Student Success Story

Ashraf Naji, MBA Student
Graziadio School of Business and Management
Pepperdine University

Deciding to pursue an MBA has already paid off for Ashraf Naji. When his company learned that he was enrolling at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management, he was promoted to a managerial position from his job as a senior engineer.

Although Ashraf finds graduate school academically rewarding, fitting it into his work schedule and his responsibilities as a husband and father has been challenging. "It was not easy to start the MBA program — it's a big change," he says. "There's always something going on with friends and family. You have to say 'no' to a lot of things."

Ashraf says that his Success Coach, Andy Dashwood, has helped him put everything into perspective. "We look at eight different areas of my life, like school, work, and finances, and talk about how I'm going to manage the demands. He helps me look at things from a different point of view, gives me good tips and makes me feel more relaxed."

As Ashraf continues to pursue his academic and career goals, he knows that Andy will be available to help. "It's a privilege to have this coaching," he says.