Fatemeh Yazdiananari

University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

Fun fact about yourself: Worked as an English teacher in South Korea from 2021-2023.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Central Florida. B.S in Electrical Engineering

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Junior Achievement of San Diego as Senior Capstone Associate

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? I interned at Toyota in Dallas, Texas summer of 2024.

Where will you be working after graduation? After a successful internship at Toyota, I hope to return for a full-time position.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Leadership Roles: Cohort Class Representative, Vice President of National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA) chapter at UTD.

Awards and Honors: Forté Fellow, First place in JSOM’s MBA Business Competition, First place in GSE Case Competition

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Winning First Place in the GSE Case Competition is the academic achievement I’m most proud of during business school. The only requirement was to create a business that addressed one of six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Beyond that, we had full creative freedom.

After a lot of brainstorming, my team kept coming back to two issues we cared about: food waste and senior food insecurity. That’s how we came up with Renewed Plates: Senior Meal Delivery, a program that connects surplus food from retailers with seniors in need, with culinary students preparing and delivering meals. I focused on operations and logistics, figuring out how to structure food collection, meal prep, and partnerships to make the idea work.

This experience reinforced my passion for turning ideas into real, impactful solutions. Winning first place wasn’t just about the competition—it was proof that a simple idea, executed well, can make a real difference.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The professional achievement I’m most proud of is making the decision to leave my engineering career to teach English in South Korea. It wasn’t an easy choice—walking away from a stable job in a technical field to move to a new country, take on a completely different role, and adapt to an unfamiliar culture. But I saw it as an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, develop new skills, and challenge myself in ways that technical work alone couldn’t provide.

Teaching English to students from a different cultural and linguistic background forced me to become a more adaptable communicator, problem-solver, and mentor. I had to break down complex ideas in ways that were clear and engaging, build trust across cultural differences, and create an environment where students felt confident learning something entirely new.

More than anything, this experience showed me the value of stepping into the unknown—of embracing challenges, learning to navigate ambiguity, and finding ways to make an impact even in unfamiliar territory. It reinforced my ability to adapt, connect with people, and lead in diverse environments—skills that have been invaluable in every role I’ve taken on since.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose the UT Dallas Jindal School of Management because of its location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the access it provides to major companies and industries. DFW is home to a diverse business landscape, including headquarters and regional offices for Fortune 500 companies, making it an ideal place to build connections and gain industry experience.

Being in this environment means opportunities to engage with professionals, attend company events, and secure internships without having to relocate. For me, having that direct access to employers was a major factor in choosing JSOM—it allows me to expand my network and explore career paths in a city where businesses are actively looking for MBA talent.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor is Dorothée Honhon because of her engaging teaching style and dedication to constantly improving her coursework. While teaching in South Korea, I learned how important it is to keep students actively engaged, and one of my key takeaways was the need to continuously improve and update teaching materials.

Professor Honhon embodies this approach. She doesn’t just lecture—she actively involves students by incorporating tools like Kahoot for friendly peer competition and consistently refining her slide presentations based on feedback. It’s clear that she cares about making the learning experience dynamic and effective.

As a student, I appreciate a professor who puts in the effort to make complex topics more accessible and engaging. Her approach not only keeps us interested, but also reinforces the importance of continuous improvement—something I value both in education and in my professional growth.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Although I haven’t completed all of my required courses, my favorite MBA course so far has been Operations Management. I enjoy the challenge of process improvement—it’s not just about making things more efficient, but also about finding creative solutions to complex problems.

Operations requires both structured thinking and adaptability. There are always constraints to consider, whether it’s cost, time, or resources, and improving a process often means balancing multiple factors. That combination of problem-solving and creativity makes the course both engaging and rewarding.

This class has reinforced my interest in optimizing systems and driving efficiency, skills that I know will be valuable in my future career. I’m looking forward to applying these concepts in real-world settings and continuing to develop my ability to improve processes at scale.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back over my MBA experience, one thing I’d do differently is attending the Alumni Trips. These trips offer company visits and networking events with alumni in different states and cities, providing a unique opportunity to connect with professionals and gain firsthand insights into different industries.

