Clubs

The Graziadio experience is hallmarked by values-centered, collaborative, experience-driven, entrepreneurial and global learning that is extends beyond the classroom through a multitude of extracurricular organizations. Joining one of our many clubs or organizations is a great way to pursue personal interests, develop yourself as a leader and become more involved in our Pepperdine community.

With so many options you might be wondering, how does one choose? For those students eager to get involved, during orientation and the first few weeks of class, each group will host activities and information sessions to introduce incoming students to their objectives. This is a great opportunity to explore as many as these opportunities as you can and find the groups best suited to your interests – you might even discover some new ones! Although participation is encouraged across the board, with the heavy workload out the gate, most students will narrow their selections down to 1-2 organizations in which to actively participate. 

As the year progresses and new initiatives start to develop within each of these groups, first year students are invited to take the reins in the Spring semester when annual officer positions are selected. Most clubs have regular meetings on Wednesday evenings or at lunch.

Challenge for Charity (C4C)

Every Graziadio full-time student is an official member of Pepperdine’s Challenge for Charity chapter and encouraged to give back with this wonderful organization. The MBA Challenge for Charity is a regional nonprofit 501© funded by the efforts of MBA’s at nine West Coast b-schools (Pepperdine, Stanford, USC, UCD, UCI, UCLA, USF, UC Berkeley and University of Washington). Each school’s chapter works to raise money and provide volunteer resources for the Special Olympics and other charities throughout the year. Pepperdine’s chapter also supports the Children’s Lifesaving Foundation. Pepperdine’s C4C plans various holiday activities, sporting events and benefits involving the children and athletes from both charities. Contacts: Monica.Stuart@pepperdine.edu or Erin.Harju@pepperdine.edu

Check out our website: http://www.pepperdinec4c.org/

Entrepreneurship Society

The Entrepreneurship Society aims to facilitate an environment of entrepreneurship in the classroom and throughout the community. The Entrepreneurship Society hosts a variety of activities and events throughout the year. The keystone event is the annual Business Plan Competition, which is open to all schools within the university. Contact:

Finance Club

The purpose of the Finance Club is two-fold. First, the club seeks to introduce the students to various fields within the finance industry. The club hosts speakers during informal luncheons to discuss topics such as real estate, investment banking and private wealth management. The second purpose is to introduce students to industry professionals. Each year the club holds the ACG Cup – an investment banking competition between the USC, UCLA and Pepperdine MBA programs. The annual event is hosted by the Association for Corporate Growth, composed of successful L.A. based finance professionals, providing hands on experience and great networking opportunities for participants. Contact: Scott.Yamamoto@pepperdine.edu or Romain.Lefranc@pepperdine.edu

Graziadio Christian Business Society

The Graziadio Christian Business Society's main purpose is to serve as a community for business students devoted to living a Chrsit-filled life, preserving values in business and fostering spiritual growth through fellowship. The club partners with other student organizations to bring in speakers and provide networking opportunities. Contacts: jessica.chen@pepperdine.edu and  

Graziadio Entertainment Club (GEC)

Well situated in the Southern California media Mecca and with the advantage of great Alumni connections, the Entertainment Club is designed to concert the experience and familiarize those interested pursuing a career in the media or entertainment industry. The Entertainment Club hosts networking events with other Southern California MBA programs, promotes industry events, facilitates professional speakers from different subsets of the industry including movies, TV, music, gaming, etc. Contact: Lauren.Kobel@pepperdine.edu

Graziadio Marketing Ambassadors

The Graziadio Marketing Ambassadors provides currents students the opportunity to give back and become more involved in marketing the Graziadio School  and to assist in the recruitment of qualified and capable students. Members are selected annually to serve as campus hosts when candidates visit and contact candidates by telephone or email. They also provide assistance at on and off campus recruitment events. A great opportunity to network and gain marketing experience! Contact:

High Tech Business Management Association

High Tech Business Management Association (HTBMA) drives Pepperdine Graziadio student community with business management opportunities in the high-tech companies of industry areas such as business development, strategic planning, consulting, finance, marketing, operations, human resources, product development, manufacturing, entrepreneurship and project management. HTBMA creates awareness on the fact that “high-tech industry is not only for technical engineers but also for business managers”. Contact:
For more information friend us on facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pepperdine-High-Tech-Business-Management-Association/117183831668574?v=wall

