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Sharing Information on Progress 2025

CONTENTS Getting Started Purpose Values Teach Research Partner Practice Share

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PRME Report 2024: Sharing Information on Progress

ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION (PRME) The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 that aims to raise the profile of sustainability in their classrooms through Seven Principles focused on serving society and safeguarding our planet. PRME engages business and management schools to ensure they provide future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic and sustainability goals, while drawing attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning academic institutions with the work of the UN Global Compact. Driven by its mission to transform management education, PRME equips today’s business students with the understanding and ability to deliver change tomorrow. As a voluntary initiative with over 800 signatories worldwide, PRME has become the largest organized relationship between the United Nations and management-related higher education institutions.

The PRME initiative was launched to nurture responsible leaders of the future. Never has this task been more important. Bold leadership and innovative thinking are needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Antonio Guterres Secretary-General (2017–Present) United Nations

Graziadio Business School

PRINCIPLES OF PRME Purpose We advance responsible management education to foster inclusive prosperity in a world of thriving ecosystems.

Values We place organizational responsibility and accountability to society and the planet at the core of what we do.

Teach We transform our learning environments by integrating responsible management concepts and practices into our curriculum and pedagogy.

Research We study people, organizations, institutions, and the state of the world to inspire responsible management and education practice.

Partner We engage people from business, government, civil society, and academia to advance responsible and accountable management education and practice.

Practice We adopt responsible and accountable management principles in our own governance and operations.

Share We share our successes and failures with each other to enable our collective learning and best live our common values and purpose.

THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) In September 2015 all 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted a plan for achieving a better future for all—laying out a path over the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. At the heart of Agenda 2030 are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 related targets that address the most important economic, social, environmental, and governance challenges of our time. The SDGs clearly define the world we want—applying to all nations and leaving no one behind. Successful implementation of the SDGs will require all players to champion this agenda; the role of higher education is critical to this.

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

GETTING STARTED This section provides foundational information about Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, including key details and basic institutional data.

MISSION

STRATEGY

Inspired by our Christian values and commitment to academic excellence, we seek to:

Pepperdine University Strategic Plan Pepperdine 2030: Ascend Together

• Foster transformational learning • Create applied knowledge • Equip our students to lead lives of purpose, service, and leadership

VISION Guided by our mission, we are committed to the following six strategic priorities

Priority Goal #1 Foster/Nurture students’ transformational journey (personally, professionally, and spiritually)

Priority Goal #2 Create and disseminate high-quality applied research with impact on students, businesses, and society

Priority Goal #3 Cultivate a culture where our Christian mission animates inclusion and belonging and is not divisive

Priority Goal #4 Offer a portfolio of programs that are innovative and market relevant, and that span the entire life cycle of work

Priority Goal #5 Expand the market for Graziadio Business School programs, leverage and grow corporate and community partnerships, and extend market reach

Priority Goal #6 Exhibit financial stewardship of fiscal and other resources These priorities will enable us to continue to deliver an exceptional business education and equip our students for future success.

Graziadio Business School

The strategy of Pepperdine Graziadio Business School aligns with the strategic plan of the University, which can be found here: pepperdine.edu/about/strategic-plan

STRATEGY ALIGNMENT Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Strategy Alignment Graziadio Business School provides students with a strong basis in values-based business throughout its degree and nondegree offerings. The business school integrates a global focus into its study abroad programs and within a number of course offerings. Additionally, several academic activities provide students with opportunities to enhance their understanding of and participation in global social responsibility. The following programs operationalize the pillars of our mission to develop values-centered leaders and advance responsible business practice through education that is entrepreneurial in spirit, ethical in focus, and global in orientation.

Certificate in Social, Ethical, and Environmental Responsibility (SEER) Program Description Our certificate in Socially, Environmentally, and Ethically Responsible Business Strategy (SEER) is available to students enrolled in our Full-Time and Part-Time MBA programs. It is also fully integrated into the Master of Science in Managment and Leadership, with all graduates automatically receiving the certificate. SEER certificate courses are taken as electives within their respective curriculum. Upon completion, students receive a certificate along with their degree.

Program Requirements As part of the learning goals for the SEER certificate, students must fulfill requirements in three areas: academics, community, service. • Academics - Complete four elective courses (8 units) within the SEER certificate curriculum. This includes the SEER capstone course taught by lead faculty Robert Bikel. • Community - Join and be a member in good standing of Pepperdine’s Net Impact Chapter. • Service - Complete at least one extracurricular SEER service project, typically volunteering with a nonprofit organization, attending a major sustainability conference (such as the Net Impact Conference), or interning with a social enterprise.

Master of Science in Global Business Our highly ranked Master of Science in Global Business caters to a diverse international student body exploring the complexities of global business through a values-based perspective. The program offers a diverse range of global learning experiences designed to prepare ethically focused and entrepreneurially spirited analysts and managers who can influence Individuals, groups, and organizations representing diverse cultures, political, and institutional systems. Since 2017 the MS in Global Business program has integrated the Global Mindset Inventory as a core learning objective. The GMI assesses global thinking and cross-cultural communication, as well as provides tools for individual improvement on the multiple dimensions of the assessment. In addition, beginning in 2019 the SEER (Social Ethical Environmental Responsibility) framework was also embedded into the core curriculum. In 2025 the program begins an exciting transition to focus on global sustainability with the addition of a core Global Business Sustainability course and refinements to the rest of the core curriculum.

Master of Science in Management and Leadership The online MS in Management and Leadership curriculum at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is designed to train students to manage change at all levels of an organization. The curriculum builds essential expertise in such areas as group dynamics, project management, organization and work design, and team and organizational culture. This project gives students the opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization, applying theories, frameworks, and learning from across the program. Students are tasked with developing a professional leadership development plan that showcases the ability to think strategically, consult on complex challenges, and implement recommendations while creating real change for an organization in need. All MS in Management and Leadership students have been eligible to receive the SEER certificate as an elective since 2020, but the 2024 update to the program now ensures that all MS in Management and Leadership students will receive the certificate.

Global Programs A core component to enhancing the global experience and orientation of our students, the school offers immersive global education opportunities around the world in conjunction with our local partner universities and organizations. Pepperdine enables students to gain direct insight into the global marketplace—and earn course credit—through a variety of study abroad programs. Students gain an understanding of business environments and successful business strategy in another country through One-Week Abroad courses to Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Students may also choose to engage in a full trimester of study at one of 35 partner universities around the world affording critical tie-ins to responsible and sustainable business practice in another region of the world. Multi-Week Abroad

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

programs of study are also available and offer valuable learning engagement and networking opportunities overseas. Students can take advantage of this increasingly sought-after opportunity in two ways: through a One-Trimester Exchange in residence with a partner university, or through a one-week Global Intensive Business Course (GBIC). One-Trimester Exchange The One-Trimester Exchange is open to all Full-Time MBA and select MS program students. Students can pick from more than 40 universities in 24 countries on five continents at no additional cost. Students gain invaluable experience in addition to enhanced resume credentials and a Global Business Certificate. Global Business Intensive Courses Our one-week global intensives offer cultural deep-dives in business epicenters around the world. Open to students of multiple programs as well as alumni, one-week courses are for-credit classes that provide a deep dive into a specific aspect of business in a global environment. All GBICs have been SEER certified for containing content and/or focus areas related to social development and sustainability.

• Explored sustainable business practices and community-based entrepreneurship across diverse sectors. • Organizations visited: Argentina Chamber of Commerce and Services, Piedra Negra Winery, IDEX.LA Fundacion, Red Cross Argentina, DHL Argentina, Pfizer Argentina, Santa Susana Estate, Globant, Terrible Enfant. • Switzerland – Managing Food and Beverage Products for Global Markets (spring 2025) • Lead: Cristel Russell; Support: Clark Johnson • Examined sustainable food production, branding, and climate-conscious distribution strategies. • Organizations visited: Nestlé Headquarters, Obrist Winery, WTO, FAO, Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, Distillerie du Léman, Brasserie du Jorat, Caritas. • Ireland – Managing Global Business Operations in the Digital Economy (spring 2025) • Lead: John Mooney; Support: Jillian Alderman • Focused on digital innovation, cybersecurity, and privacy within multinational enterprises.

Destinations and themes have included the following:

• Organizations visited: Citibank Innovation Lab, Autodesk, IDA Ireland, LinkedIn, Smurfit Graduate School of Business, Microsoft, Mastercard, ServiceNow, Amazon Web Services, Fidelity Investments, Stripe.

