Pepperdine University Hosts President’s Speaker Series Featuring In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson
MALIBU, California – Pepperdine University welcomed Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, president and owner of In-N-Out Burger™, for the latest installment of its President’s Speaker Series on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Firestone Fieldhouse. The event, moderated by Pepperdine University President Jim Gash, brought together 1,200 students, alumni, faculty, and staff to explore leadership, faith, and the stewardship of a multi-generational family business.
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Gash opened the discussion by introducing Snyder-Ellingson and emphasizing the importance of purpose in leadership.
“The most interesting question is not how someone achieves success, but why—what values shaped them and what purpose sustained them when things got hard,” Gash said.
Snyder-Ellingson reflected on her leadership philosophy and the responsibility of guiding a renowned and iconic family-owned company.
“My passion in leading is preserving the legacy of my grandparents and my family,” Snyder-Ellingson said. “We don’t want to compromise—we’re not going to do things the quicker, easier way if it’s not what’s best for our customers.”
A central theme of the conversation was the role of faith in her life and leadership.
“There’s no struggle too big for God to redeem. It often starts with one thought—and healing begins the same way, by turning back and asking for help,” she said.
When asked about future expansion, she emphasized the company’s long-standing commitment to quality.
“I don’t see us being on the East Coast in my lifetime—we won’t compromise on quality just to expand.”
The conversation concluded with reflections on leadership, responsibility, and impact, encouraging students to pursue work aligned with their values and purpose.
“Whatever you do, do it in a way that reflects your purpose—loving God, loving people, and making it count,” Snyder-Ellingson said.
Pepperdine students left inspired by the opportunity to hear from a leader guiding one of the country’s most recognizable brands.
“What really stood out to me was hearing how central people are to the In-N-Out brand,” said Seaver student Benyam Ayalew, “When Lynsi talked about automation and said they wouldn’t go that route because the people are what make the In-N-Out experience, that really stuck with me.”
Following the conversation, attendees gathered outside the venue where In-N-Out Burger cookout trucks served meals to guests, creating a shared community experience that reflected the company’s emphasis on hospitality and connection.
The event highlighted Pepperdine’s commitment to connecting students and alumni with influential leaders while advancing thoughtful dialogue on values-driven leadership.
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About Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson
From the day Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson was born in Southern California, In-N-Out Burger has been a significant part of her life. Her grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, founded In-N-Out Burger in 1948, and to this day, the business remains privately owned and operated. In-N-Out Burger has always been a family business, and Snyder-Ellingson intends to keep it that way.
Snyder-Ellingson began working as an associate at In-N-Out Burger in 1999 and is now the owner and president. She currently leads the company while being involved in all aspects of the business, including daily in operations, marketing, merchandising, event planning, associate engagement, company expansion, culture, training, designing stores, and more.
Snyder-Ellingson is a visionary and servant leader committed to maintaining and enhancing the well-being of the entire In-N-Out Burger family, which now numbers more than 44,900 employees. Additionally, she directs and helps to oversee all In-N-Out Burger’s philanthropic efforts through the In-N-Out Burger Foundation—which was started by her grandmother Esther, uncle Rich, and mom Lynda—and the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation and HIS EYES Foundation—founded by Snyder-Ellingson and her husband, Sean Ellingson.
The couple are also the founders and visionaries for the Army of Love, a ministry that exists for the purpose of uniting the body of Christ through training volunteers that will set them free to set others free in turn. Army of Love strives to exemplify Isaiah 61:1—“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”
Snyder-Ellingson is the author of “The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger: The Inside Story of California’s First Drive-Thru and How It Became a Beloved Cultural Icon,” released in 2023 by Nelson Books.
With God sitting on the throne of Snyder-Ellingson’s heart, she strives to balance the many responsibilities on her plate and be a good steward of what she has been given.
About Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in Malibu, California. Rooted in the Christian tradition, Pepperdine is committed to both the relentless pursuit of truth through academic and scholarly excellence and to embodying Christian faith and values. With students at the heart of the educational enterprise, the University prepares approximately 9,000 scholars for lives of purpose, service, and leadership across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College; the Pepperdine College of Health Science; and four graduate schools—the Caruso School of Law; the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School; the Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Public Policy. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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