2025 Commencement Address Marks a Full-Circle Moment for Mosab Mohammadi

After sitting among the graduates for the LeBow College of Business’ Class of 2024 commencement, Mosab Mohammadi will be on stage for this year’s celebration, both to receive his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and to address his fellow graduates in the LeBow Class of 2025.

Originally from Afghanistan and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Mohammadi completed his graduate studies this year as part of LeBow’s accelerated dual degree BSBA/MBA program. Though he worked full-time after receiving his BSBA in legal studies, with minors in criminology and real estate management and development, he packed even more than two degrees into his five years at Drexel: Acting in Drexel Theatre Program productions, joining the Philadelphia Medical Relief Corps to assist with COVID vaccination drives, and volunteering with the Working Families Campaign and Philadelphia HIAS to resettle refugees from his home country.

After graduation, Mohammadi will continue working for Publicis Groupe, the world’s second-largest marketing and communications firm, in a compliance and regulatory role in pharmaceutical marketing.

But first comes his commencement address and what he calls “full-circle moment”: “I get to say, I was where you are a year ago, and I’m still here now, and if the future feels uncertain, I think it’s something to embrace,” he says. “I think everyone is going to enjoy it.”

Name: Mosab Mohammadi ’24, MBA ’25
Hometown: Panjshir, Afghanistan
Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Business Law
Co-op experience: Consultant at Toll Brothers (Undergraduate), Associate at Publicis Groupe (Graduate)
Notable student organizations and activities: Drexel Theatre Program, actor and social media director; Drexel Criminal Justice Society; Drexel Biddle Law Society; Drexel University Real Estate Club
External Organizations: Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and Campaign for Working Families (CWF)
Post-graduation plans: Senior Regulatory Associate at Publicis Groupe

Drexel LeBow: How did you choose your program of study?
Mosab Mohammadi: At first, I was more interested in criminology and law. My dad was quite involved in politics back in Afghanistan, so I was kind of rooted in that and wanted to continue doing it. Business law struck me as more practical and realistic, with elements that you encounter in everyday work, like contracts law or employment law. I’m a very curious person, and if you look at my resume, you’ll see I have experience in a lot of different industries I’ve worked in. Don’t ask me how many times I’ve changed my major — that’s part of my speech, actually.

DL: Who are some individuals who have helped and supported you?
MM: Within LeBow, I have to mention John Bird, a PhD candidate who taught my Econ 202 course. I have to say economics isn’t my favorite subject, but he turned the course into a really engaging and informative experience. He was new to teaching as a graduate assistant and he allowed us to discuss things on a much closer, more detailed level. Four years later, we still stay in touch.

Also, I had the best advisor, Shawna Morse. She’s an absolute gem. Every time I would walk in for an appointment, her smile and her enthusiasm were just amazing. We became really close, and she was my number one supporter as I figured things out and changed majors. She was always there for me, and really went above and beyond to make sure I had everything sorted out, even after she left LeBow.

Last but not least, outside of Drexel, I am extremely grateful for my family. The amount of support, sacrifices and love that I have continuously received from them — especially my parents — is something I don’t think I can ever pay back. I wouldn’t be here today without any of them.

DL: What accomplishment from your time at LeBow are you most proud of?
MM: More than any one award or making the Dean’s list, I’m most proud of the growth that I went through and the lessons I learned. Drexel really taught me to navigate uncertainty and how to pivot when things don’t go to plan and how to trust myself. Where I am now in this internal transformation is the thing I’m most proud of, and it’s something I can carry with me long after graduation. I’d choose Drexel all over again because it provided exactly the challenge and community I needed to become who I am today.

DL: What’s a course that had an impact on you, and why?
MM: MGMT 450 (Strategy and Competitive Advantage) with Professor Stanley Ridgley was one of the best courses I took at Drexel. It wasn’t just about business strategy; it was about thinking strategically about everything in your life. When professors can help students apply things to their own life or career, that’s what makes the most impact.

Prof. Ridgley had an incredible presence and energy — he wasn’t there just to teach, but to challenge us to level up. The big takeaway for me was that you are your own brand, just like any successful business, and that you have to understand your own strengths and advantages to set yourself apart from others. It reframed how I carried myself and made me more intentional about how I communicate, lead and make decisions.

DL: How did your time at LeBow prepare for you for the role you’re in now?
MM: I think most people choose Drexel for co-op, and my experience with co-op, along with the project-based classes I took and case competitions I was part of, really helped me prepare for my current role. I got hands-on experience with managing fast-paced courses, working on cross-functional teams and doing projects with people who might not speak my technical language, all of which mirrors what I do in my job. One of the most valuable takeaways for me was how to adapt and how to be adaptable. Every moment where I said “I’ve never done this before” helped me build the confidence to figure things out on the fly.

Also, through the Drexel Theatre Program, I worked a lot on public speaking, teamwork and communication. On a show, you learn a lot from managing and being managed as part of a team of 15 to 20 people, especially the importance of saying and doing things the right way. Later, I moved into the administrative side of things as social media manager and social media director for the Theatre Program, which provided more transferable skills for the workplace: working with teams, managing schedules and creating content.

DL: What do you plan to share with your fellow graduates?
MM: The heart of my speech is about embracing uncertainty and trusting yourself. I was looking back on my journey and wanted to reflect on how unpredictable the Drexel journey can be, with all of its highs and lows. The unpredictability we faced actually prepares us for what’s coming next. Instead of painting a picture of everything working out perfectly, I wanted to be honest and say it’s okay to not have everything figured out. What matters more to us in that moment is the resilience that we’ve built, the pivots we’ve made and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. I want all the graduates to feel proud not just about what they’ve accomplished but about who they’ve become in the process.