• South Africa – Social Entrepreneurship in South Africa (fall 2024)

• Italy – Multigenerational Family Businesses in Tuscany (spring 2025)

• Lead: Rick Walton; Support: Jennifer Franczak • Focused on the role of social entrepreneurship in addressing structural inequality and economic challenges. Students developed their own Social Venture Plans. • Organizations visited: Rowan Spazzoli Consulting, Sparks Impact Fellowship, Taking Care of Business, I Love Coffee, Sustainability Institute, Carbon Disclosure South Africa, Wine Arc,Victoria Yards, SAB Foundation. • Argentina – Global Business in Latin America (spring 2025)

• Leads: Kimber Maderazzo and Jim Salas

Graziadio Business School

• Leads: Darren Good and Mark Tribbitt • Studied legacy, stewardship, and sustainable management in artisanal and agrifood sectors. • Organizations visited: Lorenzo Di Medici University, Cassetti Jewelry, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani, Maselli Bottega d’Arte, Terra Di Siena, Tenuta Torciano Winery, Mokaflor.

Entrepreneurship Concentration All the entrepreneurship courses in our MBA program are SEER focused and meet the requirement for being an accredited SEER course. This ensures that the entrepreneurs that graduate

from our university are well equipped and ready to start their own businesses with sustainability in the forefront of their minds.

Master of Science in Organization Development Successful organizations thrive when leaders possess not only a strong business acumen, but also a commitment to elevating their human enterprise. Pepperdine Graziadio’s hybrid MS in Organization Development program has earned an international reputation as the premier graduate degree in the organization development field and as an innovator of experiential learning. Designed for experienced professionals, the program offers a global perspective on strategic change and its impact on organizational effectiveness, while building multicultural competencies critical to business today. Students travel to domestic and international destinations on three different continents (China; Costa Rica; France; Watsonville, California; and Washington, DC) for intensive face-to-face courses in which they gain invaluable field experience at leadingedge businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Recent MS in Organization Development interventions include: • Lyon, France (fall 2024) • Costa Rica (spring 2025) Themes include collaboration, stakeholder engagement, bias-free AI, employee equity and inclusion.

Executive Doctor of Business Administration The Executive Doctor of Business Administration curriculum is an academically rigorous program designed specifically for the established executive who would like to deepen and sharpen their professional knowledge through applied research. Business executives enrolled in the program are equipped with the knowledge, competencies, and learning community needed to develop deep, research-based insights into

important contemporary business challenges and opportunities. Strongly committed to developing values-centered, purpose-driven leaders that seek to positively impact business practice and society, the program’s core philosophy is consistent with the values and principles that shape Graziadio Business School’s approach to high-touch, student-centered learning. DBA dissertations have already successfully covered scholarship on • Responsible consumption/circular economy • Boardroom diversity • Corporate governance of sustainability paradoxes • Sustainable housing • Indigenous businesses • Sustainability issue management in SMEs • Expanding healthcare access • Partnerships for sustainability • Homeownership access • African American participation in developing responsible AI • Clean energy adoption in the US • Diversity, equity, and inclusion and social equity • Clean energy adoption • Financial inclusion • Responsible governance and stakeholder engagement

Executive Certificate Strategic CSR Based upon the SEER Business Strategy (Social, Ethical, and Environmental Responsibility), this two-day program teaches how to apply its principles to create superior, sustainable, and profitable products and services. Instruction will go beyond the triple bottom line—people, planet, and profits—to introduce the fourth factor, “product.” The course is co-facilitated by SEER director Robert Bikel and Jolie Gutentag and features guest speakers on topics such as B corporations and circular economy.

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

Graduates and Enrollment

Degrees Offered

2024 Statistics

Graduates

Number

604

Faculty and Staff at the University

2,121

Faculty and Staff at the Institution

124

Student Enrollment at the University

8,976

Student Enrollment at the Institution

1,111

Undergraduate Attendance

Masters-Level Postgraduate Attendance 975 Doctoral Student Attendance

Bachelor Programs • Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM) Master’s Programs • Master of Science (MSc or MS) • Master of Business Administration (MBA) Doctoral Programs • Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Undergraduate Degree Programs • Online Bachelor of Science in Management (Degree Completion) Master’s Degree Programs • Online MS in Human Resources • Online MS in Management and Leadership • Online MS in Business Analytics • Online MBA • Full-Time MBA • Part-Time MBA • Executive MBA • Presidents and Key Executives MBA • MS in Applied Finance • MS in Business • MS in Business Analytics • MS in Global Business • MS in Organization Management • MS in Real Estate • MBA/Juris Doctor • MBA/Master of Public Policy Postgraduate Degree Programs • Executive Doctor of Business Administration

Graziadio Business School

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

PURPOSE We advance responsible management education to foster inclusive prosperity in a world of thriving ecosystems.

LETTER OF COMMITMENT

Graziadio Business School Graziadio Dean’s OfficeBusiness School o. 310.506.5500

pgbsdean@pepperdine.edu Dean’s Office 24255 Pacific Coast Highway o. 310.506.5500 Malibu, CA 90263-4451 pgbsdean@pepperdine.edu 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263

September 12, 2025 PRME 2025 I am once again pleased to affirm this report and our commitment to responsible management education. The principles of PRME steadfastly undergird our commitment to helping our students lead lives of service, purpose, and leadership, even as the context for that mission becomes ever more uncertain. As a values-driven business school in the US with a global student body, the challenges we face continue to deepen. It can be daunting to maintain commitment to social and environmental principles as political headwinds mount and corporate resolve appears to buckle. However, it is exactly times like these that a commitment to purpose provides clarity and strengthens resolve. This year our University has recommitted itself to greater purpose. As a school that draws inspiration from faith, we place the student at the heart of our enterprise. We exist to enable our students to fully live out their values in their careers, but more important, in their lives. Our purpose combines a clear strategic vision with a guiding stewardship for the aspirations and societal impact of our students. To achieve our vision, we commit ourselves to cutting-edge research and experiential learning opportunities that deliver tangible impact with the highest academic rigor. Our stewardship involves nurturing a strong community both within and beyond our walls and between our school and the surrounding business environments. This institutional commitment to purpose manifests chiefly in cultivating meaning for our students, alongside faculty, alumni, and partners. This meaning includes promoting business success, but extends far beyond that goal. As Viktor Frankl reminds us, true success flows from meaning, not the other way around. If we can guide our students toward lives of meaning, we are confident they, and our institution, will succeed, prepared to face the uncertainties of today and tomorrow. Sincerely,

Deborah Crown Dean, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

Graziadio Business School

INSTITUTIONAL ENGAGEMENT 51% to 75%

of faculty at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School actively contribute to our work with PRME, advancing responsible management education, or addressing sustainable development challenges through their work.

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

VALUES We place organizational responsibility and accountability to society and the planet at the core of what we do.

HOW WE DEFINE VALUES As part of Pepperdine University, the Graziadio Business School is committed to personal success that aligns with a greater good. Our foundational principles and values are meant to challenge students and inspire more fulfilling careers. A values-centered leader is one who believes ethics and profits need not be mutually exclusive to achieve success in business. In fact, we believe they should go hand in hand.

Who Champions Responsible Management Education at Our Institution • Individual leader • Interdisciplinary efforts across business school • Research or issue group, society, or club leading sustainability efforts

Student Voices

In later classes, I found like-minded peers and kindred professors who showed that a “third way” is possible: companies that not only seek profit but also deliver transparency, fairness, and positive environmental and social impact. From BSCI 635 (Legality, Morals, and Ethics), Responsible AI 698, and STGY 645—all within the SEER certificate program—I gained the frameworks to put this into practice. Together, these gave me both the conviction and the language to see myself as a responsible business leader and social impact entrepreneur. My Pepperdine education prepared me to lead with purpose, analyze opportunities through a multistakeholder lens, and pursue projects like public transit that create lasting benefits for society.

The following narratives demonstrate how Pepperdine Graziadio Business School has influenced students’ academic journeys and personal growth.

Yvonna Cázares is the owner of Viridian Management Group, a regulatory, public affairs, and AI strategy consultancy focused on stakeholders and impact.

Student Reflection: Yvonna Cázares, MBA ’25

Student Reflection: Daniel Goldstein, current student

One of my most powerful memories was during the pandemic and the George Floyd protests, when Pepperdine hosted a school-wide online prayer service. I cried more than I ever had in an academic setting, grieving with and for my fellow students, professors, and our families as we all faced rapid loss, change, and reckoning. Even online and apart, we were united in expressing our faiths and community. That moment showed me that Pepperdine was more than a school; it was a place where values and humanity could be lived out together. Through it all I stayed grounded in my values. I felt emboldened by my experience working in teams for the greater good. Transparency and building trust, as well as being of one’s word— integrity— remained central to me. I wanted to be

a part of or lead teams with openness to learning and curiosity; asked questions of oneself, one’s organization, and each other to spur creativity, knowledge sharing, and innovation.

