2011-2012 E.L. Bios

 

Ardra "Bobbi" Baksi

"Bobbi" is the Americanized spelling of Ardra's lifelong nickname  “Babi,” given to her by family spanning from West Virginia to Kolkata, India. After completing her B.A. in economics at Johns Hopkins University, Bobbi followed her heart to Manhattan. She worked primarily in the financial industry and dabbled in real estate investing, but after nearly ten years, realized that her passion lay elsewhere. Bobbi then chose to pursue her interests in environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility by pursuing her MBA and a Social Ethical Environmental Responsibility (SEER) certificate at the Graziadio School. For fun, Bobbi likes to jog on the beach/track and enjoys the weekly mixers. Bobbi is so in love with the SoCal sunshine that she hopes to stay in the area permanently.

Jacqueline Carloni

Jacqueline Carloni is a full-time MBA student at the Graziadio School of Business and Management, concentrating in finance and pursuing the Social Ethical Environmental Responsibility (SEER) certificate. Jacqueline is president of Pepperdine’s Net Impact chapter and a member of the SEER committee, which is committed to embedding SEER principles into the curriculum at the Graziadio School. Recently, Jacqueline participated in the Investors’ Circle MBA Venture Fellows Program evaluating sustainable investment prospects eligible for early stage funding from VCs and angel investors. Prior to pursuing her MBA, Jacqueline worked as an IT project analyst at Franklin Templeton Investments after completing two years in the company’s Futures Program. She was also a founding member of the Franklin Templeton Green Team, which is an employee-led effort to promote environmental responsibility in the workplace. Jacqueline received her bachelor of arts degrees in English literature and political science from the University of California at Davis.

Quintin Daniels

Quintin Daniels is an MBA student at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management. Before attending Pepperdine, Quintin attended the University of Washington, where he was a member of the football and track teams, and graduated with a bachelor of science in biology. While enrolled at Pepperdine, he is currently a manager at one of Los Angeles' top sports bars, The Parlor. Quintin is also a member of Pepperdine's Marketing Society and Challenge 4 Charity student clubs.  Quintin has been granted a summer internship with the Boeing Company in the contracts and pricing division. In the fall of 2011, he will be studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and upon his return, plans to pursue a career in sports marketing or private aircraft sales and acquisitions.

Meghan Erickson

In recent years, Meghan Erickson served as brand manager at PEOPLE Magazine, the largest weekly magazine in the United States. In this role with Time Inc., Meghan oversaw distribution, consumer research, marketing and promotions for the title at newsstands. Previous to this, Meghan held various positions as associate buyer for Ann Taylor in New York, and as a media planner for Foote, Cone & Belding Advertising Agency working on clients such as Taco Bell and Levi Strauss Signature in San Francisco, CA. Meghan holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing and international business from Georgetown University. She is an active member of the National Association of Women MBAs, Net Impact, and SEER leadership committees. When not on campus, Meghan loves to travel, bake and explore new areas in Los Angeles either biking or hiking. As an IMBA concentration, she will be attending ESSEC, France during the fall term.

Justin Griffin

Justin Griffin came to Pepperdine from Detroit, Michigan to pursue his MBA as a full-time, 20-month student. He graduated in 2006 from Michigan State University with a bachelor of science degree. Justin then went to work for Waddell and Reed, a financial investment firm specializing in personal finance. There,he was able to earn his SEC Series 7 and Series 66 licenses as an investment professional. Just prior to moving to California, Justin was working as a director at a non-profit organization specializing in providing safe, enjoyable places for lower-income children to stay after school and over summer vacation. At Pepperdine, Justin is a member of the Challenge for Charity club. He enjoys soccer, surfing, hiking, football, visiting museums, films and is always open to try new things.

Erin Harju

Erin Harju grew up just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, where she attended Northeastern University and earned her undergraduate degree in Ffnance. Prior to pursuing her MBA, Erin spent a few years in NYC working for a large investment bank and most recently, in Boston where she worked for Goldman Sachs as an associate in the securities division. Erin is an active member of the Finance Club, NAWMBA, and Net Impact. She also serves on Graziadio’s ethics committee, is vice chair of the Emerging Leaders group, and will be serving as co-president of Pepperdine’s Challenge for Charity Chapter (C4C). Erin is a true foodie. In her spare time you can find her chasing LA food trucks or whipping up something new in the kitchen. She takes full advantage of the year-round sunshine with activities such as hiking, biking and tennis. This summer, Erin will be interning with Mattel in the corporate finance division.

