🎙️ Lunch With Alex — Episode 1

Welcome to the very first episode of Lunch With Alex. In this inaugural episode, host Alex Szymanski sits down with Kimberly Ortiz, a double Bruin and MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson, to explore her journey through higher education, leadership, and purpose-driven work.

Kimberly currently serves as the Senior Manager in Educational Counseling at Bright Horizons, where she supports students and families nationwide through the college admissions process with clarity, ethics, and intention. With over six years of experience in higher education admissions, including roles at Harvey Mudd College and Caltech, she brings a unique perspective on leadership, admissions, and impact. Now, she’s balancing meaningful work with the demands of the #5 part-time MBA program in the United States as part of UCLA Anderson’s FEMBA Class of 2028.

In this episode, Alex and Kimberly discuss:
• Growing up and finding direction early in her career
• Why she chose UCLA for both her undergraduate degree and MBA
• The realities of the MBA academic experience, including leadership and data-driven coursework
• Lessons in leadership beyond the classroom
• Managing intensity, ambition, and balance in Los Angeles
• Advice for prospective MBA students and future leaders

Whether you’re considering business school, navigating a career pivot, or simply interested in thoughtful conversations about leadership and growth, this episode offers insight, honesty, and inspiration.

This is Lunch with Alex: where meaningful conversations meet real-world leadership.