Barbara Rodriguez

Biography

Dr. Barbara Nachtman Rodríguez is an Adjunct Faculty member of the Master of Science in Education (MSED) division in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University. 

Dr. Rodríguez has over 25 years of leadership and practitioner experience in global talent management and leadership development in global Fortune 50 companies. She has led the design and implementation of global human capital strategies across complex, matrixed environments. Within the corporate environment, she has conducted and authored numerous quantitative and qualitative research studies investigating critical dimensions of leadership and talent management essential for the evolving global landscape. 

As a professor, Dr. Rodríguez applies her organizational expertise to enrich learning in the academic environment, bridging theory and practice in meaningful ways. Applying her global experience with diverse multicultural teams, she actively reinforces the importance of practicing civil discourse, ethical leadership, and inclusive engagement — elements she recognizes as essential for successful leadership and organizational outcomes.  

Her current research centers on the role of empathy in leadership, examining how the practice of empathy can enhance leadership effectiveness and foster engagement in an organizational setting.

Education

• PhD, Pepperdine University 
• MA, New York University
• BA, State University of New York @ Plattsburgh