Michael Sbandi ’10 chose Shenandoah because of its location and the AACSB-accredited School of Business. “Winchester is a quaint town with scenic views and rich history,” said Sbandi. “[Shenandoah] is a solid school with caring, diverse professors.”
During his time at the university, Sbandi was the president of the Student Investment Club and was awarded the William G. McGowan Scholarship and the “Best for Business” Award. Some of his fondest memories are attending the annual Business Symposium and job fairs, collaborating with his classmates and working on projects with his professors. Sbandi was also a member of the Alpha Chi and Beta Gamma Sigma honors societies and interned with M&H Plastics.
Sbandi is the vice president for global information security and senior manager for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In this position, he leads teams that develop technology and automation to protect their customers and assets. Previously in his career, Sbandi has held the positions of information security officer, management consultant, financial analyst, business development manager and adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Shenandoah University.
Some of the most rewarding experiences of Sbandi’s career are leading teams, developing talent, patenting new technology, protecting customers and clients, and launching and operating successful businesses. He also enjoys volunteering his time to Habitat for Humanity and McCreesh Place in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Sbandi believes that his education from Shenandoah prepared him for his career by teaching him valuable critical thinking skills, global focus, the quantitative approach to problem solving and the value of community and collaboration. “I learned a great deal from professors with diverse backgrounds – how to approach problems with a different mindset,” said Sbandi.
Sbandi’s advice to students is: “Don’t be afraid to leave Winchester/Northern Virginia to find the best possible role. Experience is just as valuable as education (if not more so) and be ambitious and put in the work.”