Watch Kyle Murphy, a Technology CEO and investor, discuss the goals of a new business from an venture capitalist’s perspective

As excited and prepared as Yi Sun (MBA, ‘11) was to move from China to study at the Graziadio School of Business and Management, she found it was the little cultural things that caused her the most difficulty.

Yi Sun

“Seemingly simple things – like getting a cell phone, purchasing a car and insurance and working with a team of domestic students – were big problems that I needed help with in order to be successful,” she explains.

Those lessons she learned in the beginning help inform her daily duties now, as the assistant director of the Full-time Master of Science programs. She takes on the challenges of helping other Chinese students bridge the cultural gap with her colleague, Qilin He, career counselor for students in the Master of Science programs.

“Together, we work to help Chinese students gain the confidence they need in order to be successful at Pepperdine, integrate into American culture, navigate the internship process, and successfully interview and secure jobs,” says He.

Statistics underscore the importance of Sun and He’s jobs. Not only is China the largest country of origin for international graduate students in the United States, but the growth in applications from China in 2012 outpaced that of all other countries and regions included in a recent survey by the Council of Graduate Schools. Pepperdine is no exception. In 2010, 47 Chinese students matriculated from the Master of Science in Applied Finance program. In 2011, that number increased to 72.

This influx of students delivers a unique challenge to Sun and He; they must make time to help each individual student move out of their cultural comfort zone. Read the rest of this entry »

Personal branding was originally conceived in 1997, which tells you that it’s not a fad.

Despite the mainstream adoption of social media globally, the basic principles of personal branding still apply. You have to define your brand, position yourself in the marketplace, and constantly reinvent your brand over time. You have to figure out what makes you special and then communicate that to the right people, who are interested in your story and message.

Social network profiles, and blogs, have made it easier to build a brand because you’re investing your time instead of thousands of dollars. In today’s competitive landscape, just having a presence isn’t enough. You have to maintain it for the rest of your existence and be committed to your career and business objectives.

I’ve been following the personal branding movement for over four years and have identified several trends that you need to become aware of if you want to remain competitive. Each trend will have a dramatic impact on your life moving forward and the sooner you build your brand, and take advantage of new technologies, the more prepared you will be for a successful future! Read the rest of this entry »

Angel investors look for four things before providing capital to an entrepreneur. LAUNCH! Magazine Issue Six explores what angel investors want entrepreneurs to know about their decision-making process. Four new Pepperdine entrepreneurs are profiled and the latest edition shines the spotlight on two startups started by Graziadio-venturers while they were students. Grab your copy of ISSUE SIX.

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Click here for a full list of student-run organizations, and contact the clubs’ officers for more information. For details about MBA activities and networking opportunities, visit the Graziadio School’s event calendar.

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• May 18 – MSAF Job Search Networking Event
• May 18 – Pepperdine Hispanic Alumni Association Launch Event
• May 30 – The Commercialization of Space, presented by The Denver Business Series in partnership with the Colorado Waves
• May 31 - The Journey to the Middle Market featuring John Paglia
• June 5 – Professional Image in the Age of Social Media – Irvine
• June 5 - Professional Image in the Age of Social Media – West LA
• June 21 – 2012 Los Angeles Economic Forecast Conference