Lunch With Alex

Professor Corinne Bendersky is a Professor of Management and Organizations at UCLA Anderson School of Management with expertise in conflict management, leadership, and team effectiveness. She has conducted research on workplace conflict, diversity and inclusion, and status dynamics in teams, and has led large-scale workplace climate assessments for organizations such as the City of Los Angeles. In this episode, Professor Bendersky shares insights on how leadership operates within high-performing teams, explaining how status is formed, why conflict should be structured rather than avoided, and how leaders can create environments where ideas are evaluated based on merit. She also provides practical advice for MBA students and professionals navigating team dynamics, leadership challenges, and high-pressure environments.🎧 Listen, Watch & Follow:https://linktr.ee/lunchwithalex

Samyar Seifollahi is an MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson School of Management with experience in data-driven marketing, analytics, and strategic consulting. He has led marketing initiatives and built analytics tools to drive customer engagement, improve targeting, and support enterprise-level decision making. He has managed large-scale campaigns, supported business strategy through consulting engagements, and developed insights that increased deal conversions and measurable business outcomes. 🎧 Listen, Watch & Follow:https://linktr.ee/lunchwithalex

Peter Redman is a Flight Test Engineering Manager at Boeing and an MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson School of Management. He leads multidisciplinary engineering teams at Edwards Air Force Base supporting the modernization of the B-52 bomber and execution of complex flight test programs. He has over a decade of experience in aircraft flight testing, including work on the Boeing 737 MAX certification and return-to-service efforts, as well as advanced Gulfstream aircraft programs. 🎧 Listen, Watch & Follow:https://linktr.ee/lunchwithalex

Kimberly Ortiz is a Senior Manager in Educational Counseling at Bright Horizons and an MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson. She leads nationwide college admissions counseling services across 100+ corporate partners, supporting over 1,000 students and families with strategic guidance through the admissions process. She previously worked in college admissions at Harvey Mudd College and Caltech, where she evaluated thousands of applicants and contributed to data-driven admissions and recruitment strategies. 🎧 Listen, Watch & Follow:https://linktr.ee/lunchwithalex