MSOD Alumni Council

I will never miss an opportunity to share just how much Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s Organization Development program has enhanced my life and work. ???? Being invited to speak at the faculty retreat was an incredible honor—especially in the presence of so many faculty members who have poured so much into me, including Darren Good, Ann Feyerherm, and Kent Rhodes. What stood out in our panel wasn’t just the knowledge we gained in our respective programs but the profound, whole-person impact these professors have had on the way we lead, serve, and create change in the world. Their care, commitment, and unwavering support have been invaluable. #Pepperdine doesn’t just teach; it transforms. I only graduated a few years ago and yet I can hardly imagine life without this degree. I’m forever grateful to be part of this legacy. Also, have you ever seen a panel with 2 Ma(e)lika’s!!?! Melika Shahshahani Jana B. Tony M. June Greyson R. Orellana Brian McGilvray Jim Salas Deborah Crown Morgan Towner Gary Mangiofico, Ph.D. Miriam Lacey, Ph.D. Chris Worley Terri Egan Michael Williams #OrganizationDevelopment #Leadership #Gratitude #PepperdineGraziadio #LifelongImpact #MSOD #BusinessSchool

Please join us in congratulating Josh Alwitt, MSOD, PCC and Darron Padilla, MSOD, PMP, CSM, our newest members of the MSOD Alumni Council.

I just got back from one of the most powerful, transformative and truly indescribable experiences of my life—an intensive centered around 'self as instrument' as part of my MS in Organization Development at Pepperdine University. It’s hard to put into words what this experience meant to me. Every moment was intentionally designed with such care and beautiful craftsmanship, inviting us to dig deep into who we are, how we show up, and the impact we have on others. It was deep, tough, confronting and incredibly meaningful. What made it even more meaningful was the community we built. We supported each other, challenged one another with such care and found so much connection and meaning with one another. I am obsessed with our new community of such talent, expertise, support and growth - I learnt so much from all of you and will continue to do so! I leave with a reminder that continuing to refine our 'self as instrument' is a lifelong journey (and of the 5 further intensives to come ??!) Deep, deep gratitude to our inspirational and incredible professors Darren Good and Ann Feyerherm. And to Shaw Dunton for helping us not only navigate forest terrain with an unforgettable experiential learning day but in supporting us navigate the emotional terrain of a profound experience. This one's going to take a while to sink in.

Hey, MSOD Alumni Council, alumni, and current students - need some good news today? The DEI Guild is hosting an event next week about ALLYSHIP. This word has shifted in the last few years; however, allyship is more important than ever. Join us at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on Tuesday, November 12, for a 90-minute convening of beautiful MSOD minds. Our group includes Roberta P., Samuel Liberant, MSOD, MBA, MSIT, CCMP, Lisa Elliott, PhD, ACC, MPOD, Prosci, and Rodney Wardell Carter. I'm so excited to share with these leaders. RSVP here --> https://lnkd.in/eZDPVktX

?? Exciting Times at the OdN Summit! ?? We at Pepperdine Graziadio were honored to participate as a sponsor at the Organization Development Network Summit at Cleveland Case Western Reserve University. This transformative experience focused on Organization Design, Ethical AI, and Community in Transformation. A huge shout-out to our amazing MSOD Alumni who spoke and facilitated workshops! Omar Morales, SPHR, MSOD and Allison Tsao, MSOD kicked off the conference with an engaging panel on the importance of intersystems development and Aritifical Intelligence. Patty Beach presented on Ethical AI, Consensus, and Alignment which sparked valuable discussions. Jennifer Sorensen led listeners to explore human-centered vs. systems-centered design, the dynamics between AI and people, and provided a practical framework for enhancing human dynamics in leadership. A big cheers and congratulations to Susan Walker and Allison Tsao, MSOD for facilitating a successful and impactful three-day Community in Transformation session! Thank you to everyone for making this a memorable event and valuable use of our efforts in tranforming our future! Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, Case Western Reserve University, Organization Development Network, Savannah Hobbs, Bob Szatkowski, Sumner Byrne, MSOD Gina Lavery, MSOD Brenda Stone Mandi Lehnherr, MSOD Mike Weaver, Ed.D.(c), MSOD Camille Beard Gary Mangiofico, Ph.D., Ann Feyerherm, Darren Good

Thank You, Waves! ???? Pepperdine Gives was a huge success! This year, we came together and raised over $1.5 million for the @Pepperdine mission. We aimed high and made a significant impact! Thank you for being part of it! #PepperdineGives #GivingDay #WavesGiveBack

Pepperdine Graziadio Business School alumna Sally Loftis, MSOD (she/her/hers), Interim Executive Director for the nonprofit Feeding Avery Families, helping families isolated by flooding in the aftermath of hurricane Helene in North Carolina. #NonNobisSolum Pepperdine University #MSODAlumni #AveryCounty #NorthCarolina #DisasterRelief #hurricaneHelene #nonprofits #leadership #SocialImpact

After three years, being a graduate of Pepperdine's Organization Development Masters feels good?man! Apparently too good to fit all I'd like to say in a LinkedIn post, so see the comments for a link to a longer blog post about graduating. All I'll put here is a bunch of thank yous! Thank You?Notes Jane Huston: Thank you for putting up with the uncertainty and changes in my life and for joining me on some epic trips. Parents and Brother: Thank you for all the support over the years and in this time of growth for me. Darren Good: Your support when I had to restart the program after getting COVID meant a lot, as well as your ongoing friendship. Chris Worley: Fantastic thesis advisor and good champagne advisor. Thank you! Alanna Brahms, MSOD & Golnaz Tahsini: Thanks to my first cohort friends who’ve stayed in touch and shed light on what to expect. Michael Fischer: A special alumni who joined our program as a learning group consultant, was the consultant for my group, and just a very generous person. Leslie Mulder: Thank you for the great friendship and for being a good listener. Sequoia: Thank you for being an amazing learning group. Karen Wirick, CFRE: For your creative energy and great friendship. Can't wait to see your thesis on flow. Christina Watt, MSOD, CPCC, ACC: Thank you for organizing our group and for the great photography. Carlen Arima: Thanks for kicking off the program with so much love and energy with me. Shaw Dunton & D. Wade Shows, MSOD, CPCC: Thank you for all of the advice and tips you shared with me as alumni. Arielle T. Sullivan, MSOD: Thank you for helping me continue my journey post-graduation on regenerative climate work. See you next week!

As many of you know, my passion lies in the intersection of brand and organizational culture—two forces that, when aligned, can elevate businesses and create spaces where people and purpose thrive. I’m stoked to share that starting next week, I will be riding the ???? ?? into Pepperdine University to pursue my Master of Science in Organizational Development. This adventure will allow me to deepen my knowledge, hone my skills, and explore the powerful connection between how companies present themselves to the world and the cultures they cultivate within. This step is about more than advancing my education. It’s about diving headfirst into understanding how we can build organizations that are not only successful but also deeply authentic, inclusive, and driven by purpose. I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you and bringing back insights that can help us all create better, stronger cultures together. Here’s to embracing growth, pursuing passions, and building a future where brand and culture are one. ?? #Leadership #OrganizationalDevelopment #BrandAndCulture #PepperdineUniversity #GrowthMindset #PurposeDriven