Matador Insights: Consulting
September 17 at 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Matador Insights is a series of alumni-led panel discussions designed to inspire and guide students as they explore diverse career paths across the Consulting industry. These interactive sessions offer valuable firsthand perspectives from alumni professionals who share their career journeys, industry insights, challenges, and advice for success.
Meet the Speakers!
Sanaz Nabati, Career Coach/Consultant, Nabati Career Consulting Services
Sanaz Nabati is a double-degree alumnus from California State University Northridge in Psychology and has earned a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling, with Specialization in Career counseling. With almost two decades of experience providing Career guidance to undergraduate students at UCLA, she also helps alumni and professionals with their career journeys as a career consultant. Her specialties include career exploration, job search, college and graduate and professional school application support. Additionally, she serves on the board of the California Career Development Association and is affiliated with the National Career Development Association. Her experience lies with helping Students with Disabilities, International Students, Underground Scholars and those returning from Study Abroad opportunities and those seeking Graduate and Professional Education.
Wade Smart, Founder and President, Smart Partners Consulting, LLC (SPC)
Long before Wade Smart was placing executive talent across the technology and entertainment industries, he was sprinting and jumping for CSUN, earning All-American honors while studying Marketing. That combination of competitive discipline, and business acumen, has stuck with him ever since.
Today, Wade is the Founder and President of Smart Partners Consulting, LLC (SPC), a global executive search firm known for its white-glove approach to both candidates and clients. With more than 20 years of experience spanning entertainment, technology, CPG, finance, biotech, and healthcare, Wade and his team have led high-performing recruitment initiatives worldwide, placing top talent in critical roles across IT, Product, Marketing, Finance, Strategy, and emerging early-career programs.
What sets Wade apart is a dual perspective few in the industry can claim, having worked both in-house and agency-side, as both a business leader and a recruitment manager. It’s a perspective he traces back to CSUN, where balancing Division I athletics with his business studies taught him how to perform under pressure and build relationships that last. Skills he now applies every day to help companies find the right people and people find the right opportunities.
Ravi Surampudi, Contract Specialist, Hanscom Air Force Base
Ravi Surampudi graduated from California State University, Northridge, in May 2010 after beginning his studies there in 2004. He previously graduated from Paraclete High School in Lancaster in 2003. During his senior year at CSUN, he interned at KABC 7.
After graduation, Ravi worked briefly for the Atlanta Braves before attending Wright State University from 2013 to 2021. He earned a Sports Management certificate in 2016 and completed internships between 2014 and 2019. He later worked for the Environmental Protection Agency in Dallas during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also working with the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, and American Airlines Arena. He subsequently returned to California, where he worked at SoFi Stadium, Angel Stadium, and Orange County Soccer Club.
From 2023 to 2025, Ravi worked for the EPA in Boston. During his free time, he partnered with his former mentor, James Collins, to create Championsforall.org. He also appeared on a four-episode podcast with Dr. Satnam Agasya to discuss his experiences on the autism spectrum. Ravi was diagnosed with autism in 2013 while attending graduate school at Wright State and wishes he had received that diagnosis while at CSUN.
Ravi encourages college students to pursue internships during their sophomore and junior years, as they can lead to future career opportunities. He currently has a tentative offer for a Contract Specialist position at Hanscom Air Force Base and is awaiting the final offer.
