How Pepperdine's MBA School Goes Up Against the Big Names

You've likely heard of Pepperdine, but maybe not its business school -- Graziadio. I wasn't sure how to pronounce it, and the Associate Dean of Full-Time MBA Programs tells me it's like Graz-ee-ah-De-o, which translates to thanks to God.
Dr Mark Mallinger says there's more one-on-one opportunity for students than you'll find at the big name schools, like Harvard. He says the faculty is committed to student development. The goal of the school is collaborative, rather than competitive. He says that atmosphere enhances the ability for students to creative a collaborative network.
Mallinger says the students who take initiative to demonstrate their leadership abilities, end up doing as well as students from reputational schools. For example, the two-year MBA students who he's identified as leaders who have recently graduated "and almost in every case, they already have had, they've got their jobs." He says they're working at AT&T, Bank of America, consulting firms and other companies that have worked with the students in internship positions.
Mallinger admits that having a campus in Malibu may slow some students from making contacts and taking those leadership roles. I asked him to compare what students get at Graziadio versus a big name MBA school -- and he says their students get an experience-driven education that develops ethical leaders who can create solutions for business challenges. The small class size, opportunity to develop skills while working in teams, and close faculty focus makes the school unique. You'll be able to hear the finished show in a few weeks on MBA Podcaster.

Tulane -- or a Big Name MBA School?

Tulane is for students "who are bigger than themselves" -- especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's destruction. That's what Bill Hydrick tells me when I call. Bill is Director of Media Services at Tulane. We're talking about the question potential MBA students might consider -- is it better to stay near home to pursue their business education, or to shoot for a big name business school. It's a show I'm working on right now for MBA Podcaster.

Part of the issue, Hydrick points out, is that if you say you went to Harvard, everyone knows the brand. But only in the South does it count heavily that you went to Tulane. The school is getting its faculty in front the business community via CNBC, Fox and others to raise its image.

Meanwhile, Tulane business students get heavily involved in the community -- raising economic literacy and networking. Hydrick says he can't speak for the 2009 class yet, but the 2008 class was 93.5% employed within six months, with an average salary topping $83K. Several MBA students began their careers at NY brokerage houses with salaries over $150K. Tulane boasts two well-respected programs -- energy and finance. Companies such as Entergy, Goldman Sachs, Shell Oil, Capitol One and Bank of America frequently recruit on campus.

That's the theme that's beginning to build as I interview representatives at various regional schools -- students can escape the pull of home, if they want, but there's a special personalized quality they just can't get at a big name business school.