Luke Hatfield

Luke Hatfield is a 20-month MBA candidate at Pepperdine's Graziadio School of Business and Management, concentrating in finance. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Luke received his undergraduate degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business with a concentration in real estate finance and development. Prior to enrolling at Pepperdine, Luke worked for a small real estate developer on LA’s Westside, where he learned about all aspects of the development business. During these three years, he developed a passion for real estate and hopes to work for a large developer after graduation.  Luke is an avid sports fan, especially of USC Trojan football, and enjoys traveling, good restaurants, and hanging out with family and friends.

Jordan Herley

Jordan Herley is a San Francisco Bay-area native who earned his BA in communication from the University of California, Davis prior to pursuing his MBA. Jordan is part of the 20-month MBA program at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management and is concentrating in finance and entrepreneurship.  Prior to enrolling at Pepperdine, Jordan worked in both the insurance and food and beverage industries. Jordan enjoys staying involved in the Pepperdine community. He currently serves as the orientation co-chair for the Emerging Leaders group, is an active member of the Challenge for Charity, regularly participates in Finance Club functions, and plays on several MBA intramural sports teams.  This summer, Jordan will be interning with The Gores Group, a private equity firm in Los Angeles, where he will work in the business development division. In his free time Jordan enjoys playing sports, going on hikes, trying new restaurants and exploring LA.

Michael Kirkland

Michael Kirkland is a 31-year-old British student in the 20-month MBA program at the Graziadio School of Business and Management.  Prior to moving to Los Angeles, he spent five years working at international property advisors CB Richard Ellis in their London office. During his time at CB Richard Ellis, Michael worked in the real estate finance department valuing commercial real estate and advising the banks and financial institutions on their property portfolios. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and has a bachelor's degree in French and a master's degree in real estate. Michael recently got married last June, and his wife Kate moved here with him to Los Angeles. Michael and Kate both enjoy their outdoor sports and spend their spare time cycling during the summer and skiing in the winter.

Rachel Landolt

Rachel Landolt is a 20-month full-time MBA student from Iowa. She attended the University of Iowa to earn her B.B.A. in business management with a minor in Spanish. Prior to school at Pepperdine, she enjoyed the city of San Diego for six years where she worked in the government, corporate, and non-profit industries within the roles of operations, marketing, and event planning. For her summer internship, Rachel will be working in operations and project management at Southern California Edison. At the Graziadio School, Rachel is the president of Pepperdine’s NAWMBA chapter and a Pepperdine Waves of Service Leader. In the LA community, she plays an active role within of the Junior League of Los Angeles, chairing the committee Daybreak, which focuses on an entrepreneurial empowerment program for homeless women. Outside of classes and work, she enjoys volunteering, beach time, and college football.

David Lofton

David Lofton is a full-time MBA student in the 20-0month program at Pepperdine. He grew up in Plano, Texas, and earned his bachelor's degree in urban studies from Stanford University. After graduating from Stanford, David spent three years playing professional football in the NFL, CFL, and UFL. At Pepperdine, David is a member of the finance and entertainment clubs and plans to pursue a career in corporate strategy and business development in the professional sports industry. He will be a summer intern at Qualcomm in the global business development group. In the fall, he will be studying abroad at Maastricht School of Business and Economics in the Netherlands.

Lauren Kobel

Lauren Kobel is a full-Time 20-month MBA student at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management. Prior to attending Pepperdine University, Lauren worked in market research at The Nielsen Company and GfK, two global research companies. In her most recent role as client manager for The Nielsen Company, Lauren focused on targeting and segmentation work for food and beverage packaged goods, providing clients with insights into which consumers and distribution channels would best match their brands. Lauren received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University, with a major in marketing and minor in communication. She was born and raised in northern New Jersey. Lauren is currently the president of the Entertainment Club, and is an active member in NAWMBA and C4C. After graduation from Pepperdine, Lauren will pursue a career in entertainment marketing.

Robert Marcus

Robert, full-time MBA student at Pepperdine University, is a passionate believer that leadership in business can change the world. Before Robert chose his path to further his education, he was a successful associate allocator for Abercrombie & Fitch. His involvement with business opportunities began seven years ago as he studied business and finance as an undergraduate student. Robert has been a part of multiple business organizations, such as The Undergraduate Finance Association and The Finance Professionals Association. As a highly motivated individual, Robert's goal is to lead a successful business team in a Fortune 500 company, while still maintaining the ethical practices in which he believes. Robert is currently leveraging his finance background with a future in marketing and business management. In leisure, Robert enjoys exercising at local fitness clubs and spending time with friends and family.

Gene Miller

Gene Miller is a 15-month MBA student at Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and Management. Shortly after graduating from Florida State University with a degree in marketing, Gene moved to Manhattan to pursue a career in the promotional and experiential marketing industry, working with several Fortune 500 clients. In 2006, Gene moved back to his home state of Connecticut where he would soon lead the strategic development and implementation of national and regional promotional marketing activities for one of the leading wines sold in the U.S. At Pepperdine, Gene became immediately involved as marketing director of the school’s Challenge for Charity club and  a member of The Executive Club (TEC) on campus. Outside of school, Gene enjoys volunteer firefighting, surfing, swimming and any excuse to get out and enjoy the California sun.