Graziadio Business School

“At Pepperdine Graziadio, I have seen how much the program values ethics, sustainability, and creating a positive impact. I worked on a case study that looked at how a large corporation could build sustainable practices for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which showed me the complexity and importance of responsible decision-making. Dr. McGilvray’s sustainability class also gave me practical tools and a stronger sense of responsibility for the choices leaders make. Across my classes, questions of ethics and positive impact are built into the way we learn, and that has shaped how I see my role as a future leader.”

Turning the Tassel - Hiral Patidia MBA ’25 How did you get to Pepperdine? Before Pepperdine, I had carved out my own space in the business world—owning and operating Swarovski crystal businesses and launching a creative line that reflected my love for beauty, design, and storytelling. But even as I poured myself into building something from the ground up, I felt a persistent pull—an urge to stretch further and to challenge myself intellectually and to evolve beyond what I already knew. That’s what led me to Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. I wanted to ground my entrepreneurial spirit in advanced education to better understand the systems, strategy, and leadership it would take to scale a brand that could live at the intersection of culture, commerce, and community. I wasn’t just looking to grow a business. I was looking to grow as a leader who could build something that honored identity, challenged norms, and created meaningful impact. Pepperdine Graziadio gave me the space to do exactly that.

Where will you go from here? I will be stepping into my role as the cofounder of ManeRx—a culturally inspired, dermatologytested hair care line that honors heritage while championing innovation to formulate products that celebrate identity that is rooted in science and soul. I believe beauty can be more than skin deep. It can be healing. It can be heritage. And with the foundation Pepperdine has given me, I’m ready to bring that belief to life one product, one person, one strand at a time. From “Turning the Tassel” pepperdine.edu/ newsroom/articles/4-28-25-turning-the-tasselhiral-patadia.htm

What did you do at Graziadio? At Pepperdine, I fully showed up as a student, a leader, a collaborator, and a creator. I didn’t just pursue an MBA—I pursued meaning. I founded the Graziadio Business of Beauty Club because I saw a gap that I knew needed to be filled. I wanted to create a space where identity and industry could coexist and where beauty wasn’t just discussed but redefined for students to explore the beauty industry through a strategic, inclusive lens. And we did just that. Beyond the club, I competed in nearly every case competition, gratefully earning top placements and sharpening my ability to think critically and lead under pressure. I mentored first-year students, contributed to faculty research, and fully immersed myself in the Graziadio experience, pushing boundaries while staying purposeful. More than anything, it was about showing up for my community and being the kind of leader I believe the future of business demands.

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT 51% to 75% 51 of students at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School actively contribute to our work with PRME, advancing RME, or addressing sustainable development challenges through their work.

CELEBRATING VALUES The following demonstrates ways in which our institution celebrates values in various specializations. Ethics, sustainability, and socially responsible leadership are central to Graziadio’s identity and are embedded into the very fabric of our curriculum. Additionally, the SEER program— including its certificate in Socially, Environmentally, and Ethically Responsible Business Strategy— equips students to integrate environmental stewardship, corporate citizenship, and ethical innovation into business practice. The annual SEER Symposium convenes thought leaders, entrepreneurs, alumni, and students to explore how business can address systemic challenges with values-driven strategies. (bschool.pepperdine.edu) Pepperdine Graziadio also celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion through the Graziadio Diversity Council, which advances schoolwide initiatives aligned with the University Diversity Council, promoting inclusive hiring practices, recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and students, and programs that strengthen belonging across the community. The Center for Women in Leadership (CWL) strengthens the leadership capacity of women students, staff, and faculty while broadening dialogue on gender equity in business. (bschool.pepperdine.edu/about/diversity)

Graziadio Business School

Our many student organizations embody and celebrate the school’s commitments. The Graziadio Black Student Association, Latinx MBA Conexión, Asian American Pacific Islander Association, Out and Allied at Graziadio, and the Women’s Business Association create belonging, celebrate identity, and elevate cultural heritage while supporting leadership development. (community.pepperdine.edu)

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE PRME Focal Point at Graziadio Robert Bikel, the director of Socially‚ Environmentally‚ and Ethically Responsible (SEER) program, is also the official liaison to PRME for the business school. Bikel has been the director of Graziadio’s responsible management program since 2015. In addition to overseeing the SEER certificate curricula, serving as faculty advisor to the Net Impact chapter, and organizing sustainability events, including the school’s marquee SEER Symposium, Bikel has also overseen the reporting to PRME. He can be reached at robert.bikel@pepperdine.edu bschool.pepperdine.edu/academics/faculty/ robert-bikel

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

TEACH We transform our learning environments by integrating responsible management concepts and practices into our curriculum and pedagogy.

COURSES THAT SUPPORT RME Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business reports five courses in 2024 that support responsible management education and sustainable development goals.

Responsible Business Capstone | STGY 645 The Responsible Business capstone examines multidisciplinary values such as environmental stewardship, corporate citizenship, product/service excellence, and financial strength. Students are required to integrate these four values in building a blueprint for business sustainability. The course is taught from a practitioner’s point of view, using a combination of case studies, textbooks (two), current media, and guest speakers. Classes are interactive and consist of lectures, discussions, case analyses, presentations, videos, and skill-building exercises. The capstone paper requires students to prepare a business case for the SEER principles.

Green Finance | FINC 699 Green Finance provides students with an introduction of green and sustainability finance to understand the process of incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) as well as climate change into corporate and investment decision-making. The lectures, class discussions, weekly quiz, group project and group presentation, and final exam will analyze recent developments in financial instruments and regulations as well as investment strategies that incorporate ESG criteria, sustainability, and the impact on climate change and how these financial instruments are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are highlighted. This course also provides students with hands-on experience to work on a group project analyzing a company, ESG ratings, and a topic related to green and sustainability finance and provides thoughtful opportunities and challenges for corporations and investing stakeholders to play significant roles in fostering actions toward protecting earth from climate change and achieving the 17 goals of the UN SDGs.

Business Ethics and the Legal Environment | LEGL 698 In Business Ethics and the Legal Environment, students engage in case studies, readings, and projects that explore how managers and organizations navigate ethical challenges within legal and regulatory frameworks. Through the SEER lens (Social, Environmental, Ethical, and Financial Responsibility), students learn to evaluate decisions that balance profit with broader responsibilities to society, the environment, and stakeholders. The course emphasizes systems thinking, critical analysis, and practical application, preparing students to lead organizations that are both legally compliant and ethically responsible.

Graziadio Business School

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging | OTMT 683 This course explores the management of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) at work and how the human resources management function can contribute to leveraging diversity as a competitive advantage. Using a multilevel approach, the course identifies how individuals, work relationships, teams, and organizations employ DEIB principles. Designed to better prepare HR professionals to meet the challenge of diversity in organizations, the course is taught from an HR practitioner’s point of view using case studies, textbooks, external readings and videos, and current media. The application of DEIB principles to actionable HR topics is studied during interactive class sessions, employing discussion, experiential exercises, presentations, case analyses, and team projects. By the end of this course, students will have a holistic appreciation of the HR tools necessary to implement effective DEIB management practices.

Employee Well-Being and Burnout | BSCI 698 1.

Define burnout, identify its causes, and explain different perspectives on well-being, highlighting how these concepts influence individual experiences

Differentiate between various work orientations and articulate their personal definitions of success, while analyzing common misconceptions related to employee productivity

Identify and apply interventions from positive psychology and strengths-based approaches to enhance wellbeing in professional settings

Evaluate strategies for managing workplace stress, explain the importance of recovery, and apply techniques to create a positive work environment

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

TEACHING AWARDS In 2024, three awards were given to faculty and educators at Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business.

Granter: Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Grantee: Darren Good

2025 Howard A. White Award

The George Awards, hosted by the Graziadio Business School, recognize outstanding members and partners of the Graziadio community who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and a commitment to business and societal impact. Faculty Award Criteria: The faculty award specifically recognizes a faculty member whose commitment to teaching exemplifies personal leadership, excellence, and generosity of spirit.

Granter: Pepperdine University Grantee: Lynda Palmer

Award Description: This annual award honors the legacy of Pepperdine University’s fifth president, Howard A. White, who was a gifted teacher, history scholar, and a faithful steward of the University throughout his 30 years of service to Pepperdine. The highest distinction given at Pepperdine for teaching, the Howard A. White Award recognizes outstanding educators who embody the institution’s commitment to excellence. This award highlights the work of educators who inspire and challenge students to think critically and creatively as well as those who instill in their students a lifetime love of learning. 2024 Graziadio Business School Awardee: Lynda H. Palmer, practitioner of marketing, director of Education to Business (E2B), Graziadio Business School “She’s a beautiful human being, the embodiment of a transformational leader and educator.”

