The Merage School Experience
Located at the heart of Irvine, the UCI campus is just miles away from the industry nucleus of Orange County and is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Los Angeles County and on the south by San Diego County.
Its warm Mediterranean climate and 42 miles of year-round beaches make it an ideal place to live and work. Of course, the OC is also home to such popular tourist attractions as Disneyland and Surf City, USA, also known as Huntington Beach. Rated one of the safest, best places to live in the United States, the city of Irvine offers an amazing quality of life.
Undergraduate: Cal State Fullerton
Major: Business Administration
Home: United States
Quote: Currently, I am wearing multiple hats for a SaaS startup, Time Intuition, and am part of the Project Management Software industry. My professional goal is to get this startup off the ground. Simply put, my professional goal is to bring life to an idea, gain exclusive experience, earn a PhD, become a professor, and share my expertise/knowledge to others. Overall, I am all about receiving and giving back to the community in need, and I want to earn respect as a global business leader that represents UCI and my roots in great fashion.
Undergraduate: UC Irvine
Major: Psychology
Home: United States
Quote: Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs both are necessary for the evolving systems, environment, and renewal of the business industry. Though it’s a large sector, as an entrepreneur I must be equipped with proper knowledge to address my position in the marketplace and efficiently and successfully cater to consumers by being a part of a diverse, hungry team. I want to foster, encourage, and take part in a professional environment that not only helps but motivates its peers to execute their jobs with passion and ultimately receive fulfillment from improving themselves and as a result, the team's success. Having access to resources and a network of people able to financially support meaningful causes is also an important professional goal as well.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/homaira-tahmass-083aab1b9/
Undergraduate: San Diego State University
Major: Recreational Tourism Management
Home: United States
Quote: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Systems Management. My goal is to begin developing a business while I am at UCI, so I can utilize the resources the school provides to the maximum benefit. The thought of creating a business that I own and am passionate about gives me so much motivation. My desire to be involved with the local community is exactly why I chose to come to UCI. I love that this program is in-person and that there are so many resources to be involved with the local community. Although I don’t have a clear path of what it is that I am looking for exactly, I know the MIE program will guide me in the right direction.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iman-saadat-21248b1b8/
Undergraduate: UC Irvine
Major: Political Science and International Studies
Home: United States
Quote: I am a first-generation Hispanic student who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California in a small town named Lawndale. I’m motivated to pursue a career in business because I am passionate about supporting and providing insight to those who need it the most to survive, especially in low-income areas. I aspire to be a business leader by providing impactful consultation for clients to not only maintain stability but also succeed in our ever-changing business world. These situations inspired me to dive deeper into the complexities of business operations to explore the ways I can help these vulnerable communities.
Undergraduate: UC Santa Cruz
Major: Business Management Economics
Home: China
Quote: I graduated from UC Santa Cruz in December 2021, studied Business Management Economics, and earned an honored degree. I see myself as a person who always has a passion for different things, who always embraces new knowledge, people, and environments, and lastly who always has ideas. I want to enter an industry and be stabilized in the business sector. I wish in the next five years to be a manager or leader in the company and eventually be an intrapreneur. In the far future, when it is mature, when I have enough resources, I may own a company and be an entrepreneur.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-xuxy5/
Undergraduate: National Taiwan University
Major: Business Administration
Home: Taiwan
Quote: As a double Anteater who completed a Master of Finance program last year and started Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program this fall quarter, I would like to raise and manage a private equity firm focusing on innovation and ESG investment in Asia and North America. Not only applying what I have learned from school in the real-world business, I also want to make contributions to future society development, help increase efficiency, productivity and make the world a better place.
As a UCI alum, I was always in awe of the high standard of education that is provided at the Merage School. The Merage School community is flowing with vibrant talent. It felt like family to me, and I embrace the diversity of students from all around the world every day.Borna Malekshahi, MIE '20
