About LLA:
Lean Leadership Academy was founded in 2018 to complement traditional education by developing the real-world leadership skills schools often don’t have the time to fully address. Through school partnerships, we help students build confidence, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and leadership ability to succeed in life beyond the classroom.
What We Do
We equip students with essential KSAO skills that prepare them for success in school and beyond:
K – Knowledge
We introduce students to the most relevant knowledge they need to thrive in today’s world, while reinforcing strong values of responsibility and good citizenship.
S – Skills
Students actively apply what they learn through workshops, interactive exercises, and real-world practice inside and outside the classroom.
A – Abilities
We help students refine and strengthen their skills over time, developing true competence, confidence, and independence through continuous improvement.
O – Other Attributes
We focus on essential life skills such as positive attitude, communication, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and time management—helping students become well-rounded and successful individuals.
Hormoz Mogarei is an educator, author, and leadership development specialist with extensive teaching experience in Lean Management, leadership, and organizational development. He has served as a Visiting Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught courses in Lean Management, Leadership, and Lean Production systems.
He is the author of “An Apple a Day”, an educational book focused on practical life principles and personal development, which has been published on Amazon and translated into six languages.
For over 23 years, Mr. Mogarei has served as the instructor and principal of a Saturday school in Oakland, where he designed and implemented educational programs in cultural learning, character development, and life skills for up to 120 students per year.
His teaching and educational philosophy focus on helping students develop essential real-world skills, including integrity, communication, discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership—bridging academic learning with personal and social development.
In addition to his academic teaching, he has delivered lectures and educational workshops at institutions such as Stanford University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and has been invited to speak internationally in countries including China, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Canada, and Armenia.
Mr. Mogarei holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Organizational Development. He continues to focus his work on education, leadership development, and preparing students and professionals for real-world success.
Amir Etemadzadeh has been an educator and youth development instructor since 2001. He began his teaching journey at the age of 20 while working in an after-school program with students facing behavioral and learning challenges. Witnessing the positive transformation in students’ confidence, behavior, and growth shaped his lifelong mission in education.
Since then, Amir has dedicated his work to supporting children and teenagers through programs focused on emotional intelligence (EQ), confidence building, communication skills, and teamwork. He uses a combination of interactive activities, experiential learning, and one-on-one mentoring to help students develop stronger self-esteem, focus, and social skills.
His approach emphasizes helping students understand and manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and develop the mindset and behaviors needed for long-term personal and academic success.
In addition to his educational work, Amir has professional experience in the financial sector as a banker, as well as experience in entrepreneurship and organizational development across multiple initiatives, including Amir School of Music, Bay Area Cultural House, Mint Tea Production, and Lean Leadership Academy.
He currently serves as COO and instructor at Lean Leadership Academy, where his long-term mission is to make high-quality leadership and emotional intelligence education accessible to children of all backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic levels.