Excellence in Education Award for Teaching Leaders Granter: Education 2.0 Converence Grantee: Gary Mangiofico

Award Description: Gary Mangiofico, executive professor at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, was awarded the Excellence in Education Award for Teaching Leaders at the prestigious Education 2.0 Conference. This global recognition highlighted his profound contributions to shaping future leaders through innovative education practices and his unwavering commitment to advancing learning as a force for societal good.

The George Awards

Graziadio Business School

Award Description:

EDUCATOR RECOGNITION At Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, we recognize educators for quality of teaching in the following ways: • Annual teaching excellence awards • Faculty promotion and tenure consideration • Course evaluation scores • Institutional recognition events

TEACHING VOICES The following statements demonstrate ways in which educators at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School support sustainability and responsible management in their classrooms.

Nelson Granados on Responsible AI in Doctoral Research From Nelson Granados, Professor of Information Systems and Technology Management and Academic Director - Executive Doctorate in Business Administration “One of the main components of curriculum redesign in our Executive DBA is based on how to safely and responsibly incorporate AI into

the tools for our students to perform research, from literature search all the way to delivering a dissertation manuscript. One of the keys is to involve the stakeholders in the conversation, including professors and students. Another important design driver is to recognize that there is no silver bullet, since incorporating AI to meet an objective has both pros and cons. Therefore, it is a matter of finding the sweet spot of policies, guidelines, and best practices that leverages AI for optimal performance in business research, constrained by the limitations and safeguards to do it in a responsible and ethical manner.”

Augus Harjoto on creating the Green Finance Course From Augus Harjoto, Professor of Finance “Inspired by the PRME meeting at European Business Ethics Network (EBEN) in Nottingham in 2015, I had the idea of developing a course that integrates ESG into core finance subjects (i.e., corporate finance, investment, and risk management). While I continue my research on ESG, I started to realize the urgency of financial markets to price the climate risk and even more importantly, to develop financial markets to address climate change. In 2023 I was offered the opportunity to teach Green Finance at EM Strasbourg. Realizing that France is one of the leading countries in the EU and the world in ESG and climate impact reporting, I spent a bit of time understanding the development of standards and regulations on corporate reporting and impact investing in the European countries. Having the experience and access to ESG data and climate risk allows me to create projects where students have the experience to price climate risk and to evaluate the difference between ESG investing and impact investing. As ESG investing and climate finance continue to evolve, students need to be exposed to the role of financial markets in transitioning our society to address climate change issues.”

Lynda Palmer on Responsible Experiential Learning at Graziadio From Lynda Palmer, Director of Industry Collaborative Learning and E2B (Education to Business) “At Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, we intentionally seek out company partners for our Industry Collaborative Learning (ICL) and E2B projects whose missions and initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We believe that engaging students in projects that address real-world challenges related to sustainability, equity, and social impact not only strengthens their business acumen but also deepens their understanding of responsible leadership. In the academic year 2024–25, 45 percent of our completed projects directly aligned with one or more of the UN SDGs. These partnerships reflect Pepperdine’s commitment to purpose-driven business education and provide students with mission-aligned opportunities to make a meaningful impact while gaining practical, hands-on experience.“

Experiential Learning To a great extent Teaching and learning at our institution strongly encourage experiential learning.

Learning Mindset A lot Our institution supports a lifelong learning mindset significantly through teaching and learning.

Method of Teaching and Learning Hybrid Combination of in-person and virtual learning methods.

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE SDGs and Teaching at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School The following chart summarizes survey data from the most recent academic year on facultyreported SDG integration by depth for each goal (one depth per SDG per course instance). Bars use the UN SDG color for that goal with decreasing opacity to indicate depth: most vivid = Primary course focus, then Multi-Session module, Single assignment, and faintest = Brief mention. Counts reflect course sections (i.e., multiple instructors/ sections are counted separately).

SDG Coverage by Depth SDG 1: No Poverty SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being SDG 4: Quality Education SDG 5: Gender Equality SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 10: Reduced Inequality SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 13: Climate Action SDG 14: Life Below Water SDG 15: Life on Land SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal 0

Primary course focus

Sustainability-Related Course Innovations 2 7

5 8

New experiential module (e.g., E2B, flash consulting, etc.) New sustainability related cases Use of sustainability analytics or ESG data sets Cross-disciplinary co-teaching Adoption of open educational resources (OER) Simulations

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Multi session module

15 Count of courses

Single assignment

Brief mention

Depth is concentrated in SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), which lead in multi-session modules (eight and nine courses, respectively) and include primary-focus coverage (SDG 8: three, SDG 9: two). Additional primary-focus coverage appears in SDG 11 three courses), and in SDGs 3, 10, 12 (two each), with single instances in SDGs 5, 7, 13. Several goals are frequently referenced at a brief-mention level—especially SDGs 16, 17, 1, 2— indicating breadth of exposure with opportunities to deepen coverage. Environmental goals SDGs 13–15 are present but skew toward single/brief mentions relative to multi-session or primary integration. Faculty also reported sustainability-related innovations in their courses over the past several years, with new sustainability-related cases and experiential elements (including E2B projects) representing the majority of innovations. The use of ESG-related data sets also grew within the same time period.

Additionally the survey gave insights into how each of the school’s disciplines focused on the SDGs. The following heatmap shows SDG focus by discipline. With low numbers of respondents it’s not possible to draw broad conclusions, but marketing faculty appear to cover the broadest number of SDGs.

Although the sample size is small, the heatmap shows clear patterns in SDG coverage across disciplines. Marketing and finance courses exhibit the broadest and deepest engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals, touching many goals at various intensity levels. In contrast, information systems and economics are scarcely represented, and decision sciences shows only limited coverage of a handful of SDGs. If behavioral science and organizational theory and management are considered together, their combined SDG footprint approaches that of the more engaged disciplines, with particular strength on social goals (e.g., SDGs 3, 4, 5, and 11). These observations are indicative rather than definitive; with only a handful of respondents per discipline the results should be interpreted cautiously and not generalized without further data.

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RESEARCH We study people, organizations, institutions, and the state of the world to inspire responsible management and education practice.

RESEARCH VS RESEARCH FOR RME/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 58

Peer-reviewed articles were published by Pepperdine Graziadio Business School from this past calendar year.

Peer-reviewed articles published by Pepperdine Graziadio Business School from this past calendar year in support of RME.

RESEARCH FUNDING In 2024 Pepperdine Graziadio Business School was awarded funding for research that is:

Institution Specific

SOCIALIZING RESEARCH In 2024 Pepperdine Graziadio Business School contributed research findings to: • Public events and lectures • Open-access platforms • National media • Local media • Research collaborations • Social media and digital outreach • Industry and business networks • Community organizations

RESEARCH AWARDS In 2024 Pepperdine Graziadio Business School was awarded two research awards for responsibilityand/or sustainability-related research.

AI 2030 Scholar of the Year Granter: AI 2030 Grantee: Cole Short

Award Description: The award reflects our commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and sustainability in AI innovation, recognizing remarkable contributions that drive the responsible AI movement forward across industries.

Research Grants and Funding Granter: Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Grantee: Various

PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO RME AND/OR SUSTAINABILITY Supply and demand for gender diversity in corporate leadership—the critical mass: evidence from Greece | DOI Author: Maretno Agus Harjoto, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: International Business This study aims to examine whether a change in the regulatory requirement toward gender quotas for corporate leadership significantly affects the demand and therefore increases the presence of women directors and women CEOs. Examining the supply side, the study also examines whether the supply for women directors and women CEOs based on the presence of qualified women who currently hold upper, middle, or lower

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management positions is positively related with the presence of women directors and women CEOs. Furthermore, based on the critical mass hypothesis, this study examines whether the presence of women CEOs and critical mass for women directors bring significant impacts on firms’ financial and environmental, and social and corporate governance (ESG) performance during the subsequent period.

Economic Methods for the Selection of Renewable Energy Sources: A Case Study Author: James A. Di Lellio, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: Finance, Business Administration Governments typically use the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) to compare electricity‑generating technologies, yet LCOE struggles to compare options with different lifespans and cost structures. By comparing LCOE and the internal rate of return (IRR) on gas, hydrogen, nuclear, tidal, and other renewables and introducing a new sustained cost of energy (SCOE) metric calculated over a common operating period, the study provides clearer rankings that favor long‑lived, capital‑intensive technologies. It concludes that subsidies or carbon‑pricing schemes are necessary to meet net‑zero targets without burdening consumers, underscoring the need for long‑term investment in renewable energy.

