“Through the Merage network of business professionals, alumni and career advisors, I’ve been able to connect with every company on my target list. I feel confident that I will be able to find and secure the job opportunity that’s right for me.”

Vital Statistics
	Graduating Year: 2009
	Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
	Undergraduate and Previous Work Experience: B.A. in Economics, UCLA, Underwriter, MetLife, Underwriter and Financial Analyst, The Auto Club of Southern California (AAA)
	Major: Economics
	Internship while in the Program: Deloitte, Enterprise Risk Services (ERS)
	Extracurricular Activities: Financial Management Association
	Just for Fun: Hiking, soccer, basketball
	OC Favorite Places: Crystal Cove State Park, Salt Creek Beach and Maki Maki Sushi at the Irvine Spectrum.

A Whole New Way of Looking at Business The Merage School has given me a whole new way of looking at the world of business. Before attending Merage, I tended to approach most business problems from a more narrow perspective, only considering the problem and potential solutions from the point of view of my business unit.   Through a combination of core classes and strategic concepts and ideas, the program has given me a much more comprehensive understanding of business and management. With this knowledge, I am now able to approach problems from a completely different, all-encompassing perspective that incorporates what I’ve learned both in and out of the classroom.

Collaboration is the Key to Success The entire program is established to facilitate a collaborative environment for students, with countless opportunities to connect with fellow classmates, professors, alumni, and other business professionals. Almost all class assignments are done in groups, encouraging constant communication and teamwork among students. In addition, the small class sizes allow more direct contact with professors and faculty, who always address students by name. Outside the classroom, I attend professional speaker series, information sessions, workshops, and casual get-togethers on a regular basis.  These events have allowed me to build an impressive network of peers and business professionals, many of whom have helped to facilitate my transition into the business arena.

"I am now able to approach problems from a completely different, all-encompassing perspective that incorporates what I’ve learned both in and out of the classroom." Matthew Helfer

How I Made a Difference One of the most challenging aspects of the program is the hands-on projects. Our ability to work as a team is put to the test by solving real-world business problems. In our organizational behavior class, my study group evaluated the organizational structure of a free medical clinic run by students and faculty of the UC Irvine School of Medicine. We were able to identify and recommend several solutions to the clinic’s structural challenges, enabling the clinic to operate more efficiently and effectively. I found it incredibly rewarding knowing that the clinic was incorporating my group’s organizational design to facilitate its structural operations. I truly felt like I was making a difference in my community.