By Samantha Marker
In 2020, three AEG employees graduated from the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Fully Employed Master of Business Administration (FEMBA) program as a result of the unique partnership formed between AEG and Pepperdine University (Pepperdine) in 2016. As part of the partnership, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, a number of AEG’s staff were afforded the chance to participate in the University’s prestigious MBA program, helping make this momentous achievement possible four years later.
Congratulations to STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. LIVE employees Brittney Garza, security 
operations manager; Austin Caldwell, director premium business intelligence; and Kayla Kilpatrick, event sales manager, for earning their MBA degrees. Garza received hers in August 2020 while Caldwell and Kilpatrick graduated most recently in December 2020. Both Caldwell and Garza earned their degrees with a concentration in global business, and Kilpatrick graduated with a concentration in leadership and managing organizational change. Caldwell and Kilpatrick both graduated with honors as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society for AACSB-accredited schools.
Pepperdine and AEG formed an innovative partnership, which began in the fall of 2016 with one goal in mind: to work together to create world-class educational programs in sports and entertainment management. Since that time, Pepperdine has been named the exclusive Education Partner of STAPLES Center, L.A. LIVE, and the LA Kings, and the two organizations have engaged in an unprecedented collaboration, advancing the University’s goal to position itself as a highly visible and active participant in the vibrant Los Angeles community.
“We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Pepperdine, which has allowed us to work in support of education as well as the next generation of leaders in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Nick Baker, chief operating officer, AEG Global Partnerships. “These most recent graduates are a testament to this great relationship and we look forward to seeing their careers and achievements grow both at AEG and across the industry at large.”
“I am extremely proud that, through Pepperdine’s partnership with AEG, we at Graziadio have had the opportunity to form and support tomorrow’s sports and entertainment leaders with a premiere business education,” said Deryck J. van Rensburg, dean of the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. “I have no doubt the exceptional students from AEG will become Best for the World Leaders. We at Graziadio look forward to innovating and expanding upon the AEG partnership.”
Through its relationship with AEG, Pepperdine remains steadfast in its commitment to leadership in entertainment, media, and sports as the University’s portfolio of innovative academic programs continues to grow. AEG and Pepperdine also partnered in the launch of a new internship program, which has offered more than 30 Pepperdine graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to work directly with AEG and STAPLES Center professionals in a major sports venue.
Samantha Marker is Manager, Communications & Social Media for STAPLES Center/Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
