Earlier this week I interviewed Nadine Tapia, an alumna of Pepperdine’s Bachelor of Science in Management and MBA programs. It completely changed my perspective on what it means to continue my education after having a successful career and getting ready to launch my own business.
“Sometimes our curiosity urges us to dig deeper, find new paths, and make new connections.”
We’ve all heard the phrase and maybe even said it, “I’m a lifelong learner.” Typically this refers to lessons we learn simply by living each day, but sometimes our curiosity urges us to dig deeper, find new paths, and make new connections.
As someone whose memories of college and university revolve around sleepless study nights, subjects that were interesting but not aligned with my dreams and goals, and often out-of-touch or burnt-out professors, I couldn’t see how going back to university for an MBA could help me grow my business. Nadine shifted my perspective, and then my interview yesterday with Lauren Triplett, an alumna of Pepperdine’s Part-Time Master of Business Administration program, not only echoed Nadine’s experience but also gave me the confidence to start purposefully looking into Pepperdine’s program for my future.
Lauren Triplett (MBA ‘17) founded BiteSized Consulting in 2019 for start-ups, non-profits, and minority-owned businesses, and she also works at Mattel, Inc. as an Associate Marketing Manager, with a focus on humanizing Barbie—a job she found through Pepperdine’s extensive network.
Ella London: Lauren, thanks for joining me on zoom today! It’s crazy how the weather has been recently!
Lauren Triplett: Yes! It was super hot yesterday, and today I’m sitting here in my black Steve Jobs-esque turtleneck sweater.
EL: Sounds super cozy! Okay, let’s dive in… what was the catalyst that caused you to pursue an MBA?
LT: There were probably two major things. The first was there was only one other person in my family who had a graduate degree, my uncle. He worked in business, and I said to myself, “I want to do whatever he’s doing and to do that, I need to get an MBA.” The second reason that resonates with me the most is I wanted to change careers. In my undergrad, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and I ended up in retail management. It had all the right things, but there was something that was still missing.
“After my undergrad, I ended up in retail management. It had all the right things, but there was somthing that was still missing.”
As I reflected and researched, I realized marketing would be the perfect bridge between my enjoyment of the data-driven approach with economics and the people piece I get from sales. But in order to get the job I wanted in marketing, I needed to get some more education and experience under my belt.
That’s the main reason I decided it was time to get my MBA—I was still in my late-twenties and ready to jump in and make a go of it. Fast forward to now, it was the absolute best choice.
EL: There are MBA programs everywhere, what drew you to Pepperdine’s program?
LT: I remember the first time I spoke with someone from Pepperdine, it felt so genuine. There were some other schools I had reached out to who didn’t seem to care if I applied or not, and others that just couldn’t compare to the personalized experience I had at Pepperdine from the advisors really listening to me, to getting to shadow a marketing class.
“It’s great knowing you can do the MBA program in 2 years, but if you need to take a break you can. That flexibility is invaluable.”
EL: I noticed looking at Pepperdine’s Part-time MBA program that they recognize the needs we have as business owners and employees with their 2-year program and evening and Saturday classes.
LT: Absolutely. And it’s great knowing that you can do this program in 2 years, but if someone needs to take a break for a while or reduce their class load for a semester or two, they can and come back to continue the program. That flexibility is invaluable.
EL: What was one of your favorite moments at Pepperdine?
“It was just so impactful to see that you can be a responsible company that genuinely cares and still makes money.”
LT: At Pepperdine, they have a Socially, Environmentally, and Ethically Responsible (SEER) Certificate. I didn’t go through that program when I was a student, but I had the opportunity to attend a SEER conference a few years ago in Santa Monica. I remember it just being the coolest thing I had ever seen. It was just so impactful to see that you can be a responsible company that genuinely cares and still makes money—those two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Now that I have my own business, BiteSized Consulting, I have a client who works in the sustainability space, so even just having that little bit of exposure to SEER through the conference, I was confident and knew how to advise and guide my client.
EL: Building on that, I’m curious, I noticed that you work with start-ups, non-profits, and minority-owned businesses. A lot of our members here at Yellow Co, including me have similar client bases and/or are in one or more of those categories. How did what you learned during your MBA and at the SEER conference help you balance the need to make money and the needs of those you serve, who often have limited budgets?
“For me, it was recognizing that minorities face a totally different set of roadblocks than other businesses do.”
LT: That’s a really good question, I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me that before. The first thing is to make sure you fully understand your core purpose. For me, it was recognizing that minorities face a totally different set of roadblocks than other businesses do. When I say “minority owned” that’s people of color, but that’s also women. Women don’t always get the same networks and connections. We talked a lot about that at Pepperdine during our strategy and marketing courses, that there are socioeconomic differences that just exist.
