It's not all about the grades.

Some thoughts as everyone heads into finals week…

I know there are many of you that may be stressing out, putting in late nights studying these final days before the exams.  I’m reminded of this time last year and my first round of exams at Pepperdine.   I was back in school after years of working and I felt a need to get the best grades possible to somewhat validate my decision to come back to school and prove I could be a student again. Striving for excellence is nothing to discourage, however I would suggest you ask yourself a question I ultimately asked myself:

Am I doing it for the grades or for the knowledge of the subject?

The answer may be a mixture of both, after all we do need to maintain acceptable grades to graduate, but we all chose to either come back to school or continue school for a reason I hope wasn’t related to getting good grades but rather learning new skills. 

This perspective guided me since that first term.  As I currently study abroad in Dublin, I have truly lived by doing it for the subject not the grades.  This of course is easy when classes are Pass/Fail (This is the case for all study abroad!).   Taking classes without thinking about getting a letter grade has made me really focus on topics I am interested in without stressing out about whether I get an A or a B on an exam.  I even find myself exploring the topics in more depth than required most of the time. 

Another thing I’ve found, which I’m sure you’ve heard ad nauseam by now is that there is so much more to the MBA experience than just the classes.  Prioritize your time; grades should not always be at the top of this list.  In most cases, employers will never see a GPA, just that you have an MBA.  Networking, activities, clubs, and personal sanity are each important and should not be discarded just for a few percentage points.

To sum up quickly:

-       Focus on learning business skills not on the GPA.

-       Make the most of the MBA experience, especially out of the classroom

-       Relax and enjoy yourself

Feel free to contact me with any questions.  I’m always happy to help in any way that I can.

Chip Thresher

charles.thresher@pepperdine.edu

Getting the Right Classes

Hey, I'm Justin, here with some tips that I find make the MBA lifestyle a bit simpler when picking classes, in the style of Jordan's post below...

Picking your classes: this is probably the last thing you're thinking about since the year just started, but I have my reasons for writing this now. The right classes can mean the difference between an A and a B or a good experience over a terrible one. It's critical that you know which classes to take and how to determine this.

a) RateMyProfessors.com - This website will give you a good overview of the professors at Pepperdine. I've found the reviews to be quite accurate so far, and the site has definitely helped me pick the good professors (and avoid the scary ones); however, don't rely completely on these, as they're often outdated or missing some info.

b) Check the Syllabi - When it's time to register for classes, you can visit the "Syllabi" section in "Academic Resources" when you log into Pepperdine. But you've probably figured that out by now. What I suggest is looking at classes and saving the syllabi now. Why now? Come next year, the syllabi from this Fall (and possibly even Spring) will be gone... so you may not find a syllabus for a class that you're interested in taking. And most of the time, professors use the same syllabus from year to year. So if you save the syllabi right now for second-year classes, you can refer back to them when registering for classes in the future, and pick the ones that suit your style.

c) Don't Be Afraid If You Don't Get In Immediately - First, and probably most important, register for classes at the exact minute when registration opens. Classes fill extremely quickly. But don't worry if the class you want is full--waitlist classes. If the waitlist is relatively short (3 or less people), there's a great chance you'll get in. In fact, every class I've been to has allowed the waitlisters in (feel free to object if you've seen otherwise). I actually went to a class that was closed because the waitlist was full. I went to the class this session and still got in!

d) Utilize Second Year Students - We're uber friendly, for the most part. We'll tell you which professors are mean, difficult, fun, ping pong champs, single, etc. You name them, we know them. Word gets around Pepperdine, and the professors to take are known by the second years. We can also provide valuable info about grading, tests, homework, projects, and more... don't be afraid to ask us.

I can't stress these enough! Classes are everything--they're the professors you'll remember for a lifetime, they make up your grades... it's what you're here for. Great classes = great program. Pick them carefully and quickly, and you'll have an advantage over others.

Good luck!

Justin
justin.malik@pepperdine.edu
Facebook: www.facebook.com/myfavoriteband
AIM: MyFavGuitarist

The Art of Positive Gossiping

I will be the first to admit, I gossip too much.

Guess what? We all do. We are all guilty of it. This school is small. Very small. Everybody knows everybody. Everybody is in everybody else's business. Some of us even date each other (bad idea jeans, but that's neither here nor there). It's summer camp all over again. Let's face it; gossiping is horrible. It's childish. We are all adults and yet we act like children when we say negative things behind people's backs.

