The Business Administration Division has proven once again that real-life application experiences are key in learning how to package oneself for success. Approximately 30 students were chosen to attend a Junior Career Planning Boot Camp at the Mandalay Bay resort in Oxnard Jan. 28-29 where they learned techniques in branding packaging and promoting one’s best self to a future employer.

The idea for the event originated last year but was implemented for the first time this past weekend by Business Administration Chair Jere Yates along with the help of nine Business Advisory Council members. Yates and Pepperdine alumni Amy Johnson chaired the conference and seven faculty members were also in attendance.

“The retreat focused on inspiring 28 juniors to start thinking of themselves as a brand what their image is what their product is how to package that product how to promote it and how to give yourself permission to feel confident about yourself as a brand Yates said.

A number of corporate executives were present at the event including the senior vice president of Hasbro, CEO of Transamerica and senior vice president of Morgan Stanley. During the conference, the executives advised students about their personal business experiences.

Friday night, a panel was set up where the executives talked about their business ventures and students discussed goal setting. Before attending the event the students read The Leader’s Edge” by Susan Hodgkinson which explains how to develop oneself as a leader. On Saturday students talked about principles in the book including the five P’s: “persona product packaging promotion and permission.” These principles are used to help develop your own brand as a person and employee.

After attending the event students felt more focused in regards to their personal business goals. Junior International Business majors Stuart Hamilton Greg Sharpe and Max Biedermann were excited about the direction the conference gave them for their own career paths.

When asked about their reasons for applying they all agreed that they wanted a way to focus their personal skills and career goals.

 “I applied because I hoped to gain more of a direction of where I wanted to go and how specifically I was going to get there Hamilton said.

What the weekend did was make the whole career thing less daunting of a task Sharpe noted.

It was interesting to hear from business professionals how they got there Biedermann said. You always see people who are successful and you always wonder how they got there and this was a good opportunity to get in there and figure that out.”

Career planning can be a bit overwhelming and these students explained that the retreat gave them a chance to see more clearly a path to success.

“I was scared coming into it – the whole application and internship thing – in getting something that’s right for me Hamilton recalled. But after this it took a lot of stress off of my back because I know that things will fall into place. We just all needed that reassurance from them that it works out in the end.”

Attendees were taught about a wide range of skills from something as small as a handshake one’s “persona” in how you appear before you say anything to more concrete job application processes like resumes.

In all students agreed that the hands-on nature of this event was very helpful and useful.

“I was blown away that this was the first year because it was planned excellently  Sharpe said.

Even after the conference ended, the students were still excited about their newfound direction and skill sets.

This is one of the best things I’ve done at Pepperdine Sharpe said.