CPaCE News

The Saturday Master of Business Administration (SMBA) program at CSULB has been a catalyst in shaping the many different careers and lifestyles of its alumni. The voices of six remarkable individuals who graduated from the program in the past several years describe common themes about its in-depth curriculum, flexible schedule, and dynamic pace, as well as its special focus on sustainability and disruptive technology. Read on to explore the profound impact this unique program has had on a variety of professional trajectories.

“All of my peers already had their MBA, so I wanted the fastest route to get my own degree with minimal impact to my work,” said Dean Heiss, who finished the SMBA program in 2016 and is now Senior Manager at Southern California Edison. “I ended up having a successful stint of my career as a result.”

Benefitting from Saturday classes that aligned with his demanding work schedule, Dean expanded his business acumen thanks to the program's emphasis on practical skills and the “triple bottom line” concept—taking economic, societal, and environmental factors into account. An impactful field trip to Berlin also provided valuable lessons that further enriched his academic experience.

“Immediately following the SMBA program, I was able to successfully move into management,” Dean explained. “My pay and my career path options were immediately increased as I moved from an individual contributor to a leader within the company.”

Dean's experience was similar to that of Sergio Baez, a 2011 graduate who is currently Director of Licensing Partnerships at NBC Universal. Describing his time in the SMBA program as a "business professional boot camp," Sergio also singled out the field trip to Berlin as a character-building opportunity to study sustainability efforts.

“It refined me to be a better individual and a more refined professional,” said Sergio. “My work colleagues immediately took notice of this refinement. Being able to make more of a presence and better presentation skills were just a few of the skill sets that I was able to further develop.”

“Obtaining my MBA was one of the best decisions I have made for myself and my career,” Sergio continued. “I immediately was given a promotion and wore my MBA as a badge of honor.”

While at a different stage in her career, 2022 graduate Samantha Naanouh sacrificed a bit of her social life on Saturdays to attend SMBA classes, but the program’s pre-scheduled courses, affordability, and campus diversity made enrollment an easy choice. The experience was well worth it, considering that she was hired as People and Organization Specialist for the HR department at iconic fashion brand Chanel. 

“I decided to enroll at CSULB because of the diverse campus and the blend of amenities the urban city and beach town has to offer,” said Samantha. “It is also a very affordable program that schedules all your courses ahead of time, relieving the stress of enrolling in classes on your own. The tuition includes the cost of books and programs, eliminating any surprise expenses.”

Sustainability and other environmental issues were a big part of Samantha’s field trip to the Netherlands during her two years in the SMBA program. While overseas, her class visited a site called BlueCity, a repurposed water park where multiple companies exchange products and resources to eliminate waste.

“After studying how a circular economy could function, we were able to see first-hand how it is a lifestyle in the Netherlands, rather than a theory,” Samantha explained. “Although I am still early in my career, the program has taught me to rely on my knowledge and contribute to change by utilizing my fresh perspective of how things should be done.”

Approaching challenges from a new angle is also a big part of what SMBA graduate Massimo Masini does in his role as Vice President of Operations for a tech start-up called TS Conductor, which is developing new types of electrical conductors to deliver energy through modernized power grids. 

“My company has an innovative product produced with breakthrough technology, allowing great carbon-footprint savings and energy efficiency in the utilities sector,” Massimo said. “Countries and large companies are getting more and more sensitive to energy efficiency and reduction of CO2 pollution in the world.”

Already an experienced professional when he enrolled, Massimo noted that the collaborative nature of team projects in the SMBA program helped him to foster essential skills for working with others in a large organization.

“The SMBA program not only provided me with recognition to be more competitive in the workplace,” Massimo continued, “but also provided me much better skills in marketing, business development, finance, and working in a network environment.”

The challenging balance of work and school was part of 2013 graduate Ben Arnold's SMBA experience. With a demanding full-time job, it helped that he was able to build professional connections and lasting friendships with classmates. He also noted that the accelerated schedule of SMBA classes reflected the rapidly changing dynamic of his job.

“I felt that this rapid pace did a good job of mimicking the real world, where business moves fast and you need to keep up,” said Ben, who is Vice President of Paid Media at Little Dot Studios, a digital content agency. “I found myself developing skills related to quicker planning and decision-making that became immediately useful in my professional life.” 

Learn more about how the Saturday Master of Business Administration program can help propel your own career forward with new skills, knowledge, and opportunities.