Noreen Okarter

Noreen Okarter is a 20-month MBA student with dual concentrations in finance and entrepreneurship. Noreen came to Pepperdine from New York City where she worked in the publishing industry in online advertising analytics, online advertising sales, and editorial roles.  Originally from New Jersey, she moved to Los Angles in order to pursue a finance position for a major entertainment studio. In her first year, she interned at NBC Universal in the business development function. Noreen has been involved in leadership positions such as vice president of the National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA), director of alumni relations for the Graziadio Entertainment Club, project manager for Challenge for Charity (C4C), and second place VCLL case competition team member during her time at Pepperdine. Noreen holds a B.A. in international studies and a minor in entrepreneurship and management from Johns Hopkins University. She studied abroad in Italy during her junior year of college and speaks and writes Italian. Noreen has completed four marathons and is a college basketball and NFL football enthusiast. In addition, Noreen is a dedicated Madonna fan and yogi who loves to rule the dance floor.

Ashley Razo

Ashley Razo is a full time 20-month MBA student where she is studying marketing. She graduated from the University of Texas in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in sport management. Before Ashley’s arrival at Pepperdine, she worked for over three years in operations and events for the United States Fencing Association, the national governing body for the sport of fencing. She hopes to continue work in the health/sports industry upon graduation. Ashley will take advantage of the one-week intensive study abroad to Brazil this summer. Upon return she will spend the remainder of her summer as a consumer insights intern for YogaWorks. In addition to Emerging Leaders, she is also the president of Value Centered Leadership Lab (VCLL) and a member of NAWMBA and Marketing Society. In her free time, Ashley enjoys trying new restaurants and going hiking to work off the calories from her latest nosh find.

Monica Stuart

Monica Stuart is a Los Angeles native and attended New York University, receiving a bachelor's of science in communications with a concentration in media studies. While there, she studied abroad in Paris with NYU and Paris VII University. Her professional background includes a brief stint in affiliate marketing with Court TV and 3 years of national and international media promotions with Universal Orlando Resort. Monica is currently pursuing a marketing concentration at Pepperdine while also working towards earning a SEER certificate. She is an active member of NAWMBA, the Entertainment Club, and M-Society, and is one of the co-presidents of Challenge for Charity. After graduating, she plans to pursue a career in brand management and strategic corporate partnerships within the entertainment industry. In her down time she enjoys international travel, reading, trying new foods, and catching up with her DVR.

Sarah Weaver

Sarah Weaver is a 20-month MBA student at the Graziadio School  with a concentration in leadership and organizational change. She grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in chemical engineering. Upon graduation, Sarah spent one year as a production manager at a chocolate factory, three years as a process design engineer at The Hershey Company, and four years as an internal operations consultant at Nestle USA.  Sarah interned at Microsoft in human resources during the summer. At the Graziadio School, Sarah is the chair of Emerging Leaders and participates in a number of clubs (Challenge4Charity, NAWMBA, VCLL).  Sarah volunteers outside of school with the Empowher Institute. Upon graduation from business school, Sarah plans to pursue a career in leadership development and executive/early career coaching. In her free time, Sarah enjoys running, cooking, and watching/participating in many sporting events (especially Steelers games).

Scott Yamamoto

Scott Yamamoto is a 20-month MBA student with a concentration in finance. Born and raised in Visalia, California, Scott moved to Los Angeles to play tennis at Loyola Marymount University. While at LMU, Scott majored in business with an emphasis in finance. After graduating from Loyola, Scott worked in the financial services industry for almost eight years. During this time, he started and ran his very own tennis business. Scott decided to return to school for his MBA to further refine the business skills that he gained in his prior work experience. Outside of school, he  tries to stay as active as possible. Scott is big on outdoor activities, whether it be beach volleyball or playing tennis, he is always up to get out and do something active. His other big passion is food. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying new types food.

Hang (Ruby) Zhang

Ruby is a young business professional who is currently pursuing her MBA degree at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management. This will be Ruby's second graduate degree; she already has a master's degree in applied finance. It's her hope that her education will lay the groundwork for a successful leadership role in finance. Ruby has adjusted well since coming the United States in 2009; she has not only become an outstanding student leader at school, but is branching outside of the Pepperdine community through networking.  She has gained great skillsets working for Warner Music Group and Farmers' Insurance Group. She is passionate about helping children and teenagers develop an interest in learning and appreciating the value of a good education. Ruby counts singing and playing the violin as her hobbies, and she enjoys inspiring other through her music.