I'll be the first to say this because I'm especially guilty of it. My name is Jordan Rockwell and I gossip too much. The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem. There we go.

To be certain, we ELs have all warned you; be a good group member, pull your weight, do your work, or else you will develop a reputation. Some of you will earn that reputation.

But enough is enough.

So I had a thought the other day. Why not do the exact opposite? Our mothers taught us that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Sage advice. But what if you have something nice to say? Why not say it? Why not say it nice and loud? Why not try some "positive gossiping"?

I have met so many wonderful people at this school, and made some lifelong friends. Why not single some of them out? Justin Malik: one of the nicest guys I've ever met, and he rocks at Guitar Hero. Trey Best: helped me through accounting AND finance without asking for anything in return. Meghan Barnes: mentored me and never gave up on me. Boom. Three right there. And what a coink-kee-dink, all three of them are EL's. Go figure.

I could name more. And why not? JC Garrett, Mark Cathy and James Imantani: even though my football skills are not the best (haven't played since the 90's), they have been nothing but encouraging in Intramural football, true leaders all three. George Granados (a little plug here for our club), President of the Entertainment club. Solid leader, pushes me to work harder and encourages a collaborative spirit in the club leadership (I'll forgive him for liking Terminator: Salvation better than Star Trek). On and on and on.

Lord knows you're going to meet people in your life, let alone here, that will rub you the wrong way. All that I am suggesting you do is not burn too many calories worrying about them; instead, think about how lucky you are to have so many supportive and wonderful people around you. Focus on that, and you'll see a positive change in your everyday happiness. And with those around you.

And don't hesitate to tell them, or anyone else. You'll feel better, trust me.

====================================
Jordan Rockwell
Director of Communications
The Entertainment Club of Pepperdine University
MBA Candidate April 2010
Graziadio School of Business & Management
Pepperdine University
jordanrockwell@gmail.com
310-502-0235 (c)

My 2 cents

Summer is almost over, and it is time to begin the 2nd year of my MBA. I had the luck to get an internship (…ahem... "paid" if I may add) in a great company with great people and in my area of interest (i.e. corporate finance). Before that, I had to endure a series of in-depth interviews; here is some advice about what I believed helped me to tell a better-rounded story about my experiences, therefore standing out from the crowd.

• Participate in Business school competitions


• Take initiative in student run organizations on and off campus

Participate:
Business Plan Competition:
Last year there were two business plan competitions that were organized at GSBM. The business plan competition that was organized by GSBM’s Entrepreneurship Club was open to all Pepperdine schools while the other was in partnership with UCSB. My team made it to the finals of the business plan competition at UCSB (4 finalists out of 28 teams… awesome, right!). In my opinion, Business plan competitions give you a safe place to experiment with different feasible “get rich quick” business ideas that you or others around you might have come up with. Well it’s not that safe as you still get grilled by a bunch of “Angel (ya right) Investors” and have to defend your plan in front of a large audience (prepare to test your public speaking skills). It also gives you a chance to explore the different resources that b-school has to offer i.e. Alumni network, professors etc. And if that’s not good enough for you… they also have cash prizes, if your plan has what it takes to be a successful business venture.

Case Competition:
Like most of the business schools, GSBM also holds case-competitions. The Graziadio Case Competition sponsored by Value-centered Leadership Lab, requires competing teams of 3-5 students to think creatively, analytically, and ethically to solve a real world business problem. I have heard from the winners of last year, the “In it to Win it” team (i.e. Kasie, Vineet, Jerry, Frederik) that it was grueling but a great experience. Again, gives you something to talk about during interviews, looks good on resume and cash reward if you win.

Take Initiative:
Student Clubs:
There are 13 distinct student clubs at GSBM that organize different events, career treks, guest speaker events in their focus area. I am sure at least one of the 13 varied students club would interest you. If yes, take leadership roles at these clubs. In my opinion, don’t just sign up and be a part of the mailing list but try and organize or help in organizing different event. This will test your time management skills and how well you prioritize. More importantly it will give you a chance to reach out to Pepperdine’s Alumni network and generate contacts, which would come handy when you are looking for internship/job. Benefits… leadership position in student clubs adds to your resume, helps you network (most used term in b-school) with people in your field of interest and helps you stand out.

