Full-Time MBA | Ambassadors
We encourage you to connect with our ambassadors via email, LinkedIn, or a 1:1 Zoom meeting to answer your questions about school culture, why they selected The Merage School, academic pathways, the path to UC Irvine from across the U.S. or another country, and much more. Take advantage of this great opportunity!
First-Year Candidates
Manali Chavan
Background: Digital Marketing
Area of Interest: Marketing and Brand Management
linkedin.com/in/manali-a-chavan/
I'm a first-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on Marketing and Brand Management. Prior to the MBA program, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Journalism from Arizona State University. I spent the past 6 years working in digital marketing across a variety of industries such as with media agencies, digital publishing, and most recently within the natural food CPG space. Currently, I'm working towards a marketing or brand management role within the consumer product industry. My decision to join UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business was influenced by its close-knit cohort, access to top businesses within Orange County, and incredible career services center. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, taking a cycling class, or attending concerts.
Rachel Gustaff
Background: Non-Profit, Accounting
https://www.wayup.com/profile/Rachel-Gustaff-7ed4596407/
I'm a first-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on Finance. Before pursuing an MBA, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego. Driven by a desire to grow my leadership skills, I spent four years pursuing a career in business development and fundraising in the nonprofit sector. After a brief transition in education, I sought a new challenge in financial operations in the financial services industry with a goal of melding my leadership and analytical skills to help drive business solutions. I hope to continue my professional development and pursue Corporate Finance or Wealth Management. I chose UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business for the collaborative and team-based culture at UCI, world-class academics and faculty, excellent networking opportunities, and personalized career service center. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, cheering on the US Women’s National Soccer Team, and reading classic novels.
Kalyani Madhu
Background: Product Management
Area of Interest: Management Consulting
Hometown: India 
I'm a first-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on Strategy or Management Consulting. Born and raised in India, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology. I dedicated over four years to the FinTech industry, working in the intersection of Investment Banking and Technology at UBS, one of the biggest banks in the financial services industry. There, I played a pivotal role in making the trading applications adapt to the latest technology and worked on multiple digital transformation projects. I aspire to transition in Management or Strategy consulting roles with a focus in Technology, Media and Telecommunication industries. I chose to join the UCI Paul Merage School of Business due to its supportive community, exceptional opportunities in Orange County, and a curriculum shaped by digital transformation. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places with friends, trying different cuisines, reading, discovering unique finds in antique stores, and creating art as a relaxing escape.
Jessica Parpana
Background: University and Technical Recruiting
Area of Interest: Marketing and Brand Management
I'm a first-year, Full-Time MBA student focusing on Marketing and Brand Management. Prior to beginning my MBA journey, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. I spent nearly 3 years in the medical device industry where I successfully collaborated with leadership teams to attract top talent and streamline recruitment processes. There, I played a pivotal role in revamping the university recruitment process and marketing materials post Covid-19. I am passionate about leveraging my skills to transition into a Marketing role within Healthcare or Entertainment. Crafting new marketing materials for university recruitment led me to fall in love with branding from a storytelling point of view. This is why I decided to pursue my MBA and specifically chose UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business due to the intimate cohort size and access to an amazing career services team. In my free time, I enjoy playing video and board games, bouldering, and exploring new restaurants. I also have one calico cat named Mochi that I love very much.
Julian Terrile
Background: Project Management
Area of Interest: Operations and Product Management
linkedin.com/in/julian-terrile/
I'm a first-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on operations and product management. Before pursuing my MBA, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Technology from New York University. I worked for five years in Film and Television, holding various studio operations and project management roles. My experience in this fast-paced, creative industry fueled his interest in expanding his skills in the technology and healthcare sectors. I chose UCI for its collaborative environment, strong network with leading businesses in tech and healthcare, and its exceptional career services. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing and listening to music, running, and indulging in my love for Italian food.
Steven Yang
Background: U.S. Army Armor Officer
Area of Interest: Management Consulting
Hometown: Orange County, CA 
linkedin.com/in/steven-yang-b09868132/
I'm a first-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on strategy and management consulting. Prior to my MBA, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Riverside. I then served four years as an active-duty Armor officer leading organizations of tanks and scouts in the U.S. Army. Managing programs and operations across different units and seeing fruitful progress over time led me to pursue my next career in consulting. Having grown up in Orange County, I chose Merage for its location, proximity to both professional and personal interests, and the unparalleled support that the program office and career services office provide for veterans. I enjoy traveling, playing golf, skydiving, and supporting my favorite players in fantasy football. I also volunteer with Service 2 School to assist transitioning veterans with applying to undergraduate and graduate programs.
