Graziadio Full-Time MBA Student Danirose Hill Shines at BYU’s Faith at Work Case Competition
Last month, Pepperdine Graziadio Full-Time MBA student Danirose Hill, and her teammates Hiral Patadia, Miles Redfern, and Jeffrey Cournoyer competed in the prestigious Faith at Work Case Competition at Brigham Young University (BYU), securing an impressive second-place finish. Organized by Diane Singel and Pepperdine's Career and Professional Development (CPD), the competition brought together students from top business schools across the country to tackle a pressing workplace challenge: the financial sustainability of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)—both faith-based and otherwise. Graziadio decision science professor Samuel Seaman served as the faculty lead, accompanying the team to BYU and providing invaluable coaching and mentorship throughout the competition.
Crafting a Winning Strategy
From the start, the team focused on crafting a data-driven strategy. The competition kicked off early on a Thursday morning as teams received their prompt: design a strategy to address the financial strain of ERGs while proving their return on investment in both capital and culture. Representing Pepperdine, Danirose and her teammates built a compelling case in favor of ERGs, highlighting their impact on employee retention, productivity, and even product innovation through internal focus groups.
"Our team strongly believed that ERGs are not just an expense, but a strategic asset," Danirose shared. "They create stronger workplace cultures, improve retention, and spark new ideas—factors that ultimately drive profitability."
Presenting to Industry Leaders
In a high-stakes setting, Hill and her team presented their findings before executives from Forbes, Coca-Cola, PWC, Ford Motor Co., Equinix, and American Airlines. Competing against top schools such as Duke, Vanderbilt, Baylor, and Boston University, the Pepperdine team earned a remarkable second-place victory. Hill also received the Best Presenter award, a testament to the skills she has honed in the Graziadio classroom.
Celebrating Success on the Slopes
Following their win, the team joined a ski day organized by BYU, where competitors and executives traded business suits for snow gear, fostering connections in a memorable way. "It was a day of networking, camaraderie, and pure joy," Hill shared.
A Team Effort
Hill expressed her deep gratitude to her teammates—Hiral Patadia, Miles Redfern, and Jeffrey Cournoyer—whose combined efforts made the competition an unforgettable success. She also credited Professor Samuel Seaman for his invaluable guidance and support.
This incredible experience was made possible through the leadership of Diane Singel and Pepperdine's Career and Professional Development (CPD) and underscores the value of experiential learning at Graziadio, where students gain real-world problem-solving skills that prepare them to lead with purpose.
Congratulations to Danirose Hill and the entire Pepperdine team for their outstanding achievement!
About the Full-Time MBA at Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University's Full-Time MBA as well as the other top-ranked MBA programs such as the Part-Time MBA and Online MBA equip students to excel as business leaders through a dynamic curriculum that blends ethics, global perspectives, and advanced business strategies. With hands-on learning opportunities such as real-world projects, internships, and case competitions, students graduate ready to drive meaningful change in their careers and beyond.