Pepperdine Graziadio Alum Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Finance

Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is proud to celebrate Dmitriy Slobodskiy Jr. (MS '22), who has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 - Finance list alongside his cofounders for their leadership at White Lion Capital LLC. The recognition highlights the rapid rise of a team that began investing as college students and has since grown into one of the most dynamic emerging firms in special situations finance and blockchain investment.

Slobodskiy and his cofounders launched their investment journey early, helping establish Triton Funds, a $25 million student-run fund supported by San Diego investors and university alumni. By 2019, they scaled their vision into White Lion Capital, which today manages more than $1 billion in committed capital and holds positions across approximately 100 companies.

White Lion specializes in special situations within early-stage public companies, providing strategic financing for mergers and acquisitions, balance sheet restructurings, and other transformative transactions. In 2024, the team expanded again into the digital asset sector with the launch of Bolts Capital, allocating over $500 million to more than 20 blockchain and crypto native projects.

Slobodskiy credits Pepperdine Graziadio’s Applied Finance program for equipping him with the technical acumen and values-centered mindset that helped accelerate his path.

"Pepperdine gave me more than a degree; it gave me a framework for thinking,” Slobodskiy said. “The Applied Finance program strengthened my analytical skills, but it was the emphasis on integrity and purpose-driven leadership that truly shaped how we built White Lion. I am grateful for the professors and mentors who pushed me to think bigger and lead with conviction."

Pepperdine Graziadio congratulates Dmitriy Slobodskiy Jr. and his team on this outstanding achievement and celebrates the impact our alumni continue to make in shaping the future of global finance. See the full list here.