. The GEO also hosts speakers from the international community.
The Challenge for Charity is a group in which students receive meaningful opportunities for community engagement. Challenge for Charity was founded over three decades ago at Stanford University, and to this day, students from West Coast MBA programs compete with one another to raise dollars for organizations such as A Better LA (which seeks to end poverty in the region), Special Olympics, and Junior Achievement.
Membership in a club creates not only a memorable MBA student experience, but it’s also a chance to share your talents in an atmosphere outside the realm of classroom learning. Club experiences provide added value and fulfillment to an MBA experience that will remain with you throughout your career.
About the Author
Maggie Boccella
Maggie Boccella, a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, is a freelance writer, artist and photographer. She has consulted on various film and multimedia projects, and she also serves as a juror for the city's annual LGBTQIA Film Festival.