At the time, I didn’t prioritize them, but now I realize what a valuable opportunity I missed. Visiting companies and networking with alumni could have helped me build relationships, explore career paths, and gain a deeper understanding of different business environments. These experiences go beyond what you can learn in a classroom—they provide real-world exposure and connections that can shape your career.

If I could do it again, I’d make sure to take full advantage of these opportunities. Networking is a long-term investment, and engaging with alumni and industry leaders earlier could have provided even more insights and connections for my professional growth.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest myths about JSOM is that it’s a ‘nerdy’ school. From the outside looking in, it makes sense—JSOM is known for its strong focus on analytics, finance, and tech and many students come in with highly technical backgrounds.

But what people don’t always see is the vibrant community beyond the academics. There are so many clubs, social events, and traditions that bring students together, whether it’s through case competitions, cultural celebrations, or just casual hangouts. Our class finds plenty of ways to have fun, support each other, and build friendships beyond the classroom.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about Dallas is that it’s a major business hub with opportunities across multiple industries. There’s always something happening—networking events, conferences, and company meetups—which makes it a great place to be as an MBA student.

Outside of business, I love the food scene. Dallas has some of the best international food options, and I’ve had some of my favorite meals here, from amazing Korean BBQ to authentic Tex-Mex. The mix of professional opportunities and cultural diversity makes Dallas a great place to study and live.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? I think Sweet Magnolias reflects the realities of business, especially for women entrepreneurs. The show follows three women who start a spa business together. Throughout the series, they navigate real challenges—securing funding, managing employees, balancing work and personal lives, and making tough business decisions.

What stood out to me was how much resilience, collaboration, and relationship-building matter in business. The characters face setbacks, but they lean on each other, adapt, and find creative solutions. It highlights the unique challenges women face in leadership, from balancing multiple responsibilities to proving themselves in their industries.

Watching their journey reinforced that success isn’t just about having a great idea—it’s about perseverance, problem-solving, and having the right support system. For women in business, it’s especially important to build strong networks and advocate for themselves, and Sweet Magnolias does a great job showcasing that reality.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? One way that JSOM has integrated AI into our programming is by encouraging students to use AI tools for interview preparation. Beyond offering AI-related courses, networking sessions, and info sessions, the school has promoted AI as a research and learning tool to help students better prepare for job opportunities.

Using AI for company research has been particularly valuable. It allows students to quickly gather insights on industry trends, company performance, and even typical interview questions for specific roles. Instead of spending hours searching for scattered information, AI helps us focus on analyzing key insights and preparing thoughtful responses.

The biggest takeaway for me is that AI isn’t a replacement for preparation—it’s a tool to enhance it. It can streamline research, generate ideas, and help structure responses, but ultimately, success still depends on how well we apply that information in real-world situations.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? All of my peers are admirable, each with their own stories to share, but the classmate I admire most is Zara Syeda Nadir. She is not only pursuing her MBA but also attending medical school at the same time—an incredible feat that speaks to her determination, intelligence, and work ethic.

Balancing one rigorous program is challenging enough, but Zara takes on both while staying engaged with school organizations and activities. Her ability to manage her time, excel academically, and still contribute to the MBA community is truly inspiring.

She embodies resilience and commitment, proving that if you’re passionate and disciplined, you can achieve what seems impossible. Her drive motivates those around her, and I have no doubt she will make a meaningful impact in both business and medicine.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

Lead a large-scale process improvement initiative that has a measurable impact—whether it’s optimizing operations, reducing waste, or making a system more efficient.

Work internationally again—teaching in South Korea gave me an appreciation for global business perspectives, and I’d love to work on an international project or spend time leading operations in another country.

What made Fatemeh such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“As a program representative in our MBA program, Fatemeh has been a strong liaison between faculty and the program office, helping to address student concerns and ensure effective communication. Her leadership within the class is evident—not only in resolving issues but also in contributing to discussions and fostering a positive learning environment. Fatemeh is proactive, professional, and dedicated to her peers’ success. I highly recommend Fatemeh and am confident in her ability to excel.”

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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