ATHERTON, Calif. — At Menlo College, learning from industry professionals is an important part of the classroom experience. Faculty draw on their professional networks to connect students with executives, entrepreneurs, alumni, and business leaders who bring real-world perspectives directly into their courses.
Recent guest experiences hosted by professors Marzieh Yaghini, Fabian Eggers, and Harsh Jadhav show how these connections help bridge coursework and careers across marketing, entrepreneurship, and accounting.
From Marketing Plans to Product Launches
Assistant Professor of Marketing and International Business Marzieh Yaghini recently welcomed two product leaders to give students an inside look at how product development and marketing come together.
Throughout the semester, students in Yaghini’s marketing course develop their own product idea from the ground up. They start with a marketing pitch and build it into a full marketing plan. Along the way, they use AI tools to create product demos and promotional materials, much as product and marketing teams do in industry today.
Pia Chakrabarti, Lead Product Manager at Glassdoor/Indeed, presented “Creating Products that Resonate,” walking students through a real Glassdoor product launch and explaining how Product Managers and Product Marketing Managers collaborate. She then led a workshop where students pitched their product ideas and received feedback using her three-question filter: Does it meet an unmet need? Is it a “vitamin” or a “painkiller”? What is the investor upside?
Sonia Hashim, whose product career has included experience at Apple, Google, and Pluto TV, presented “Product 101,” focusing on four pillars of product craft: focusing on the problem, influencing without authority, critical thinking, and creating experiences that delight customers. Students tested their pitches against her PM cheat sheet of 10 questions every product team should ask.
The sessions directly supported students’ semester-long projects and gave them a firsthand look at the work behind successful products.
“Industry professionals help students see how the concepts they are learning are applied in the real world,” Yaghini said. “By bringing those insights into their own projects, students strengthen their work while building the practical skills and confidence to be Future Ready Now.”
Exploring a Different Path to Entrepreneurship
Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship Fabian Eggers also draws on entrepreneurs and alumni to expand how students think about building businesses.
In September, Eggers welcomed Sam Thapaliya, a Menlo College alumnus and serial entrepreneur, for a workshop on Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), a path to entrepreneurship through purchasing and growing an existing business rather than launching a startup. The session explored how acquisition works, financing options, and the opportunities and challenges of business ownership.
“Bringing entrepreneurs and alumni into the classroom helps students see that there is no single path to building a business,” Eggers said. “These conversations expand what students believe is possible and offer practical perspectives they can carry into their own entrepreneurial journeys.”
Connecting Students with Accounting Careers
Adjunct Professor Harsh Jadhav brought together professionals from Deloitte, Frank, Rimerman + Co., Aprio, WWC.PC, and PwC for a Spring 2026 accounting panel. Speakers represented roles across audit, assurance, and tax, giving students exposure to different firms and career paths within the profession.
Panelists included Menlo College alumni Sophia Umanzor and Andrea Vlasceanu of Deloitte, Natalya Alvarez of Frank, Rimerman + Co., Jessica Goldstein of Aprio, Miguel Arguello of WWC.PC, and Abigail Parises of PwC, representing experience across audit, assurance, and tax.
“It’s especially rewarding to welcome Menlo alumni back to the classroom and have students learn from professionals who once sat in their seats,” Jadhav said. “Hearing how alumni turned their Menlo education into successful careers helps students see the possibilities ahead and better understand the path from college to the workplace.”
Building Networks Before Graduation
While Yaghini, Eggers, and Jadhav teach different areas of business, their approach shares a common purpose: connecting classroom learning with the people putting those ideas into practice.
Through these interactions, students can explore career paths, ask questions, and begin building professional relationships before graduation. Combined with faculty expertise and experiential learning, these connections are another way Menlo prepares students to be Future Ready Now, turning classroom knowledge into skills, perspectives, and opportunities for life after Menlo.
Media inquiries: pr@menlo.edu
About Menlo College
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo College is a small, residential liberal arts and business college dedicated to preparing students to be Future Ready Now. Through a highly personalized educational experience that combines rigorous academics, applied learning, mentorship, and direct access to one of the world’s most innovative economies, Menlo College helps students convert education into measurable career and life outcomes. For more information, please visit our website or contact pr@menlo.edu
