Make decisions based on who you are and not what you think you are or think you should be, urged April 2013 graduation speaker and Distinguished Alumni Award recipientBlake Irving (MBA ’88), CEO of Go Daddy, the world’s largest provider of Web hosting.
Addressing new graduates at the Graziadio School, he said, “Answering the who-based question actually drove my what…There are moments in life when you have a moment to pause and take an introspective look at who you are and the path you might take because of it.” Watch his speech.
It takes more than a title to be a leader, Al Plamann, Chief Executive Officer, Unified Grocers, told new graduates at the April 2013 commencement ceremony for the Graziadio School of Business and Management. Plamann was awarded an honorary doctorate of law degree at the event.
Plamann said, “Don’t be afraid to try, but learn from your mistakes. Failure is actually a critical component of success.” Watch his speech.
The Dean’s executive and alumni advisory board, the Board of Visitors, awarded its highest honor, the George Award, to an accomplished selection of eleven students, alumni and faculty this April.
Led by Stevan Cavillo, principal at law firm Calvillo & Meyer LLP and son-in-law of school benefactor George L. Graziadio, Jr., the Board annually host a luncheon and recognize the finest members the Graziadio School community who exemplify “integrity, stewardship, courage, and compassion, while enriching the ever-changing business world through their superior skills and entrepreneurial spirit.” The Graziadio family, daughters Mary Lou Area and Alida Calvillo and son G. Louis Graziadio III, personally conferred to each recipient the statuette featuring the likeness of their father.
Mouse over an image below to learn more about the recipient.
Gabriella Soroldoni (MBA ’80), Associate Dean of Administration, of Playa del Rey, CA, was recognized for 37 years of outstanding service to the business school. Ms. Soroldoni leads the admission, financial aid, student accounts, student systems, technology services and finance and budgeting operations for nearly four decades. She holds the distinction of having served every dean of the school.
Dr. Demos Vardiabasis, of Downey, CA, received the George Award in recognition of more than 20 years on faculty and for his outstanding business connections; leveraging his networks and contacts for the benefit of the Graziadio School. He has served as the economic commissioner as well as the chairman of the Entertainment and Tourism Industry Advisory Committee for the State of California and on the board and as consultant to numerous organizations. Over his tenure, he has served as an associate dean and a leading (and much beloved) faculty member in the Executive MBA program and Presidents and Key Executives MBA program.
Dr. Danni Sun (MBA '99) of Corona Del Mar, CA, a Board of Visitors member, was honored with the George Award for outstanding alumni. She has excelled in her support of international students, Orange County alumni outreach and fundraising for the Center for Applied Research. President of LJC Investments, and previously director of business development at Riviera, Modern Luxury, a subsidiary of the second-largest media company in the country, Dr. Sun has started several businesses, ranging from health and wellness to computer software. Notably, she operated the first business to distribute Apple computers in California, and later, China.
Jennifer Westpfahl of Pasadena was acknowledged with the George Award for Outstanding Student (Executive MBA) for seamlessly navigating between the conceptual and the concrete thought processes while demonstrating a superb level of self-awareness through applied learning. Westpfahl is an executive director at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. Her career and industry perspective have proven to be great assets to her MBA cohort, for whom she has served as both an informal leader and a supportive individual teammate.
Rui "Alice" Wan, of Shantou, Guangdong, China, received George Award for Outstanding Student (Full-time Master of Science in Applied Finance Program). Wan has been an active member of the Graziadio School student body, participating in the VCLL Case Competition and the ACG Cup. In addition, she is the recent winner of the first Values Driven Leadership Scholarship for students enrolled in a full-time master of science degree program.
The Santa Monica City Council approved a “bill of sustainability rights” on March 12 that represents a major, progressive step forward for a California city.
The ordinance would, among other things, codify Santa Monica’s commitment to achieving sustainability and formalize a biennial reporting and compliance procedure to help ensure the City is following its Sustainable City Plan.
While some might view this as a conflicting force with doing business in Santa Monica, I do not.
In fact, I see it as a historic opportunity for Santa Monica businesses to excel in adopting practices that give them a major competitive advantage and help to ensure future business prosperity. Continue reading →
Fully Employed MBA student Audra Quinn, with partner Ashley Borg, took the $10,000 grand prize in the 2013 Pepperdine Business Plan Competition. The team’s Uncorked! won over judges with its business concept for intimate at-home or larger hosted wine-tasting events built around participants trying to trick one another into guessing who is the better connoisseur. The challenge is to invent convincing and creative descriptions for the wines one is sampling.
Ms. Quinn is a digital editor and writer for investment management firm Capital Group and formerly served as managing editor of the practitioner e-journal Graziadio Business Review. She is due to graduate in August with an MBA and an emphasis in entrepreneurship. Ms. Borg is senior art director at mutual fund and investment firm American Fund. Continue reading →
The Santa Monica City Council approved a “bill of sustainability rights” on March 12 that represents a major, progressive step forward for a California city.
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