Founder, Nabati College & Career Consulting Services
I work with clients standing at the edge of their next academic or career chapter — choosing a major, applying to a graduate or professional program, or searching for the right next job — who want a clear, strategic path forward rather than guesswork. I bring 19 years of higher education and career coaching experience, including my own background at UCLA, to help clients set realistic goals and build a plan to reach them.
Where I Come In
People come to me at very different points: choosing a major or deciding whether to pursue a graduate degree, applying to medical, law, dental, or MBA programs, or job searching and unsure how to position themselves competitively. Wherever you’re starting, we begin by identifying your goals, skills, and ambitions, then build a plan matched to the stage you’re actually in.
For those still exploring direction, we map the connections between your interests, values, and skills, and the opportunities that fit them. For those applying to academic programs, we identify the right-fit schools and build an application strategy around each program’s timeline and requirements, including which of your experiences belong in which essay. For those job searching, we start with your resume and LinkedIn profile and work to sharpen your competitiveness for the roles you want.
The Way I Coach
Through careful listening and self-discovery, I help clients move toward their academic and career goals with real strategy and the tools to compete for them. When it’s useful, I bring in assessments that surface paths clients hadn’t considered, and we explore together whether those paths actually fit.
My work centers on helping you see — and then convey — what you’ve actually built. Clients tell me I have a gift for capturing their experience in a way that reflects their real uniqueness, whether that shows up in a resume, a personal statement, or a supplemental essay. I bring encouragement alongside honest, direct feedback, because both are necessary to turn a goal into an acceptance letter or an offer.
What Shaped This Work
Choosing a path to satisfy family, friends, or expectations can leave you years into a career that was never really yours. I believe career direction should start with your own experiences and the impact you want to make, so we explore who you are before we build the plan for where you’re going.
As a first-generation professional, I built my own path without an existing map, and that’s part of what drives this work. I earned my degree in Psychology and a master’s in Educational Counseling, with a specialization in career counseling, from California State University, Northridge, and then spent my career in higher education — including at UCLA — working across community college, university, and industry settings. That range, more than a narrow specialty, is what lets me support clients across very different stages, industries, and goals.
I founded Nabati College & Career Consulting Services to bring that same support directly to clients working through their own stretch of academic or career change.
What People Say
“Sanaz is an exceptional career counselor. Her patience, wisdom, and kindness shine through in everything she does, and her deep knowledge and expertise in the career counseling field make her an invaluable resource.”
— Mika K.
“She didn’t just tell me to promote myself and be confident — she broke down the job description with me line by line and helped me map my strengths and relevant experience directly to the role. She’s incredibly perceptive and insightful.”
— Manshu H.
“What sets Sanaz apart is her ability to establish personal connections. She isn’t just an expert; she’s genuinely empathetic and attentive, making every conversation enlightening and meaningful. She played a significant role in helping me discover my strengths and passions, guiding me toward an informed career path.”
— Omar M.
“What I appreciate most is her collaborative approach. Sanaz took the time to understand my career goals and aspirations, translating them seamlessly into a polished resume.”
— M. Vance
If You’re Ready to Talk
If you are inspired and committed to learning more about how to take your education and career goals to the next level, and open to exploring what is next for you, I would be honored to help you. You don’t have to have the answers —just the willingness to explore, learn, and work toward your goals.
Please email info@betweenward.com and write: “I’d like to explore coaching with Sanaz.”
We’ll have a conversation to determine whether we should work together, identify the possibilities that fit you, and see what moving forward could look like.