So the bottom line is - don’t be overly focused on your grades/GPA. Involve yourself in meaningful extra-curricular activities that will differentiate you from the crowd and help you meet your career goals

One other thing, attend the Mixers organized by MGBS. I missed a lot of mixers last year and missed out a bit. I wouldn’t say they are the best place to complete the group assignment (or maybe they are.. depending on the assignment or the group) but they are a part of the Business School experience - and the friendships you form are valuable and will help you later on in your professional and personal life.

Communications Workshop... part 1

Well, it is Wednesday. One group has just completed their stay at Casa de Pepperdine and one group has just started. As one of the EL members that participated in the first half of the workshop, I wanted to give everyone my perspective.

The key to the communication workshop is to be OPEN. Now, most of us do not enjoy talking about ourselves but I was really impressed with the level of openness the first group exhibited. I urge the second group to follow their lead and extend beyond your comfort zone. If you do, I promise you, you will make life long friends and more immediately find that your organizational behavior class becomes much easier.

While I was extremely impressed with what I witnessed during the first session, there is one point I would like all the first years to think about. Ask More Questions..... There are few things in life more frightening than the unknown. Pepperdine, for the majority of you is the unknown. And, business school, for ALL of you is the unknown. The second years, however, have just traveled the journey you are about to begin. Use us as a resource to guide you and help you navigate what is ahead. Understand as well that our offer of help does not end when this workshop, orientation, semester, year or degree. You have all just become a member of the Pepperdine family and because of that you have earned continued support.

One final point before I stop. Help each other.... Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses is important, but even more so, understanding and helping others improve upon their weaknesses is the trait of a true leader.

So as you continue with your journey over the next two years, always remember that we are here. And, always remember that you should be extending that same offer to your fellow students.

Communications Workshop - One Student's Perspective

As I take a look back to last August, I can’t believe, 1. That is has been an entire year already, and 2. How much I was NOT looking forward to the ‘Communications Workshop’.

I recall receiving the letter, explaining that I had to go on an overnight trip to some random ‘camp’ and bring something sentimental to ‘share’ with the group. WTF. I have to share my feelings with complete strangers… I thought this was business school not a therapy session.

I immediately called my friends in a panic and they urged me to think positively – it is a great way to meet new students and maybe learn something. Since I trust my friends, I stopped complaining and went in with an open mind. Well, maybe not wide open, but at least not 100% skeptical.

My goal for the first day of orientation was to meet someone that was in my group. That day I met many students. After 6 hours of orientation, I had not met one classmate that was in my communications group. Goal not achieved.

Monday afternoon I drove to Calamigos Ranch in the canyons. I received my room assignment and made my way to the cabin. I am glad that I had gone to summer camp during my youth, otherwise the accommodations would be less than rustic. Bugs, musty wood smell. Yum. Anyway, my roommates arrived, one brought wine (I like her!) and then we decided to review the reading assignment: Emotional Intelligence. Luckily, I was in a group that had to read a summary, not the entire book.

The next three days were long, but fantastic. The workshops offered insight to my development as a leader. Yes, there are corny name games and exercises (what overnight retreat wouldn’t?). However, it truly honed in on how others’ perceive me, how I interact in a group, and how I can react to people in order to optimize an outcome.

Aside from the workshops, there were 3 ‘free time’ sessions. Monday night (I was exhausted and stayed in with my roommates), Tuesday afternoon (I decided to play pick-up soccer) and Tuesday night. Tuesday night there was a 2nd year panel, which is more like an open forum and then drinks afterwards. The drinks afterwards turned into a house party at the ‘big’ house on the ranch. It was like undergrad again – card games, Beirut (beer pong), and getting to know my new classmates.

Tips:
1. In Blackboard, click on your leadership development class, on the left-hand side of the page, click ‘communications’ then click on ‘roster’ and ‘list all’ - you can get the names of everyone in your class.
2. Have an open mind – it is a great experience to learn about your own strengths and weaknesses as well as to learn about your classmates on a uniquely personal level.

What I learned in my first year: time management.

Business school is not like any schooling you’ve ever encountered. While that sentence is probably a disappointment for some and a relief for most, it is the honest truth and should not be underestimated. Sure, there are classes, such as Managerial Economics, that will have significant overlap with parts of your undergraduate studies, especially if you’ve had business courses previously. The first day of class might feel like the same old story. However, it isn’t in the classroom that the magic of business school takes place. The secret, in my opinion, is in developing and utilizing superior time management skills.

