Empowering Women to Lead | Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

Organizations are seeking what women have to offer as leaders. At the Pepperdine Graziadio Center for Women in Leadership (CWL), we focus on building your confidence and instilling the strongest sense of competency and readiness for the challenges and rewards of leadership. Through mentorship programs, industry engagement, and research on gender diversity, we contribute to an ongoing dialogue about women in leadership all around the world.

We believe now is the time to inspire and develop our women — our students, our faculty, and our staff — to their greatest leadership expression. In the words of Bernice Ledbetter, Director of the Pepperdine CWL, "Now is the time. Tomorrow may be too late."

Executive Speaker Series

Executive Leadership for Women: Navigating Culture and Complexity

Briget Baker

The Center for Women in Leadership is pleased to welcome Bridget Baker, CEO of Baker Media to our West Los Angeles campus on January 29, 2019 for an exciting conversation about leadership navigating ambiguity and driving growth.

A co-founder of CNBC and 23-year veteran of NBCUNIVERSAL, Bridget Baker is the CEO of Baker Media, an independent consultancy focused on entertainment and tech companies. She was NBCU’s longtime president of content distribution and key senior executive overseeing its $5 billion subscription revenue business.

Today Baker serves as a director on the board of Alaska’s largest diversified communications provider, GCIAK as well as several non-profit boards including her alma mater, Pitzer College. She is the recipient of numerous industry awards and corporate leadership recognition including the National Cable Television Association’s highest honor, “Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership.” After growing up in Alaska’s remote capital city of Juneau, Baker began her career on Capitol Hill as an aide to the late US Senator Ted Stevens. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and family.

Past Speakers

Beatrice Guillaume-Grabisch

CEO, Nestle Germany

Mary Ann Somers — Mary-Ann Somers

Senior Vice President, Intuit

Women on stage speaking at Pepperdine Women's Event — Stay tuned for more speakers

What We Do

Bernice Ledbetter leading discussion at Pepperdine Graziadio Villa Classroom — About Us

Learn more about the Pepperdine CWL and the women behind it.

Student smiling at Pepperdine Graziadio event — Opportunities

Find out how you can benefit from your involvement with the CWL.

Bernice Ledbetter presenting at Pepperdine Waves of Innovation Conference — Our Research

Explore our faculty research initiatives and grant opportunities.

The Broader Conversation

Woman climbing wordmark - Pepperdine University

What is the "Confidence Gap"?

When You're Ready, But Not Confident

Studies show that women don't feel prepared to step into their careers due to a lack of confidence. Yet women inherently possess in-demand skills and talents that organizations now seek for contemporary leadership.

Find out how the Pepperdine CWL is working to close this confidence gap with programs outside the classroom.

More about Our Purpose