Who Volunteers? Demographic Variation in Volunteering Across 22 Countries Author: Cristina B. Gibson, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: International Business, Business Administration Volunteering promotes individual and societal well‑being, yet little is known about its distribution across demographic groups and countries. Drawing on data from the Global Flourishing Study (202,898 participants across 22 countries), this research maps volunteering by age, gender, marital and employment status, religious service attendance, education, and immigration status. Volunteering rates vary widely—from 51 percent in Nigeria and 46 percent in Indonesia to below 10 percent in Japan, Poland, and Egypt. Rates are higher among people with more education and frequent religious service attendance. The findings encourage organizations, governments, and public health officials to make volunteering opportunities accessible, recognizing their contribution to thriving communities and partnerships.

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Road to Net Zero: Greenness of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and California Green Building Standards Code in the Multifamily Sector | DOI Authors: Michael Cusumano,Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, Dongshin Kim,Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, Abraham Park, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: Finance, Economics This study evaluates the effectiveness of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) sustainability programs in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in multifamily buildings. We find that CALGreen effectively reduces GHG emissions by 7.2%–11.6%. However, among properties completed during the CALGreen period (on or after 2015), LEED-certified properties exhibit 14.1%–20.8% higher GHG emissions compared to non-LEED-certified buildings. We attribute this result to the emphasis on theoretical design versus actual energy performance of those programs. Furthermore, our research reveals that LEED-certified buildings completed before the implementation of CALGreen command a rent premium of 4.7%–5.4%. However, this LEED premium diminishes during the CALGreen period. Non-LEED properties completed during the CALGreen period show limited evidence of rent premiums.

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How to Sustain Sustainable Practices? The Journey Toward Zero‑Waste Lifestyle | DOI Author: Cristel Antonia Russell, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: Marketing Sustaining sustainable practices in a market whose infrastructure continues to prioritize unsustainable options is not easy. It becomes even more challenging when living sustainably involves interwoven practices that are deeply embedded and interconnected. We focus on one such system of sustainable practices and explore consumers’ journey toward zero waste lifestyle—a system of practices that is not yet institutionalized. Using a qualitative multimethod approach and a practicetheoretical lens, this research uncovers the iterative process through which this system of practices develops around the zero waste metameaning, a driving force common to all associated practices. Our analysis reveals a set of adaptive capabilities that enable carriers of these practices to gradually develop and stabilize the interwoven system that scaffolds the zero waste lifestyle. The gradual institutionalization of this system of practices requires a mutualization of capabilities among carriers who share a common metameaning. By examining the maintenance of sustainable practices through a practicetheoretical lens, this research offers new ways to encourage and promote the transition toward more sustainable lifestyles.

Others matter when mothers return: An investigation of relational movement and its role in post-maternity leave reentry transitions | DOI Author: Dana M. Sumpter, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: Organizational Behavior Post-maternity leave reentry, the period when mothers return to work following a maternity leave, is a profound transition in a woman’s life that often sets the foundation for her work and career progression. While scholars have looked at the intraindividual aspects of this transition, the experience of reentry extends beyond the returning mother. This transition occurs in a dynamic relational and organizational system that impacts a returning mother’s adjustment to work. In this study, we bring relational dynamics to the forefront of this transition as we examine how and why returning mothers’ work-based relationships shift during reentry and the implications this has for returning mothers’ readjustment. Drawing on qualitative data from academic mothers’ retrospective accounts of their reentry transitions, our findings reveal that returning mothers experience relational movement, defined as perceived shifts in one’s relational experiences. Our findings provide evidence of how relational movement plays a role in facilitating returning mothers’ well-being as they readjust to work. Our theorizing of how and why relational movement occurs during reentry transitions brings to focus the complex, changing nature of women’s relationships with colleagues during this time, as well as implications for women’s broader workplace and career experiences.

International Diffusion of Sustainable Innovative Automobile Engine Technologies | DOI Author: Mark A. Tribbitt, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: International Business Concerns regarding the health of the planet and its economies have led to an increased focus on sustainable new technology (SNT). However, the diffusion of SNT-based products appears uneven globally. Research informs that diffusion can be influenced by multiple factors, including country policies and private sector initiatives (Albino et al., 2014). This study uses a top management team perspective (Hambrick & Mason, 1984) to analyze auto manufacturers’ worldwide sales of electric vehicles (EVs) to understand and explain this uneven diffusion. The data indicate that individual subcategories of EVs are developing at different rates and that significant differences exist among countries and manufacturers. These observations suggest that not all subcategories of EVs are equal in the minds of consumers, manufacturers, and governments. Mandates from the European Union (EU) and other entities that no new internal combustion engine vehicles can be sold after 2035 are forcing all parties in the automotive industry to work earnestly to develop EV-related technology. From a policy perspective, this research shows that government policy can work to both motivate consumers to purchase EVs and manufacturers to produce EVs. In addition, we identify avenues for future research.

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Do environmental taxes and renewable energy consumption play a role in climate change mitigation? International evidence from developing economies | DOI Author: Brandon K. Parsons, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: Economics Climate change and environmental degradation are largely attributed to increased carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). This study investigates the effectiveness of environmental taxes and renewable energy consumption on reducing CO2 emissions in 36 developing countries from 1994 to 2018, using the Cross-Sectional Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) panel data methodology. Our findings indicate that renewable energy consumption plays a crucial role in lowering CO2 emissions, underscoring the need for increased investment in renewable energy infrastructure and technological advancements. Conversely, environmental taxes do not have a significant impact on emissions reduction in these countries, possibly due to inadequate implementation and institutional constraints. These findings suggest that policies promoting renewable energy, such as subsidies, incentives, and investments in research and development, are crucial for achieving meaningful emission reductions. Therefore, international efforts may be more effective by providing financial support and technological assistance rather than emphasizing environmental taxes, which may not be suitable for developing nations.

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Shifting sands: How exchange rate volatility shapes income distribution in high-income countries | DOI Author: Brandon K. Parsons, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: Economics This study examines the effect of exchange rate volatility (ERV), depreciating ER movements, and appreciating ER movements on income inequality in 31 high-income countries from 1990 to 2021. Using panel data econometric models and data from multiple sources, the findings indicate that ERV increases Gini coefficients, disproportionately benefits the top 10/20%, and negatively impacts the bottom 40/50%. The study also finds ER depreciation exacerbates income inequality, while appreciations have uncertain effects. The effects of ERV are stronger on the market Gini coefficient than the net Gini coefficient, highlighting the important role of redistribution policies. The study underscores the critical role of ERs and their volatility in influencing income distribution. It also highlights the importance of ER management policies and income redistribution mechanisms.

Cultivating the experience of dignity at work during digital transformation: Protective and proactive strategies for leaders and organizations | DOI Authors: Kevin S. Groves , Jaclyn A. Margolis, Cristina B. GIbson, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Date of publication: September 2025 Department: Human Resource Management, Behavioral Science Ubiquitous digital transformation technologies such as robotics, generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, large language models (LLMs), and other digital applications automate both mechanistic and creative work processes, which represent potential advancements never imagined a decade ago. Yet many view digital transformation as not only redefining the experience of work, but also undermining the humanity of organizations. Employees across the spectrum of skill levels, job classes, and wages also face unprecedented and existential threats to their sense of self-worth,

value, and esteem, which collectively embody dignity. Given the onslaught of these technological advances and digital transformation initiatives across industries and sectors, leaders need a set of practical strategies that both protect employees from threats to their dignity as well as proactively cultivate the experience of dignity in their organizations. To meet this growing need, this article presents executives, management teams, HR professionals, and other leaders with evidencebased approaches for protecting and promoting the experience of dignity at work. Grounded in the latest thinking and research on dignity in the workplace, this article offers practical strategies for investing in protective mechanisms (policies and processes) that insulate employees from aspects of work that erode the experience of dignity, as well as proactive mechanisms (practices and behaviors) that cultivate meaningful opportunities to experience dignity at work.

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ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE Sustainability in Research 2025 Keyword analysis (assisted by generative AI) shows that faculty research touched on 12 of the 17 SDGs, with strongest representation in Goals 5, 8, 9, 10, and 16. In addition to the majority of research published in peerreviewed academic journals, our faculty published their findings and thought leadership across a wide range of outlets including practitioner journals, popular press, and wide-circulation blogs.