You will often hear from seasoned business school students that “networking” is the key to success in life. After all, we came to business school because we are concerned with our career in one way or another, whether it be changing course or continuing to advance on the path we have previously embarked. Networking is the single most effective step in finding an internship and eventually a job.

However, the question arises, “How does a business school student effectively network?” I have found that reaching a balance between coursework and being as involved as possible on campus is the secret to networking. It isn’t choosing between social events or staying home to do homework, it is accepting both and figuring out a way to get it all done. It is time management.

Professors are one of the most underutilized resources our program has to offer. In my experience over the past year, I have never found Graziadio professors to be unapproachable or indifferent to my journey towards a fulfilling career. They have always exceeded my expectations in helping me with whatever I was grappling with at the time. Professors are often well connected and approached about potential hires. Good grades, class participation and being prepared are all ways to get noticed so that you are in their consideration set when the time comes. Faculty, administration and career services will ultimately recommend those they can trust.

Getting involved outside of the classroom is equally important. As the current president of Net Impact, I have had access to amazing people. I am connected to a network of over 10,000 business people in a leadership capacity. I have developed relationships for the club with major companies across various industries. I have also worked with my fellow members on nearly a daily basis. These members have earned my trust and will definitely be the first ones I consider when opportunities arise in the future.

My advice is to take on as much as you can handle without losing your sanity. Time management is instrumental in excelling across the board at Pepperdine by being able to take on a greater amount. Here are some of the tools I use to ensure that I maximize my productivity at any given point.

Calendar:

Google Calendar is a great tool for comparing schedules and planning group meetings. Since all your events are stored on the cloud at Google, you are able to access your data from anywhere and share information about when you are available and when you are busy. For example, check out my school calendar: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=frankie.warren%40gmail.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles As you can see, Google Calendar only shares when I am available and when I am busy, however if we get to be closer friends I could enable your account to see all the details of this calendar. Furthermore, it is able to be synced to both iPhone and Blackberry and supports CALDAV, which integrates with calendar applications such as Apple's iCal. I recommend scheduling time dedicated to the library and sticking to it; taking the first step is often times the hardest.

Task Management:

There are different task managers out there to organize your “To Do” lists. This decision is mainly a personal preference. Some to consider are Google Tasks (which has integration with Gmail and Google Calendar), www.rememberthemilk.com, the iPhone applications Tasks and OmniFocus.

Being involved at Pepperdine comes with a lot of added responsibility. This is not only responsibility for your own success, but for the success of others in the form of group work or planning successful club events. I found with this added responsibility I was constantly worried I was forgetting to do something. Effective task management helps relieve this stress so I’m not as worried about taking on new projects.

I personally believe OmniFocus is the best of the task managers. For each task I have to complete I assign it a due date, an estimated duration, a project and a context. So for example, one of my tasks was “Write a blog post for the EL Blog.” I assigned it a due date of Friday, July 31^st, an estimated duration of an hour, the project “EL Mentorship” and the context “Computer.” When I sit down to do work, I pull up the given context. If I was making a phone calls, I could pull up the context “phone” and see all the outstanding calls I have added to my task manager. In this case I was at my computer, so I pulled up the context “Computer” and prioritized what I had to get done based on information such as the due date and duration. It is a highly effective method, if not a little confusing. Please send me an e-mail if you want more information.

Note Taking:

There are several note-taking methods that are effective, but it is highly variable based on whether or not your professor lets you use a computer (I’d say the chance is about 50-50). For paper-based notes I would suggest the Cornell method (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes) and for online note taking I would suggest a service called Evernote (http://www.evernote.com).

Evernote allows you to take notes via the browser, a desktop application or even via your phone. You can organize separate notebooks, tag your notes with keywords for searching later, or take a snapshot of the business cards you collect at a mixer (Evernote can search the text found within a picture!).

The Big Picture:

All that being said, it is important that you enjoy your time in Malibu. This is a time of your life that you will not forget. Take a moment to realize how tremendously lucky we all are that we can study business with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and associate ourselves with other motivated, interesting people. Take the time to get to know each other outside of the group or student club setting. Don’t be afraid to take risks and do make sure to take advantage of the resources available to you. With this mindset, we can all continue to add value to the Graziadio MBA.

-Frankie

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started B-School...

1) Buy Used Books: And Don't just go to the bookstore. Try Amazon. Ebay. And start early. You are getting your MBA. Think of keeping costs down, especially in this economy.

