Leili Sadaghiani has had the unique perspective of experiencing the Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics MBA program as both a student and a lecturer. After earning her MBA in organizational leadership, Sadaghiani earned her doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of Massachusetts – Boston. Since 2021, she has served as an adjunct professor at CSUF, in addition to managing business consulting for EPAM Systems, consulting, and teaching at other schools.

“My MBA from Cal State Fullerton gave me the foundation and the confidence to grow as a leader,” says Sadaghiani. “My concentration in organizational leadership ignited a passion as I applied what I learned to real-world settings, including critical thinking, problem analysis from multiple perspectives, and implementing solutions.”

Coming Full Circle: MBA Student to MBA Instructor

Sadaghiani points to her MBA at Cal State Fullerton as the driving force behind the pursuit of her doctorate, involving both academic rigor and applied leadership practice.

“Coming full circle to teach in the same program where I once sat as a student is deeply meaningful. I still remember being in the MBA classrooms at CSUF, filled with curiosity and ambition,” she recalls. “That experience now enables me to understand what my students need—how to both challenge and support them. Teaching here feels like giving back to a program that shaped who I am as a professional. One of the most surreal moments was sitting in my first faculty meeting as an adjunct professor beside Professor Parry, who had once taught me business law. Suddenly, he was my colleague. It was humbling, an honor, and a reminder of how far the journey has brought me.”

Maximizing Your MBA Experience

An MBA can be a lifechanging experience, particularly when attained from a world-class program such as is offered at Cal State Fullerton. To maximize success, Sadaghiani suggests coming with curiosity, recognizing that the MBA is more than textbooks, but also includes networking, asking questions and challenging assumptions. She also encourages application of assignments, case studies and class discussions while still a student, coupled with engagement in clubs and extracurricular opportunities.

In years to come, Sadaghiani hopes to continue bridging the worlds of practice and academia. Through her firm InVivo Leadership Strategies, she is supporting organizations through technology transformations. At the same time, she remains committed to teaching business strategy and leadership, staying closely connected to Cal State Fullerton as both an alumna and faculty member.

For More on the CSUF MBA Program

Cal State Fullerton’s top-ranked MBA program offers pathways for both full-time professionals and recent undergrads, providing the network, emotional intelligence and technological competence needed for today’s workforce.

For more on the CSUF MBA, read more of our articles on Business Graduate Programs.