SDG Representation in Faculty Research - Tiered (Lower Tier = Primary SDGs; Upper Tier = Secondary SDGs)

9 5

4 6 3

4 3

2 2

1 SDG 0 1

SDG 0 2

SDG 3

SDG 4

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3 2

1 SDG 5

SDG 0 6

SDG 7

SDG 8

SDG 9

SDG 10 SDG 11 SDG 12 SDG 13 SDG 0 14 SDG 0 15 SDG 16 SDG 0 17

Notable Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Sustainability Research AY 2024–25 Graziadio faculty author(s) Publication

Journal/Outlet (year)

Relevant SDGs (primary bolded)

James A. Di Lellio

Economic Methods for the Selection of Renewable Energy Sources: A Case Study

Sustainability (2025)

SDG 7; SDG 13

Cristina B. Gibson

Who Volunteers? Demographic Variation in Volunteering Across 22 Countries

Scientific Reports (2025)

SDG 11; SDG 3, SDG 17

Cristel A. Russell

How to Sustain Sustainable Practices? Journal of Consumer The Journey Toward Zero-Waste Lifestyle Research (2025)

SDG 12

Dana M. Sumpter

Others Matter When Mothers Return: Relational Movement in Post-Maternity-Leave Re-entry

Journal of Vocational Behavior (2024)

SDG 3, SDG 5

Mark A. Tribbitt

International Diffusion of Sustainable Innovative Automobile Engine Technologies

Corporate Governance SDG 9; SDG 11, & Sustainability SDG 13 Review (2024)

Brandon K. Parsons

Do Environmental Taxes and Renewable Energy Consumption Play a Role in Climate-Change Mitigation?

Research in Globalization (2024)

Michael Cusumano, Dongshin Kim, Abraham Park

Road to net zero: Greenness of Real Estate Economics SDG 13, SDG 7; Leadership in Energy and Environmental (2024) SDG 11, SDG 12 Design and California Green Building Standards Code in the multifamily sector

Maretno Agus Harjoto

Ethics and Banking: Do Banks Divest Their Kind?

Journal of Business Ethics (2024)

Brandon K. Parsons

Shifting Sands: Exchange-Rate Volatility and Income Distribution in High-Income Countries

Structural Change and SDG 10 Economic Dynamics (2024)

Kevin S. Groves, Jaclyn A. Margolis, Cristina B. Gibson

Cultivating the Experience of Dignity at Work: Protective & Proactive Strategies

Organizational Dynamics (2024)

SDG 8

Maretno Agus Harjoto

Supply and Demand for Gender Diversity in Corporate Leadership – The Critical Mass

American Journal of Business (2024)

SDG 5; SDG 8

SDG 13, SDG 7; SDG 9

SDG 16; SDG 13

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PARTNER We engage people from business, government, civil society, and academia to advance responsible and accountable management education and practice.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

• AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)

Pepperdine’s 11th Annual SEER Symposium – System‑Wide Solutions for Global Challenges

• Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) • Local institutions and associations • B Academics • B Local Los Angeles • Conscious Capitalism (Los Angeles Chapter)

STUDENT ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIPS • Net Impact • Asian American Pacific Islander Association • Graziadio Black Student Association • Graziadio Women’s Business Association • Latinx MBA Conexion • Out and Allied at Graziadio

Date: March 18, 2025 Overview: Hosted at Parks Project in Culver City, the SEER (Socially, Environmentally and Ethically Responsible) Symposium convened visionary leaders to explore how system‑level challenges require system‑level solutions. Director Rob Bikel moderated conversations featuring Bonnie Nixon (Long Beach Container Terminal), Gretchen Peters (Alliance to Counter Crime Online), Keith Eshelman (Parks Project) and Matt Petersen (L.A. Cleantech Incubator). Discussions highlighted cleantech innovation, ethical entrepreneurship, and multi‑stakeholder collaboration, giving attendees fresh perspectives on addressing complex global challenges and reaffirming Pepperdine Graziadio’s commitment to shaping leaders who prioritize purpose alongside profit. Relevant SDGs: industry, innovation and infrastructure; climate action (primary), with sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, peace and justice, and partnerships as secondary goals.

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Beyond the Buzzword: The Truth Behind Scaling a Sustainable Business Date: October 30, 2024 Overview: Cohosted at the KINN in Venice by Conscious Capitalism Los Angeles and sponsored by Pepperdine Graziadio’s SEER program, the Beyond the Buzzword panel brought together sustainability leaders from Rivian, Homeboy Textiles, Avocado Green Mattress, and MaCher. Moderated by podcast host Sebastian Naum, the discussion offered candid insights into the real challenges of building and scaling sustainable companies— balancing mission with growth, creating resilient business models, and driving systemic environmental and social impact. The event aligned with PRME principles by fostering cross‑sector dialogue and empowering students and community members to engage with practical models of responsible business. Networking, refreshments, and live music created a welcoming space for conscious entrepreneurs and business leaders. Relevant SDGs: responsible consumption and production and industry, innovation, and infrastructure (primary), with decent work and economic growth, climate action, reduced inequalities and partnerships as secondary goals..

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Net Impact x Finance Club— Green Finance Collaboration Event Date: November 26, 2024 Overview: In a joint event hosted by the Net Impact and Finance Clubs, students delved into the expanding field of green and sustainable finance. Maretno Agus Harjoto, professor of finance and ESG‑investing expert, led an interactive session on aligning financial performance with environmental impact. Participants explored how capital can be mobilized to deliver environmental outcomes, linking clean energy, innovation, decent growth, and responsible finance. The evening concluded with a networking dinner at Duke’s Malibu, fostering cross‑club collaboration and professional dialogue. Relevant SDGs: climate action and partnerships for the goals (primary), with affordable and clean energy, industry and innovation, decent work and economic growth, and responsible consumption and production as secondary goals..

Net Impact Speaker Series: How I Was a Sustainability Change Leader in Nonprofit, Private, and Public Sectors: Confessions of a Graduate Student Date: April 8, 2025 Overview: As part of the Net Impact speaker series, Yvonna Cazares (MBA ’25) shared lessons from two decades of leadership across the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. A sustainability advocate and founder of Viridian Management, Cazares discussed tools for mobilizing stakeholders, securing funding, influencing policy, and fostering community resilience. Her reflections underscored the value of purpose‑driven leadership and offered students a firsthand view of mission‑driven work across sectors. Relevant SDGs: peace, justice, and strong institutions and partnerships for the goals (primary), with sustainable cities and communities, reduced inequalities, decent work and economic growth, and quality education as secondary goals.

Para Ella Symposium (Prospanica) Date: July 25, 2025 Overview: Hosted at Pepperdine’s Executive Center in Malibu by the Partnership Development team, the Para Ella Symposium convened more than 120 participants, faculty, and Latina professionals for a day of inspiring sessions and meaningful conversations. The event championed women’s empowerment and leadership while fostering connections across professional networks. Participants explored ways to reduce inequalities, advance careers, and encourage education and mentorship, supporting Pepperdine Graziadio’s commitment to inclusive, values‑driven leadership. Relevant SDGs: gender equality (primary), with reduced inequalities, decent work and economic growth, quality education, and partnerships as secondary goals.

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Partnerships at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

• Hyundai Capital America

• Northrop Grumman

Overview: In response to shifting dynamics in graduate education—including rising tuition costs, new federal loan limits, and tightening international student pipelines—Pepperdine Graziadio Business School has adopted a corporate partnership pathway to drive sustainable enrollment growth. This approach focuses on cultivating relationships with organizations that offer tuition reimbursement benefits and aligning our graduate and executive programs with their workforce development goals.

• iHeartMedia

• Randstad

• JSL Technologies

• Reyes Family of Businesses

Benefits for partners include: • 10 percent tuition discount on graduate degree programs

• Kaiser Permanente • Mattel

• PIHRA

• Valley Industry and Commerce Association

Purpose Partners In addition, the Graziadio School is proud to extend similar educational benefits and considerations for select nonprofit leaders including Los Angeles Mission and Westside Regional Center.

Academic Partnership:

• Waived application fees

In 2025 Graziadio entered into an exciting dual enrollment agreement with Kaiser Medical School: medical students can add a year to their medical education program by attending the full-time MBA program at Pepperdine Graziadio.

• Monthly professional development webinars at no cost

Other and Pending Partnerships:

• 20 percent discount on executive education programs

By partnering with companies already investing in employee education, the school connects with a motivated, partially funded student population while providing value to employers through leadership development, custom training, and enhanced talent retention.