So along with recognizing the intention behind your business to help minorities, asking yourself, “If I make zero money, can I still make an impact?” The answer is probably “no.” So you have to come at it from the perspective that says, in order for me to help this intended cause, there has to be some additional income coming in.
When I set my prices, I think about what my time is worth, and then I think about the businesses I serve, and what makes sense for them. For my consulting business, I have tiers, and people completely understand non-profits are not made of money—they need some additional discounts. It was setting the price to where I felt good, but also having those discounts I could throw in when needed.
“Reassess year to year to make sure you’re making enough money while making an impact.”
EL: I wish we could talk about this for a few more hours! I love how the programs at Pepperdine helped you intentionally structure your business so you could serve the people you want to, while still making money, so you can continue to have an impact. This aligns so much with what we do at Yellow Co.
LT: That’s great to hear! Yes, being open and honest with your clients is the right thing to do, as well as reassessing year to year, to make sure you’re making enough money while making an impact.
EL: Okay, before we go, we have to talk about your job at Mattel and humanizing Barbie, because, I have to be honest, growing up, I wasn’t allowed to have Barbies.
LT: I can relate! When I was growing up, my mom only allowed me to have black barbies. I have black barbies sitting here on my desk right now. It was very much an idea of representation. For my job at Mattel, I do my best to bring my full authentic self. I understand that as a woman of color I have a different perspective than others, so I do everything I can to input that perspective wherever possible. And I do think that Barbie has changed so very much from when I was a kid. In 2016 they introduced different body types and ethnicities, and every year they come out with more positive changes. But we have to keep pushing forward, because a little bit of change is not enough, it’s the continued representation and diversity. It’s a big task, but I have to say it’s super fun working for a toy company! My powerpoints are full of pink, purple, and tulle!
“A little bit of change is not enough, it’s the continued representation and diversity.”
EL: I love that you’re getting to use your voice at Mattel to make an impact. How did Pepperdine’s MBA program prepare you for what can be difficult conversations in the workplace around diversity and representation?
LT: There were two specific classes at Pepperdine where we talked about the external effects of business. The topics revolved around the availability of technology to different socioeconomic backgrounds, different races and people. There was a really intense and intentional discussion about, “Well if I create something, it’s not my fault if certain people don’t have access.” This caused a pretty sharp divide in the class, where myself and others responded with, “But this is part of the problem, because if you don’t take the stance, if you don’t look at it through the ethical lens, if you don’t look it as a leader that says, ‘I can do better than just the status quo,’ there will never be change.” In those moments, our teachers created a safe space for us to have those really difficult conversations, while also letting people in on topics they may not have ever experienced.
“I wouldn’t have the confidence I have, if I hadn’t gone through those classes at Pepperdine.”
That is one of the many things I’ve taken from Pepperdine is being patient with people, recognizing that people come from very different backgrounds, and they don’t always recognize the struggles that I, or other people that look like me, have gone through to get to sit in the same room as them. I’m proud to stand up and be that representative that just makes people think about the other person and their experience. I wouldn’t have the confidence I have, if I hadn’t gone through those classes at Pepperdine, where they not only got us to have the difficult conversations but they got us to think about it in a way that is not accusatory, that doesn’t attack other people, that presents the information in a way so other people are truly listening and make them want to make a change.
EL: Yes! This! I think everyone needs to take those classes! But what would you say to a business owner or recent graduate who is wondering if they really need an MBA?
“I only found out about the job I have now because of the network at Pepperdine.”
LT: What is absolutely invaluable at Pepperdine is the network. For example, I didn’t even know a job like my job at Barbie even existed or have the connections to find it. I only found out about it because I met somebody at Pepperdine who does the same job I do now.
Getting an MBA at Pepperdine broadens your horizons, you meet more people, you build that network, you understand new innovations that are happening, and at Pepperdine you get to speak to experts who are currently working in their fields. For me it has totally paid off—best decision I’ve ever made.
EL: Lauren, I’m so inspired by your story. Please stay in touch, and would you let our members know who they can connect with at Pepperdine to learn more?
LT: Yes! Pepperdine has great advisors. I would have them connect with Bree Jensen. She’s amazing and will make sure you have all the information you need.
Sign up today for a 30 minute consultation with Pepperdine Advisor, Bree Jensen.
Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is also hosting its first annual virtual Pepperdine Business Conference and University Fair “EMERGE 2021” on May 13th, to connect aspiring graduate students with top business schools and highly sought-after business organizations:
