Preparing Future Business Leaders: How Pepperdine Graziadio is Embracing AI in the Classroom
At Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, students aren’t just learning about the future of business—they’re helping shape it. As artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and other digital innovations continue to redefine how industries operate, Graziadio is equipping students with the tools, insight, and ethical framework to lead transformation with clarity and purpose.
One standout example of this commitment is ISTM 668: Digital Innovation and IS (DIIS) Client-Based Practicum, a new MBA elective developed and taught by Dr. John G. Mooney, Professor of Information Systems and Technology Management. Launched in spring 2025, the course blends emerging technology, strategic thinking, and hands-on consulting through Pepperdine’s Education to Business (E2B™) program.
Real-World Learning Through Leading-Edge Practicums
In this practicum, MBA students are immersed in real-world business challenges and gain direct exposure to technologies such as AI, blockchain, augmented reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Rather than learning in a vacuum, students apply these tools in a “live case study” setting, partnering with actual business executives to develop innovative strategies for real companies.
Innovating with Pepperdine E2B™ and Kimberly-Clark
This spring, one of the standout client projects featured in ISTM 668 was with Kimberly-Clark, a global leader in essential consumer health and hygiene products. As part of Pepperdine’s Education to Business program, student teams were challenged to explore how emerging technologies—like AR, VR, mobile apps, IoT, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and AI—could transform the diaper market and elevate customer experience in North America.
Students examined how technology and the data it generates could spark innovation across the entire value chain—from product acquisition to everyday use. Through deep research, analysis, and collaboration with executive leaders at Kimberly-Clark, students proposed strategic solutions aimed at not only improving product performance and customer experience but also driving long-term value and differentiation in a competitive market.
Turning Tech into Strategy
Throughout the course, student teams are tasked with identifying business challenges, evaluating how contemporary technologies can be applied, and crafting actionable innovation plans. A defining feature of the class is that every student is required to work with a Generative AI tool as a virtual partner, using it to brainstorm alternative ways of framing the problem, ideate potential solutions, and co-develop prototypes for the most promising concepts.
Many projects, including Kimberly-Clark’s, focus on leveraging AI and digital tools to drive transformation, whether through smarter data usage, automation, or next-gen product development. Students present their proposals directly to client executives, learning how to communicate strategy, analyze risk, and recommend leadership interventions for change.
Heather Chen, one of the students in the class, described the experience as transformative:
“Experimenting with AI tools allowed me to efficiently analyze and interpret data, resulting in insightful visualizations and predictive analytics that delivered real business value for the client. The practical application of AI not only enhanced my analytical skills but also equipped me with valuable capabilities that will make me more effective and productive in my career.”
Fellow classmate Dallin Wilcox echoed those sentiments, reflecting on the unique opportunity to fully embrace generative AI:
“Something innovative about this course was the full green light to use Gen AI as a collaborator. I worked with ChatGPT to digest and compare earnings reports, map out presentation logic, and find supporting research. It reminded me that while Gen AI is powerful, it’s not a substitute for creativity or hard work. But when paired with a high-performing team, it helped us develop a solution with more depth and granularity than I thought possible.”
Prioritizing Responsible and Ethical Innovation
What truly sets Pepperdine Graziadio’s approach apart is its emphasis on ethical and responsible innovation. Students learn to consider not only the technical potential of AI but also its broader implications on people, organizations, and society. They’re encouraged to ask the hard questions—about privacy, bias, equity, and sustainability—ensuring their solutions align with both values and business goals.
Empowering Students to Lead for Greater Purpose
By blending cutting-edge technology with values-driven leadership, Pepperdine Graziadio’s MBA program prepares students to be agile, strategic, and purpose-centered professionals. Courses like ISTM 668 offer the tools, frameworks, and real-world experience needed to thrive in a tech-forward economy—and to lead organizations through transformation with clarity and conscience.