Pepperdine’s MBA program, like every academic institution, has its standout professors, its average professors and those professors whom students avoid at all costs. I’m writing to you today to introduce one of our truly outstanding professors, Dr. Ken Ko. I am in Dr. Ko’s monday morning Quantitative Business Analysis class. Now throughout our MBA, there are classes that are generally considered more exciting than others. Classes like strategy, marketing and organizational behavior seem to be enjoyed more than some of the quantitative courses like accounting, finance, stats and QBA. While we understand that all of the courses are required for a well-rounded MBA experience... that doesn’t mean we enjoy them all equally!
With that being said... QBA is a course that has the ability to be really, really dry. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine an older, monotone professor discussing the details of linear programing and decision trees. In the class, we study how to apply mathematical models to business constraints like budgets, the labor supply & raw materials. When the models are properly implemented, we are able to make the best business decision available to us. QBA is definitely a vital course to our MBA, but again... I’m sure you’re thinking, “Creating and applying mathematical models... how could that be fun?”
The answer to that question... is Dr Ken Ko. Without a doubt, Dr. Ko is the most engaging professor that I have had at Pepperdine. His classes are so easy to understand and so engaging it’s almost as if you’re surprised when the class time is over. Dr. Ko’s energy, enthusiasm and truly unique personality make him a favorite among his students. Sometimes Dr. Ko will start a class with a funny story or an engaging experience of his. He gets the class involved throughout the class period, referring to his students as “his players” and himself as “our coach”. While it took about a full class period to get used to his style (example: he routinely calls his students “baby” lol)... I am incredibly impressed by his teaching style. Before I wrote this blog, I knew that it would be impossible to really capture the brilliance of his teaching style without adding some video clips. So one day in class, with his permission of course, I took a couple clips for you so you can see what I’m talking about!
During the first class period I had Dr. Ko, I was so shocked by his teaching style that I wanted to figure out where he came from. While I’m always interested in my professor’s academic and professional backgrounds, I was even more interested with Dr Ko because of his crazy and outgoing personality. Upon further review, I found out that Dr. Ko had graduated from UC Berkeley with honors for his undergrad and then went on to Stanford for his PhD in Management Science and Engineering. Very impressive academic credentials to say the least! Dr. Ko has worked as a product manager for Hewlett-Packard, a business manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers, and a management consultant for Strategic Decisions Group where he is currently an outside consultant. His combination of academic background, work experience and unique people skills makes him a very valued asset to Pepperdine’s MBA program. To any first year or prospective student, if you have the option to take a course from Dr. Kenneth Ko... I would very strongly recommend that you take him.