Current Corporate Partners: Pepperdine Graziadio Business School has established direct memoranda of understanding (MOUs), benefit agreements through employer associations and memberships that extend eligibility for educational benefits. Current partners include: • AEG

• CoolSys

• Aon

• Dollar Shave Club

• Activision Blizzard

• Farmers Insurance

• Amazon

• FOX

• Boeing

• Honest Company

• Caltech/JPL

• HRL Laboratories

The following partnerships include a variety of touchpoints including possible academic considerations, graduate degree programs, executive education programs, or other engagements: • City of Redondo Beach • Daily Pay • Electro Rent • Forte Foundation • Granada Hills Charter Schools • Latin X MBA (National) • Latinas in Beauty • Los Angeles World Airport • National Black MBA • Palibu (Malibu and Pacific Palisades) Chamber of Commerce • Prospanica

• Cheesecake Factory

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Partner Professional Development Events Executive and Professional Development Series • Jim Salas — Leading Gen Z (November 7, 2024 and November 21, 2024) • Dave Smith — 2025 Vision: Insights and Predictions for Q1 Economic Trends, Part One (January 9, 2025 and January 23, 2025)

Following the devastating fires of last winter, the partnership office arranged a series of webinars and info sessions meant to help chamber members recover and find resilience. • Robert Bikel — B-Corp and Sustainability (March 6, 2025)

• Bernard Péan — From Care to Commerce: Elevating Clinical Expertise with Business Insights (February 20, 2025)

• Jim Salas — Marketing (April 9, 2025)

• Mark Allen — Maximizing Your Most Valuable Asset: Strategic Talent Management (March 6, 2025 and March 20, 2025)

Industry Collaborative Learning

• Jim Salas — Pivot to Prosper Post-Wildfires (March 27, 2025) • Robert Woodcock — Harnessing Individual Strengths: A Guide to Building High-Performing Teams (April 3, 2025 and April 17, 2025) • Demos Vardiabasis — Executive Series: 2025 Economic Outlook (April 15, 2025 and May 28, 2025) • Dana Sumpter — Building Positive Work Relationships Across Differences (May 1, 2025) • Kimber Maderazzo — Executive Series: The Executive Edge—How Strategic Connections Fuel Bold Career Moves (May 15, 2025) • Jaclyn Margolis — Employee Well-Being and Burnout, Part One (June 5, 2025) • John Mooney — Executive Series: Digital-Age Leadership (July 10, 2025) • Jennifer Franczak — Executive Series: Strategic Communication for Leaders (July 17, 2025, rescheduled) • Cristel Russell — Executive Series: Consumer Insights in a Fragmented Media World (August 7, 2025) • Kevin Groves — Executive Series: Building Leadership Bench Strength (August 21, 2025)

Palibu Chamber of Commerce Executive Training Series

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• Darren Good — Mindfulness (April 17, 2025) • Kyle Murphy — Strategy (May 22, 2025)

Industry Collaborative Learning (ICL) is the umbrella for Pepperdine Graziadio’s experiential education, integrating industry engagement directly into the classroom. Students apply theory to practice through a wide variety of modalities, including client-based projects (E2B, E2C, Applied Strategic Plans, MS in Organization Development client practicums), global experiences (Global Business Intensives, trimester study abroad, field trips, and site visits), and professional immersion (cooperative internships, industry mentors, and shadowing). Additional formats range from business plan and case competitions to applied case studies, financial analysis, consulting sprints, cultural assessments, executive interviews, and simulations. Engagement with industry practitioners is woven throughout via guest speakers, executive series, symposia, coteaching, and contemporary issues seminars. Collectively, these ICL modalities foster values-driven leadership by immersing students in real business contexts where analytical rigor meets ethical responsibility.

E2B

E2C

Pepperdine’s E2B program connects MBA students with companies on real-world client projects. Several recent engagements carried strong sustainability and social impact dimensions:

Through E2C, Pepperdine students work with nonprofits to build organizational capacity. Projects in 2024–25 highlighted community and sustainability missions:

• MBET (Marine Biology and Environmental Technologies, LLC) – Students created a threeyear marketing plan for Miracle of the Sea, supporting an ocean- and environmentalscience-based company.

• Friends of the Los Angeles River – Partnership supporting an environmental nonprofit dedicated to river restoration and community engagement.

• SDGs: 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 14 (Life Below Water) • Homeboy Electronics Recycling – Teams developed a strategic marketing plan to increase recovery of high-value electronics, supporting Homeboy Industries’ e-waste social enterprise. • SDGs: 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) • Laguna County Sanitation District – Students analyzed growth modeling for a wastewater reclamation plant, supporting long-term sustainable infrastructure planning. • SDGs: 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) • Sentry Living Solutions – Consulting work assessed alignment for an organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. • SDG: 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

• SDGs: 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 15 (Life on Land) • Arkansas Valley Habitat for Humanity – Students supported affordable housing initiatives in Fort Smith, Arkansas. • SDG: 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) • Westside Food Bank (Santa Monica, California) and Contra Costa County Food Security Collaborative (Concord, California) – Teams worked with nonprofits addressing hunger and food insecurity. • SDG: 2 (Zero Hunger) • Safe Place for Youth (Los Angeles, California) and My Friend’s Place (Los Angeles, California) – Projects assisted nonprofits providing housing and services for unhoused youth. • SDG: 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) • Jazz Hands for Autism – Support for an organization advancing inclusion for autistic individuals.

• Union Rescue Mission – Students developed a communications plan for one of the nation’s largest missions dedicated to poverty and homelessness alleviation.

• SDG: 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

• SDG: 1 (No Poverty)

• SDG: 4 (Quality Education)

• Visiting Angels – Students identified technological interventions to make home care more affordable and accessible, supporting aging-in-place.

• I Have a Dream Foundation – Work with a nonprofit providing educational opportunity for underserved youth.

• SDG: 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) • Teladoc Health – Students designed a performance dashboard for one of the world’s largest telehealth providers, improving accountability and patient outcomes. • SDG: 3 (Good Health and Well-Being)

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MS in Organization Development MS in Organization Development intensives and practicums integrate live consulting for organizations worldwide. Many recent projects engaged directly with sustainability, inclusion, and equity: • France Intensive (Fall 2024) – Teams worked with Hotel de Ville (Lyon City Hall) and other institutions on change management. » SDG: 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) • Costa Rica Intensive (Spring 2025) – Projects included: » Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (LATAM): Designed frameworks for trustworthy, equitable, and sustainable AI. » SDGs: 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities) » HP, Inc.: Expanded inclusion efforts to create stronger internal employee networks. » SDG: 10 (Reduced Inequalities) » Zoetis Financial Services: Built a CRM framework to support long-term growth goals. » SDGs: uncertain » Promerica Bank: Strengthened interdepartmental collaboration to align with strategic goals. » SDGs: uncertain

Global Business Intensives As mentioned above Global Business Intensives with sustainability foci included the following destinations interacting with a wide variety of businesses and other organizations:

Destination

Faculty

Organizations Visited

South Africa – Social Entrepreneurship in South Africa (Fall 2024)

Lead: Rick Walton Rowan Spazzoli Consulting, Sparks Impact Support: Jennifer Franczak Fellowship, Taking Care of Business, I Love Coffee, Sustainability Institute, Carbon Disclosure South Africa, Wine Arc, Victoria Yards, SAB Foundation

Argentina – Global Business in Latin Leads: Kimber Maderazzo America (Spring 2025) and Jim Salas

Argentina Chamber of Commerce and Services, Piedra Negra Winery, IDEX.LA Fundacion, Red Cross Argentina, DHL Argentina, Pfizer Argentina, Santa Susana Estate, Globant, Terrible Enfant

Switzerland – Managing Food and Beverage Products for Global Markets (Spring 2025)

Nestlé Headquarters, Obrist Winery, WTO, FAO, Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, Distillerie du Léman, Brasserie du Jorat, Caritas

Lead: Cristel Russel Support: Clark Johnson

Ireland – Managing Global Business Lead: John Mooney Operations in the Digital Economy Support: Jillian Alderman (Spring 2025)

Citibank Innovation Lab, Autodesk, IDA Ireland, LinkedIn, Smurfit Graduate School of Business, Microsoft, Mastercard, ServiceNow, Amazon Web Services, Fidelity Investments, Stripe

Italy – Multigenerational Family Businesses in Tuscany (Spring 2025)

Lorenzo Di Medici University, Cassetti Jewelry, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani, Maselli Bottega d’Arte, Terra Di Siena, Tenuta Torciano Winery, Mokaflor

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Leads: Darren Good and Mark Tribbitt

CASE COMPETITIONS Reyes Coca-Cola Sustainability Challenge Date: February 7, 2025 Overview: Hosted by Reyes Coca‑Cola Bottling in partnership with the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this Pepperdine‑exclusive case competition challenged graduate students to design circular‑economy solutions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. SEER certificate students Olivia Tran, Christina Lvov, Maria Hernandez, Kaila Crouch, and Michael Hernandez earned top honors for proposals that included Sustainability Booth Recycling Zones and Reverse Vending Machines integrated with Coca‑Cola’s +One app. Their winning concept embodied the SEER model by aligning environmental innovation, social impact, ethical leadership, and business strategy in the context of a global event. Relevant SDGs:

Media Quote: OurWeekly Los Angeles, in its special Earth Day edition, is spotlighting a team of Pepperdine Graziadio MBA students who are turning sustainable innovation into action. Olivia Tran, Christina Lvov, Maria Hernandez, Kaila Crouch, and Michael Hernandez recently won the Reyes Coca-Cola Olympic Case Competition with a proposal designed to reduce waste at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. As students pursuing the SEER (Socially, Environmentally, and Ethically Responsible) Business Strategy certificate, the team developed two standout ideas: Sustainability Booth Recycling Zones and Reverse Vending Machines that reward fans for recycling through the Coca-Cola +One app. Their proposals reflect the SEER philosophy—solutions that are socially conscious, environmentally sound, ethically grounded, and economically feasible. Pepperdine Graziadio remains dedicated to cultivating values-driven leaders who integrate sustainability into strategic business decisions.

