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 Full name: Edward Azari
University previously attended: Woodbury University
Degree obtained: MBA
An MBA is widely recognized as a ticket to a leadership role in business. For banking executive Edward Azari, a 2004 MBA from Woodbury University gave him the working tools he needed to advance his career.
"Even though I was ambitious and aggressive, the competition was getting tougher. I wanted to beat the competition and an MBA was the way to do that."
With an MBA on his résumé, Azari quickly advanced in the banking industry. Azari uses the theories and practical knowledge he gained from his Woodbury experience to coach, develop, and mentor his employees and make the move from portfolio manager to regional business manager to first vice president at Washington Mutual.
"My MBA definitely separates me from the pack," he explains.
Azari, who earned a bachelor's in business and computer technology from Cal State Los Angeles, chose Woodbury after careful research. He wanted a school with a reputation for academic excellence, along with a supportive atmosphere for working professionals.
"I interviewed Woodbury to see what the curriculum, faculty, and campus were like. I also had friends who went to Woodbury who told me about the program. In the end, I chose Woodbury because it had the same curriculum as UCLA and USC at half the cost. It was close to home, I liked the faculty, and I liked the campus," he says.
Azari appreciated that Woodbury recognized that he and other MBA students were pursuing a degree that they can use. Yes, there was graduate-level theory, but Azari found that Woodbury's MBA program maximized his exposure to practical, cutting-edge business case studies that he could apply to his work right away. For example, Dr. Satinder Dhiman's management classes gave Azari a broader perspective on business.
"Dr. Dhiman opens up your eyes to everything that is around you, not just in the business world. He showed me that people chemistry is important and you have to be aware of all of the aspects of business to make yourself a success," he explains.
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