Flexible ASU Evening MBA helped Layla Gabir build new confidence, connections, and career momentum

Layla Gabir (Evening MBA '26) works full-time as an epidemiologist for Maricopa County and teaches yoga classes. On top of all that, and in addition to her personal interests, she's been able to pursue the Evening MBA at W. P. Carey thanks to the program's flexible schedule.

Working professionals often feel like the pursuit of further education isn't accessible to them, that they don't have enough time to take classes because of their careers. That couldn’t be further from the truth at Arizona State University.

Programs like the Evening MBA at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business are specifically designed for those who want to advance and develop new skills while they work.

Layla Gabir (Evening MBA '26) works full-time as an epidemiologist for Maricopa County and teaches yoga classes. On top of all that, and in addition to her personal interests, she's been able to pursue the Evening MBA thanks to the program's flexible schedule.

The Evening MBA at W. P. Carey allows students to take in-person classes one or two nights a week, and several courses are also available online. Students can begin the program in either the fall or the spring for added flexibility. Many electives and concentrations are available to help students customize their degree to suit their passions, strengths, and career goals.

Gabir spoke with W. P. Carey News about how the MBA has helped her grow as a leader and budding entrepreneur, and the positive experiences she's had during her time as an ASU student.

Why W. P. Carey?

Being in a program like the Evening MBA has allowed Gabir to balance her full-time job, yoga classes, and personal life with her continuing education. It's also helped her build a community of like-minded individuals, which, according to her, has been instrumental in managing her responsibilities.

"I really have to credit my classmates for sure on helping me succeed in the program," says Gabir. "They keep me on top of things, remind me when assignments and homework are due, and when projects are due. They're pretty on top of helping me start early and stay balanced."

Gabir has taken advantage of the many opportunities that are available to W. P. Carey students beyond the required coursework of the program. One such opportunity was the New Venture Challenge, an eight-week course where student entrepreneurs develop their business ideas and compete for a significant financial investment.

"One of the biggest takeaways was that the professor said, 'Do not be afraid to share your business and your business ideas with others,'" she says. "In my head, that was the wrong thing, because I thought I had to keep the business to myself so that no one jinxed me or took my idea. By following his advice and actually being more open about my business, it has opened up so many doors for people who want to help me."

Another particularly impactful experience Gabir had was a study abroad trip to Cuba. As a native of Sudan, she saw parallels between the two countries' economic situations and how local business owners have to navigate geopolitical restrictions within the global economy.

"I got a really good, well-roundedness on the education side, but also got to see beautiful Cuba, and connect it with my experience with Sudan, and also the focus on entrepreneurship, since that's something I'm interested in," she says.

Why an MBA?

Gabir says she's always had an interest in business alongside her passion for public health. Working as an epidemiologist has given her a strong technical background, while her time as a yoga teacher has exposed her to more of the marketing and entrepreneurial aspects of business.

"As a yoga instructor, you're also an entrepreneur," she says. "You are hosting your own events. You have a newsletter list that you try to keep up with. You focus on social media. I have to do my own accounting. So with teaching yoga, it really attracted me to pursue business school and to learn more about the business world."

Her interest in entrepreneurship has only gotten stronger since beginning her MBA, thanks to participating in the New Venture Challenge and coursework that has helped her build the necessary skills. She's planning to combine her wellness, health, and business knowledge by starting her own yoga mat business.

"Where I've seen myself grow is being able to be comfortable to take up space and getting the empowerment to start my own business," says Gabir. "I feel comfortable that my ideas are worth hearing about and worth pursuing."

What's next?

As she continues her second year as an MBA student, Gabir is taking the skills and confidence she's built to get her yoga mat business ready to launch.

"I think that level of empowerment and that level of knowledge that I've gained through the MBA program really helped me pursue this business and to start it up," she says.

Gabir acknowledges that getting involved in opportunities outside of class and staying engaged with classmates have been key in making the most of her time in the Evening MBA program, so her advice for others is to do the same.

"Try to make the most out of it," she says. Get to know your colleagues. Get involved in all of the networking events. Being able to go beyond the classroom, even when you have a lot of work from your schoolwork and your day job, going for that little extra push really maximizes your experience, because you're only doing your MBA once."