BYU Faith at Work Case Competition Date: March 2025 Overview: A Pepperdine Graziadio Full-Time MBA team — Danirose Hill, Hiral Patadia, Miles Redfern, and Jeffrey Cournoyer — earned second place at Brigham Young University’s Faith at Work Case Competition. The case prompt asked teams to evaluate the long-term financial sustainability and organizational value of employee resource groups (ERGs), including faith-based networks. Pepperdine’s team proposed strategies to integrate ERGs into broader organizational culture and business objectives, ensuring they contribute to both inclusivity and performance. This work reflects Graziadio’s commitment to advancing human-centered leadership and responsible business practices by addressing social sustainability inside organizations. Relevant SDGs:

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PRACTICE We adopt responsible and accountable management principles in our own governance and operations.

INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES

• Relevant SDGs: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

• Buildings/real estate

Community Involvement

• Employee equity, diversity, inclusion • Environmental stewardship policies • Greenhouse gas emissions • Local staff/student/faculty transportation • Water • Zero-waste guides

POLICY DOCUMENTS RELATED TO RME AND/OR SUSTAINABILITY • Sustainability Policy • Center for Sustainability

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE Air Quality and Transportation • 2,585 student beds and 143 faculty/staff homes reduce commuting. • Alternative commuting program with incentives for ≥10 sustainable commutes/month. • EV charging grew from six spaces in 2014 to 75 spaces by 2024; four free hours/session subsidized. • Relevant SDGs: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• Faculty research: Grunion spawning (beach management), chaparral ecology (wildfire resilience), stream bioassessment (freshwater ecosystem health). • Signature events: SEER Symposium, Climate Calling, Earth Day Fair, Step Forward Day. • Relevant SDGs: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Eden Project • Restored historic Eden Garden as a living laboratory for biodiversity and student research. • Demonstrates native plant landscaping and local ecosystem stewardship. • Relevant SDGs: SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Energy • Ongoing retrofits for efficient HVAC, lighting, and building controls. • Solar tinting, occupancy sensors, and climate controls to reduce demand. • Centralized monitoring optimizes electricity consumption. • Relevant SDGs: SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Food

Building

• Campus dining offers local and organic produce, cage-free eggs, and plant-forward options.

• Since the 1980s, campus construction integrates lifecycle efficiency and environmental sensitivity.

• Biodegradable service ware and food waste composting pilots.

• Sigma Hall (2015) included solar panels, LED lighting, low-flow plumbing, and recycledcontent materials.

• Organic community garden and regular farmers markets engage students and staff.

• Current standards: efficient HVAC/lighting, occupancy sensors, low-VOC paints, solarreflective glass, slope-sensitive design.

• Student groups: GreenTeam, Net Impact, Environmental Law Society.

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• Relevant SDGs: SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Native Vegetation • Campus landscaping emphasizes native species to reduce irrigation demand. • Chaparral and coastal ecosystems managed for drought and wildfire resilience. • Avoids invasive species and supports erosion control. • Relevant SDGs: SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Recycling • Campus-wide recycling of paper, bottles/cans, cardboard, toner cartridges, and batteries. • E-waste recycling with ER2; 550+ pounds collected in 2024 drive. • Green waste from landscaping mulched on-site. • Relevant SDGs: SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Water • Since 1972, 4 billion gallons conserved via reclaimed water irrigation.

SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS In addition to the impactful events listed elsewhere in this report (including the SEER Symposium and others), several University-level events contribute directly to awareness and promotion of sustainability.

Step Forward Day Date: September 7, 2024 Location: Various sites across Southern California Description: The 36th annual day of service, engaging Pepperdine students, staff, faculty, and alumni in community service projects such as environmental restoration, food distribution, and youth mentoring. The event fosters partnerships with nonprofits and community groups while advancing Pepperdine’s mission of service. Relevant SDGs:

• 99 percent of landscape irrigation uses recycled wastewater stored in two campus lakes. • Smart irrigation systems since 1987 adjust to weather and soil moisture. • Fixtures: 76 dual-flush toilets (18,000 gallons saved per unit annually), low-flow showers, and trials of waterless urinals (40,000 gallons/unit potential). • Relevant SDGs: SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Link to Pepperdine University Sustainability Policy pepperdine.edu/sustainability/about/policy.htm

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Energy and Environmental Policy Workshop Series

Earth Day Fair

Date: September 16 – October 7, 2024 (three-session series)

Location: Malibu Campus, Joslyn Plaza

Location: Pepperdine School of Public Policy, Malibu Campus and Online Description: Sponsored by the School of Public Policy, this series provided graduate students with training to support capstone research in energy and environmental policy. Sessions explored data analysis, regulatory and legal frameworks, and research methodologies for studying energy and environmental issues. The workshops were designed to build policy research skills while deepening engagement with sustainability challenges.

Date: April 1, 2025

Description: Annual Earth Day celebration showcasing sustainability-oriented organizations and student initiatives. Featured interactive booths, sustainable products, and community partners in clean energy, water protection, waste reduction, and sustainable food systems. Served as a platform for students to connect their studies with practical environmental solutions. Relevant SDGs:.

Relevant SDGs:

e-Waste Drive Date: March 31, 2025

Climate Calling 2025 Date: March 31 – April 3, 2025 Location: Malibu Campus (Elkins Auditorium, Joslyn Plaza, Drescher Campus) Description: A multiday conference addressing climate change and environmental justice. Events included student poster presentations, sustainability activities, an e-waste drive (March 31, 2025), an Earth Day Fair (April 1, 2025), and keynote lectures (April 3, 2025). Keynote speaker: Bill Weir, CNN chief climate correspondent. Community partners such as Tesla, Poison Free Malibu, and Heal the Bay participated. Relevant SDGs:

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Location: Malibu Campus (HAWC and Drescher Graduate Campus) Description: A University-wide collection drive in partnership with ER2, recycling more than 500 pounds of electronic waste. Organized by Pepperdine IT and the Center for Sustainability to promote responsible disposal and circular economy practices. Relevant SDGs:.

Social Enterprise Collective Date: April 3, 2025, 4–9 pm EST Location: Eaton DC, Washington, DC Description: Hosted by Pepperdine’s MA in Social Entrepreneurship and Change and the School of Public Policy, this third annual event focused on cross-sector collaboration for social change. Highlights included a student pitch competition with seed funding awards, panels on advocacy and chambers of commerce in social enterprise, a keynote fireside chat, and networking. Keynote: David Ryan Polgar, founder of All Tech Is Human. Relevant SDGs:

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

SHARE We share our successes and failures with each other to enable our collective learning and best live our common values and purpose.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES Pepperdine Graziadio Business School offers transparent engagement opportunities for members of our institution and community to contribute to our sustainability and responsibility efforts in its annual report.

COMMUNICATION AUDIENCES Pepperdine Graziadio Business School communicates its policies and progress on sustainable development and responsibility with: • Alumni and donors • Accreditation bodies • Business and industry partners • Faculty and staff • Chambers of commerce and local communities • Boards and advisory committees • Media and public relations channels • Prospective and current students • Research and academic networks

Graziadio Business School

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE Advancing Ethics in Business for More Than 40 Years Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is proud to share its efforts on inculcating a sense of societal responsibility throughout its programs, its interactions with the community, and the world at large. We disclose these efforts through our website and in various communications including the PRME SIP Report. bschool.pepperdine.edu/about/at-a-glance/csr bschool.pepperdine.edu/about/at-a-glance/ prme-report.htm

PRME Report 2025: Sharing Information on Progress

Graziadio Business School

SB2509102

24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California, 90263, United States of America bschool.pepperdine.edu