About Nicole: Nicole Rabiu (’22) graduated from Spelman College with a degree in Psychology and Studio Art. After graduation, she worked in New York City as an Account Manager at Coca-Cola and later as a Key Account Manager at Unilever. Nicole hopes to intersect her passions for psychology and art in a product marketing role post-business school. In her spare time, Nicole loves to hike the many treks in LA, oil-paint portraits, and visit the outdoor markets at Melrose and Abbot Kinney.
When I decided to attend Spelman College - a small, private, all-women HBCU (historically black college or university) in Atlanta, GA – I knew I was going to be in a place of comfort that allowed me to flourish. I decided to attend UCLA Anderson for many reasons, including the high percentage of students entering tech and the ability to live in sunny Los Angeles. Despite my decision, I was scared to build connections with students with different racial backgrounds at a PWI (primarily white institution). The transition from an HBCU to a PWI was daunting for me, but after my first two quarters I am thankful that I made the plunge and I’m enjoying the journey of being in new territory with like-minded leaders.
Personally, Spelman College taught me the many facets of Black diversity. I met Black women from many cities both internationally and in the US, and I met Black women with interests that differed in many capacities. The connections between and my Spelman sisters had driven me to be comfortable in my skin in any circumstance. So when I decided to attend UCLA Anderson, I was scared of the lack of diversity in comparison to my HBCU. During my first two quarters, however, I again saw myself meeting students with different nationalities and distinctive career goals. Despite us having diverse racial backgrounds, we all had a common interest in growing our professional brand and connecting with different communities. I realized that my fears of not connecting with students were self-inflicted – like Spelman, I was having an experience of growing my network for the future. The Parker Career Center invested – and continues to invest – in me in ways that let me know UCLA Anderson’s commitment to its student body.
It was also important for me to attend a PWI that had students that embraced diversity and inclusion. I was worried that the lack of Black students in comparison to my undergraduate institution meant I would be met with ignorance or racism at every turn. Since joining UCLA Anderson, however, I have witnessed students embrace both Black Lives Matter and the fight against AAPI hate rigorously. The Anderson community rallies against racism and advocates for social justice as a collective. Students always have a safe space to express their thoughts, whether it is in a student-led town hall or a one-on-one chat with leadership. When HBCU graduates consider attending PWIs for graduate school, we need to pick a community that allows us to be transparent during conversations relating to our racial experience. UCLA Anderson students accept these conversations fully.
There is absolutely nothing like attending an HBCU, and I keep my undergraduate experience close to my heart in all situations. During my first year at UCLA Anderson, however, I have welcomed the idea of connecting with students through study groups, on-campus clubs, and extracurricular activities. By connecting with students, I realized I can find comfort in my Anderson family similar to my Spelman family – and likewise, I hope these connections build over time as we all flourish in our careers.
Student Blogger: Nicole Rabiu ‘22
Undergrad: Spelman College ‘15
Pre-MBA: Account Management at Unilever
Leadership@Anderson: Director of Marketing Communications, AnderTech; First-Year Director, Admissions Ambassador Corps
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How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : Student Perspectives: Transitioning from an HBCU to a PWI
When I decided to attend Spelman College - a small, private, all-women HBCU (historically black college or university) in Atlanta, GA – I knew I was going to be in a place of comfort that allowed me to flourish. I decided to attend UCLA Anderson for many reasons, including the high percentage of students entering tech and the ability to live in sunny Los Angeles. Despite my decision, I was scared to build connections with students with different racial backgrounds at a PWI (primarily white institution). The transition from an HBCU to a PWI was daunting for me, but after my first two quarters I am thankful that I made the plunge and I’m enjoying the journey of being in new territory with like-minded leaders.
Personally, Spelman College taught me the many facets of Black diversity. I met Black women from many cities both internationally and in the US, and I met Black women with interests that differed in many capacities. The connections between and my Spelman sisters had driven me to be comfortable in my skin in any circumstance. So when I decided to attend UCLA Anderson, I was scared of the lack of diversity in comparison to my HBCU. During my first two quarters, however, I again saw myself meeting students with different nationalities and distinctive career goals. Despite us having diverse racial backgrounds, we all had a common interest in growing our professional brand and connecting with different communities. I realized that my fears of not connecting with students were self-inflicted – like Spelman, I was having an experience of growing my network for the future. The Parker Career Center invested – and continues to invest – in me in ways that let me know UCLA Anderson’s commitment to its student body.
It was also important for me to attend a PWI that had students that embraced diversity and inclusion. I was worried that the lack of Black students in comparison to my undergraduate institution meant I would be met with ignorance or racism at every turn. Since joining UCLA Anderson, however, I have witnessed students embrace both Black Lives Matter and the fight against AAPI hate rigorously. The Anderson community rallies against racism and advocates for social justice as a collective. Students always have a safe space to express their thoughts, whether it is in a student-led town hall or a one-on-one chat with leadership. When HBCU graduates consider attending PWIs for graduate school, we need to pick a community that allows us to be transparent during conversations relating to our racial experience. UCLA Anderson students accept these conversations fully.
There is absolutely nothing like attending an HBCU, and I keep my undergraduate experience close to my heart in all situations. During my first year at UCLA Anderson, however, I have welcomed the idea of connecting with students through study groups, on-campus clubs, and extracurricular activities. By connecting with students, I realized I can find comfort in my Anderson family similar to my Spelman family – and likewise, I hope these connections build over time as we all flourish in our careers.
Student Blogger: Nicole Rabiu ‘22
Undergrad: Spelman College ‘15
Pre-MBA: Account Management at Unilever
Leadership@Anderson: Director of Marketing Communications, AnderTech; First-Year Director, Admissions Ambassador Corps
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : Student Perspectives: Transitioning from an HBCU to a PWI