Marketing Society

The Marketing Society offers students interested in the exciting field of Marketing a door to the business community by connecting full-time and fully-employed students with professionals in various industries. Annual events include a Brand Management Panel, Interviewing Workshop, Technology and Marketing Panel and a Personal Brand Building Workshop. The Marketing Society additionally works with alumni to bolster recruitment of Pepperdine MBA interns and grads at Los Angeles area Fortune 500 companies. They also create a marketing campaign for their annual decade themed social gala which is a highlight of the year! Contact: Ricardo.Soliz@pepperdine.edu or Monjory.Chatterjee@pepperdine.edu

Check us out on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39064027848

Malibu Graduate Business Society (MGBS)

The Malibu Graduate Business Society is our student-elected governing body for the Full-time Masters programs at the Graziadio School. MGBS oversees and coordinates all of the following student organizations and promotes other to student interests to the faculty and administration. Last year’s MGBS Officers were able to restructure some class requirements based on student concerns. If you have ideas – bring it to them! They also plan networking events, Keynote Corporate Executive lectures and weekly Thursday social mixers that you won’t want to miss! To learn more about our student representatives for the 2011-2012 school year click here: http://services.pepperdine.edu/graziadio/mgbs/officers/

National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA)

The National Association of Women MBAs is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering female business professionals to propel more women into leadership positions in corporate America and to enhance the diversity of the nation's workforce. With strong support from our fabulous female Dean, Dr. Linda Livingstone, Pepperdine’s local chapter aims to engage our women in a variety of activities that will establish strong networks and help women achieve their career goals. Our chapter offers scholarships for members to attend the NAWMBA National conference and career fair. Individual members are also encouraged so plan social events promoting cultural and wellness interests including some past favorites such as wine education, yoga and museum visits. Contact: Rachel.Landolt@pepperdine.edu or Noreen.Okarter@pepperdine.edu

Net Impact

Net Impact is a national organization of more than 13,000 MBA students and business professionals dedicated to creating more positive overall business processes for their employees, community and beyond. Members work in fields such as corporate social responsibility, microfinance, social enterprise, affordable housing, sustainable development and green business. Scholarships are available to attend their unparalleled national conference and summer stipends for those students who obtain internships in the aforementioned fields. Net Impact also hosts annual site visits to local sustainable companies. Spawned by previous Net Impact leadership, in 2010 an optional SEER (Social, Environmental and Ethical Responsible) Certificate will be available for students to receive recognition on their transcripts for and emphasis on doing good. Contact: Jacqueline.Carloni@pepperdine.edu or Ariel.Narasimhan@pepperdine.edu

Follow us on Facebook for the latest news in sustainability:https://www.facebook.com/pepperdinenetimpact?ref=ts

The Executive Committee (TEC)

The Executive Committee is an exclusive professional mentorship and personal development program facilitated through the Young Presidents’ Organization by Graziadio Presidential Key Executive MBA Alum and Entrepreneur, Gary Brinderson. Twelve students are selected to meet with top executives from around the country from various industries. These students learn to form a “personal board of directors” among their peers in the group and receive personal and professional guidance. Members of this privileged group must attend two mandatory meetings per month and go through an application and interview process the first few weeks of the fall semester. Applications are open to 12 month, 15 month and 2nd year MBA students (1st year International MBA’s with at least 3 years work experience are also invited to apply). This is an extremely valuable and unique program offered at only a few prestigious MBA campuses worldwide. Career Services is currently developing other programs for students outside the committee of twelve to become involved as well. Contact: Nicole.Hall@pepperdine.edu

Toastmasters International

Surveys often reveal that most adults fear public speaking over death! Toastmasters is an International organization consisting of nearly 226,000 members in 11,500 clubs in 92 countries with the purpose to help people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. Participants practice and learn skills in a pressure free environment by filling a meeting role ranging from giving a prepared or impromptu speech, serving as a timer, evaluator or grammarian. Contact: Robert.Basso@pepperdine.edu

Values Centered Leadership Lab (VCLL) 

The Values Centered Leadership Lab  supports activities and events that strengthen the presence of ethical practices and social responsibility in corporate management and entrepreneurship, demonstrating that there is a market for both profit and purpose in today’s business environment.

The purpose of the VCLL is to:

  • Offer students resources and interaction with faculty, alumni and business leaders
  • Provide faculty with an extracurricular forum for leadership education
  • Help business leaders implement values-centered practices into their organizations
  • Strengthen the Graziadio School’s position in values-centered business education
  • Participate in and facilitate the timely dialogue which asks: “What it means to be a value-centered leader

VCLL facilitates an ethics workshop during orientation, promotes the use of business cases that provoke moral thought and acts as a student ethics board. Contact: Ashely.Razo@pepperdine.edu