Pepperdine Alumni

06/23/2026

We are proud to spotlight Manny Sanoja (MBA '19), Sr. Director, Head of Finance at KERV.ai, an AI platform that identifies key moments across video content and transforms them into brand opportunities.

Manny joined KERV.ai as a Senior Financial Analyst in 2023. Since then, he has built and led KERV's finance function, earned a promotion to Head of Finance, and helped the company close a $25 million Series B round in 2025. None of it, he says, would have happened without the foundation he gained at Pepperdine.

"Pepperdine gave me more than a degree — it gave me frameworks for how to analyze, think, and execute. The rigor of the MBA and finance curriculum, combined with a values-driven leadership approach, shaped how I show up every day as a finance executive. My faith has always been the anchor underneath all of it."

From Graziadio to the world of AI, Manny's story is a powerful example of how Pepperdine alumni are leading and making an impact in emerging industries like AI.

06/19/2026

06/16/2026

We are proud to spotlight Ece Er Aydin (MBA ’18), founder of Olizzi Foods, a premium olive oil brand. What began as an idea in the classroom at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School has grown into an award-winning company now available on Amazon, olizzi.com, Erewhon, and in TJX Group stores, with international expansion into Japan, South Korea, the UAE, and Turkey.

Earlier this year, Olizzi partnered with Erewhon on a café collaboration across select Southern California locations, sampling Olizzi Premium Organic olive oil with café customers.

Ece reflects, “Graziadio taught me that a great business starts with a sketch and thrives through grit. I walked into class with an idea and walked across the stage with a brand ready for the global market.”

Her hope for the alumni community is “that we continue to be each other’s strongest supporters. I want our alumni network to be a lifelong launchpad where we mentor the next generation of dreamers and celebrate every graduate who turns a bold idea into a global reality.”

From cold-calling chefs in Beverly Hills as a “backpack founder” to building a global brand, her journey reflects how an idea can grow into a business with lasting impact.

06/15/2026

🌊 The Waves of Welcome celebration season is underway! 💙🧡

From reconnecting with fellow alumni to welcoming the next generation of Waves, it's been a joy to celebrate together across the country.

Take a look at some of the highlights from our recent events, then join us at an upcoming Waves of Welcome celebration near you. We'd love to see you there!

Find a celebration near you: https://bit.ly/43yko1B

06/11/2026

06/09/2026

We are proud to spotlight Bettina Bush (’93), a singer-songwriter, children’s author, radio host, and voice actress on her recent project as the co-author of Once Upon A You, with Keyshawn Johnson, a children’s book empowering kids to dream big, embrace their unique identities, and realize they are the authors of their own destinies.

From voicing beloved childhood characters like Rainbow Brite and Megan from My Little Pony to creating empowering stories through music and books, Bush has built an inspiring career rooted in creativity, purpose, and impact.

Bettina shares, “Make the most of every opportunity that comes your way — both inside and outside the classroom. Some of the most important moments in my journey came from simply saying ‘yes’ and then having faith.”

We’re proud to celebrate Bettina’s incredible journey and the meaningful impact she continues to make in children’s entertainment.

06/04/2026

06/02/2026

Today’s alumni spotlight celebrates Ryan Dusick (MA ’21), the founding drummer of Maroon 5 and two-time Grammy winner whose journey from global rock stardom to becoming a licensed therapist, reflects his commitment to helping others through mental health advocacy.

After achieving worldwide success with Maroon 5, Ryan chose to step away from the band in 2006 as he faced anxiety, depression, and addiction. “Leaving the band forced me to confront everything I had been avoiding,” he shares.

Through his recovery, he found a calling in serving others. This led Ryan to Pepperdine's Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP), where in 2021, he earned his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Today he is a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and mental health advocate. This journey is documented in his memoir, "Harder to Breathe: A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery."

We are incredibly proud to spotlight Ryan as part of our "For Greater Purpose" campaign, and we cannot wait to see the ways he continues to make waves in mental health advocacy.