2) Sell Used Books: Ditto from above. If you have zero interest in Accounting after you are done with Accounting, no reason to keep it. And there are a few books that you will have to buy that are completely useless. You'll know it when you crack it open. I won't say what they are here. Ask me in person.

3) If I had a relationship going in, I might not have it going out: This didn't happen to me, as I was single when I started the program, but I know of at least 3 people who had bf/gf's going in who found that their relationships didn't last. You must know your priorities, and I can promise you, this program is more important than some girl you met in Vegas two months ago. This is not a fast and true rule, but it should give you all at least a little bit of pause.

4) You're not going to like everyone, and vice versa: When I first arrived, I found that I loved everyone. Still feel that way, but I don't always like everyone, and in full disclosure, vice versa (I'm if nothing else, honest). A few people get straight A's and throw it in your face. A few people are massive blowhards. There will be negativity and there will be people you might wonder what the heck they are doing here in the first place. But guess what? That's life. This is your chance to learn how to deal with people you can't stand, work around them, and perhaps, work with them. Your education extends outside of the classroom. And full full full disclosure, we are a very loving and supportive group. And I'm quite proud of that.

5) The Drama: Guess what? Remember #3? Keep that in mind. People meet people at school. There is dating. There is drama. My advice? Stay away from it. A few people will pounce on me for saying this, but do not date within the program. Do so at your own risk, because if it implodes, you are stuck with that person for (potentially) the next 20 months.

6) There are good teachers....and then...not so good teachers: Most of the teachers here are fantastic. A select few, not so much. The bad news is that you are pretty much stuck with a potentially bad one until January, where you have some say in what classes to take. Talk to us 2nd years and we'll guide you the right way. But again, if you are forced to take a class with someone you can't stand, use it as a learning experience. And good news, for the most part, I loved my teachers. Supportive, intelligent, full of knowledge and awesomeness.

7) There are fantastic group members, and then...: You get the idea. Same as above. But I must tell you that with your marketing class that you take from January to April, you will make a 5 minute decision that lasts for 14 weeks. Chose wisely. When dividing up groups, chose ever so wisely.

8) Career Services is decent. Not great: There is no better resource than yourself. Do not depend on anyone to get you a job but you and you only. Use GTO but don't forget to go out, network. That is how the game is played. Anyone who has ever gotten anywhere in life did so by networking. No exceptions. You are not above networking.

9) The "Geek" Professors love the Pong: By Geek (I'm a geek myself, so it's not an insult), like the ones who teach Data Analysis and Tech Ops, love to play Ping Pong. Get on their good side and bring the fury! They might beat you, but they will respect you. Could mean the difference between a B+ and an A-.

10) Remember the mantra: Get an internship, get a job. Get an internship, get a job. Nothing matters as much. It's called B-school for a reason. Better to get straight B's and a job than straight A's and no job. I know you have four classes per quarter but there is a 5th class that is more important than all of them put together. GET. A. JOB.

That's all for now. Hope it helps.

Jordan

====================================
Jordan Rockwell
Director of Communications
The Entertainment Club of Pepperdine University
MBA Candidate April 2010
Graziadio School of Business & Management
Pepperdine University
jordanrockwell@gmail.com
310-502-0235 (c)

Hello World.

My name is Frankie Warren and I'm the current Chairman of an on-campus group called the Emerging Leaders. EL is a program designed by the administration and faculty of Pepperdine's Graziadio School of Business and Management for students who strongly exemplify characteristics of future business leaders.

Candidates for EL are first year students who are recommended by members of the faculty, approved by the previous EL class and finally nominated by the Dean. This process takes place early in the 2nd trimester of one's first year in the full time program.

The goal of EL is to improve the student experience at the Graziadio school. This objective is addressed in several ways, the primary being Mentorship. Members of EL, along with our friends in MGBS, the student body government, act as mentors to the incoming class.

This blog will serve as a tool for members of EL to address first year students directly and transparently about life at Pepperdine. However, we hope it is enlightening also to prospective students, faculty, administration, parents, and anyone else with a vested interest in the future of Pepperdine's program. We will be bringing you perspectives from many different ELs over the course of the next year and we look forward to any feedback regarding the content.

If you would like to see a specific issue addressed please feel free to reach out to us at ELMentors@gmail.com. If you would like further information on any of the ELs, including your mentor for the coming year, please see our backgrounds at http://www.PepperdineEL.com.

We look forward to working with you in the coming year and once again congratulations and welcome to Pepperdine.

-Frankie