Second-Year Candidates
Devlin Hamidjaja
Background: Product Management
Area of Interest: Marketing and Product Management
Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
linkedin.com/in/devlinhamidjaja/
I'm a second-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on Marketing and Product Management at the Paul Merage School of Business. Born and raised in Southern California, I completed my Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Cal State University Fullerton. Wanting to make an impact in people's lives, I joined Legrande Health, a fast growing healthcare tech start-up, where I spent four years as a product manager launching first-to-market products, developing marketing strategies, and managing doctors and ophthalmic practices across the United States. Being mission-driven, I hope to use my experience in leading cross-functional teams to continue making an impact in people's lives. I chose UCI's Paul Merage School of Business for their intimate class size, individualized career center support and curriculum, and their focus on using technology to develop highly driven leaders. In my free time, I love playing pickleball and soccer, exploring Orange County for new hidden food gems, and going to the beach with my mini dachshund.
Skyler Meador
Background: Marketing and Brand Management
Area of Interest: Marketing and Brand Management
Hometown: Orange, CA
I'm a second-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on Marketing and Brand Management. Prior to embarking on my MBA journey, I earned a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I dedicated over four years to the entertainment industry, culminating in my role in marketing and brand strategy at Brillstein Creative Partners, a prominent production company. There, I played a pivotal role in shaping the company's overall marketing strategy and managing specific television projects. I aspire to transition into a Marketing role within the Healthcare or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industries. My decision to join UCI's Paul Merage School of Business was influenced by the institution's remarkable local network, the close-knit cohort, and a strong emphasis on STEM and digital transformation. In my free time, I find joy in spending time with my family and friends, exploring the parks at Disneyland, and embarking on a quest for Southern California's best breakfast burrito.
Andrew Murphy
Background: Sales
Area of Interest: Marketing and Product Management
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
linkedin.com/in/b-andrew-murphy/
calendly.com/andrew-murphy-uci/student-ambassador-15-minute-chat
I'm a second-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on Product Management and Marketing. I spent the last 8 years working in Sales Development, Customer Success, Professional Services and PreSales for two tech startups: SmartRecruiters, a Talent Acquisition suite and Iterable, an omni-channel growth Marketing tool. In 2020, I completed a full stack web development certificate from Case Western Reserve University and built several apps on the side including a music sharing community app called Vibify. I seek to build upon my customer obsession, technical skills and project management experience in transitioning to career in product management. I chose UCI Paul Merage school of Business due to its incredible people, prowess in Orange County and fantastic career center services. Outside of school, I am a husband to Ella and father to Naomi (1), spending most of my time reading picture books and enjoying walks and laughs in Mason Park.
Anisa Siddiqui
Background: Commercial Operations & Analytics
Area of Interest: Marketing and Product Management
Hometown: Irvine, CA
linkedin.com/in/anisa-siddiqui/
I'm a second-year, Full-Time MBA candidate focusing on continuing my professional career in Healthcare and Marketing. Prior to joining Merage, I attended University of San Francisco where I received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance. With 6 years as a Commercial Operations Business Analyst in the Software/Healthcare industry, I partnered closely with executive leaders and cross-functional stakeholders, focusing on developing, analyzing, and effectively communicating business insights. I'm pursuing my MBA in the hopes of not only elevating my product management / strategic skill sets, but also hope to leverage my network and experience to make an impact in the female healthcare market. I chose Merage for its strategic location in Irvine, offering proximity to major cities and a hub for global healthcare companies. As a minority woman, I value the opportunity to represent and create impact in my own community. The program's smaller class size, optimal faculty-to-student ratio, and unique entrepreneurial culture further appealed to me, promising a productive and enriching learning experience. I enjoy spending time with my family, staying involved in my community across different social causes, and enjoy traveling, working out, and hanging out with my cohort around Orange County!
Ameya Thakur
Background: Product Management
Area of Interest: Technology
Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
I'm a first-year, Full-Time MBA candidate at the Paul Merage School of Business with a keen focus on Technology. Hailing from the vibrant city of Mumbai in India, I have a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the prestigious Sardar Patel Institute of Technology. To build on my passion for Tech, I worked in the Product development space at Oracle for 5 years. During my tenure, I spearheaded the development of the Oracle Banking Platform, a cutting-edge B2B product designed to empower tier 1 banks across the globe. This experience not only honed my technological expertise but also ignited a profound passion for driving business vision and growth. Motivated by my desire to combine technology with strategic leadership, I embarked on the MBA journey at Merage. I chose Merage for its world class faculty that teaches a distinct curriculum, in a highly collaborative community in the heart of California’s booming business landscape. Beyond the classroom, I can be found grooving to the rhythms of Goan music, engaged in awe of Virat Kohli's impeccable cover drive, or immersing myself in the tranquility of nature. I approach life with an infectious enthusiasm.
