🎙️ Lunch With Alex — Episode 2

In this episode of Lunch With Alex, host Alex Szymanski sits down with Peter Redman, a Flight Test Engineering Manager at Boeing and MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson, to explore the intersection of engineering excellence, leadership, and intentional career growth.

Peter currently leads multidisciplinary engineering teams at Edwards Air Force Base supporting the modernization of the B-52 bomber. With over a decade of experience in aircraft flight testing, including work on the Boeing 737 MAX certification and advanced Gulfstream aircraft, he operates in environments where precision, accountability, and teamwork are critical.

Beyond engineering, Peter is also a private pilot and a member of UCLA Anderson’s FEMBA Class of 2028, where he is expanding his leadership toolkit without stepping away from his technical roots.

In this conversation, Alex and Peter discuss:

• What it’s like leading high-stakes flight test programs at Boeing
• The responsibility behind aircraft certification and safety
• Why an aerospace engineer chooses to pursue an MBA
• Balancing a demanding career with graduate business school
• Leadership lessons from engineering, aviation, and team management
• Building a career with long-term intention, not just short-term moves

Whether you’re interested in aerospace, leadership under pressure, or navigating your own career growth, this episode offers a rare inside look at what it means to lead in one of the most technically demanding industries in the world.

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

🎙️ 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.