Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management and Dun & Bradstreet today announced a new program that incorporates the strengths of both entities in an innovative “Entrepreneurial Vision Partnership,” a comprehensive partnership that promotes an entrepreneurial approach to galvanize the emerging business community.
As part of the collaboration, the Graziadio Business School will work with Dun & Bradstreet to conduct economic research and develop specialized curriculum that focuses on the needs and success metrics of entrepreneurs in the 21st-century economy. In addition, the partnership will also combine resources for teaching opportunities, promote specialized executive education options, and provide immersion opportunities for Graziadio students, including paid internships in Dun & Bradstreet’s corporate programs.
“In today’s competitive business environment, skill sets offered under some traditional MBA programs don’t necessarily translate into entrepreneurial success. In reality, modern business acumen requires an understanding of sophisticated factors such as predictive data analytics, emerging global trends, and multi-platform marketing, as well as a deep understanding of market dynamics and economic theory,” said John Paglia, associate dean at the Graziadio School. “Our collaboration with Dun & Bradstreet will provide students with the best of both worlds, from some of the nation’s most respected business leaders and academicians, and will result in unparalleled ‘real-world’ MBA experience.”
The Entrepreneurial Vision Partnership will also feature an annual entrepreneurial competition, as well as broad interactions between the company and the Graziadio School. Dun & Bradstreet executives will serve as guest lecturers at Pepperdine courses, seminars, and presentations related to the program, while Graziadio students will learn “on the job” in several internship opportunities at Dun & Bradstreet’s Malibu office.
“Our new partnership with Pepperdine is consistent with our commitment to thought leadership and entrepreneurship,” said Jeff Stibel, vice chair at Dun & Bradstreet. “If necessity is the mother of invention, then entrepreneurial thinking is the heart of business. As the world’s largest and best provider of insights about businesses, we’re proud to work with with a world-class University as strong as Pepperdine. Our joint effort will help empower a new generation of entrepreneurs to be successful and in turn help grow our national economy.”
The Dun & Bradstreet collaboration expands upon existing initiatives between the two entities, including the Pepperdine Private Capital Access Index. Based on a quarterly private capital markets data survey produced by the Graziadio School in partnership with Dun & Bradstreet, the index measures the accessibility and demand for capital among the nation’s small businesses, as well as the transparency and efficiency of private financing markets.
For more information visit bschool.pepperdine.edu and www.dnb.com.
