BYU MBA Blog

Nike, Cummins, and Celanese Are Just a Few Companies that Target BYU MBAs For Internationals and Foreign Language Speaking Graduates and Interns

2011-04-15T20:51:00.001-07:00

Nike, Cummins, and Celanese are a just a handful of companies that come to BYU primarily looking for international students and students who are fluent in a foreign language. The companies sponsor internationals and have their eye on students who come from or have a language skill from Brazil, Russia, China, and India.

The CEO of Celanese is a BYU graduate and considers BYU a core school along with Harvard, Darden, and Texas. This year 5 of the 12 internship offers were extended to BYU students, three of which were internationals.

Cummins has a long relationship with BYU and loves to take students from the BRIC countries. Three international students accepted offers. Also, U.S. students who have a foreign language skill and a great understanding of the culture are seen as a big plus.

Nike is a new edition to BYU. The company has it eye on the BYU MBA program because Brazil is becoming a big target for the company and BYU has many Brazilian nationals and U.S. students who speak the language and understand the culture.

Investment Banks Find MBA Level Talent at BYU

2011-04-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

BYU MBA finance students are impressing many of the biggest investment banks and receiving internship offers for the summer of 2011. BYU MBA's received offers from Barclays, Credit Suisse, Wells Fargo Securities, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

A big factor are two MBA programs: The Silver Fund and Cougar Capital.

Amazon.com Loves BYU MBA's

2011-04-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

Amazon.com has extended offers to eight BYU MBA's for summer internships across a broad range of disciplines including marketing, supply chain, operations, and finance. The relationship between the BYU MBA program and Amazon has grown stronger over the past three years as more students are finding full-time and internship placement within the organization.

Nestle Heavily Recruits BYU MBA's in 2011

2011-04-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

Nestle, one of the largest food and nutrition companies in the world, looks to the MBA program at Brigham Young University to find talent to fill full-time and internship positions.

This year three MBA marketing students will head to St. Louis for the summer as part of the brand management internship program in the Nestle Purina division.

Also, a graduating student will be heading to San Fransisco to accept a job as a brand manager working for Nestle's ice cream division. Another graduate student will head to Los Angeles to also work as a brand manager in the confection division which includes the Willy Wonka brand, Butter Finger, and all other Nestle candy.

MBA Students Reaching Out to Those Accepted

2011-03-31T09:58:00.001-07:00

BYU MBA students are reaching out to those people who have been accepted in the MBA class of 2013. The goal is to start the preparation early to help students be better prepared for school, the internship search, and life in Utah.

Some Tools From My Job Search Toolkit

2011-03-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Most of us can attest to the fact that looking for an internship or full-time job can be quite painful, especially in a down economy. However, there are many tools on the internet that can help ease the pain. The following are some common and not so common tools that aided me in my search.

Boolean Searches – Not all search engines are created equal, especially when it comes to complex Boolean searches. For me, I found exalead (http://www.exalead.com/search/web/) to be a very powerful Boolean based search engine.

In deriving my search string, I first thought about what values I wanted in a company to work for. I most valued innovation and the ability to creatively solve problems. Working off of these ideas, I derived the following search string: (innovation OR innovative OR "creative solutions" OR "idea generation" OR "idea evolution" OR "idea company" OR "big ideas" OR strategic OR "problem solving") & ("employment opportunities" OR "career opportunities" OR "current opportunities" OR "career possibilities") & ("about us" OR "core strengths" OR "core values" OR "company values") & marketing & .com NOT .org NOT .edu

Some of the hits I got included: Toyota, John Deere, Alcatel-Lucent, Levi-Strauss, P&G, DuPont, Coca-Cola. I knew I was on the right track since I had applied to four of these companies already.

[Note: This may seem very complex to some of you, so I would be glad to help you with any searches you would like to do.]

Twitter – First, I would recommend getting a Twitter account today and start following @MBAHighway (https://twitter.com/#!/MBAHighway). MBA Highway posts lots of MBA internships and full-time positions throughout the day, every day.

Second, I started using Twitter because I am a career changer with fewer connections in the marketing world that I have recently entered. So, I began following marketers, who would tweet the latest trends. However, more importantly, I posted in my profile that I was into marketing and began tweeting on marketing topics, which resulted in marketers following me—an easy way to expand my network. Additionally, I began following companies that I am interested in, who in turn will sometimes follow you back.

Local Newspapers’ Business Section – One of my internship offers was with Rockfish Interactive, a fast growing privately held, online advertising and marketing firm. Being from Cincinnati, I continue to read through the Cincinnati Enquirer on a daily basis. Several months ago, I ran across an article about efforts to establish Cincinnati as a marketing hub, and Rockfish Interactive was listed as a major contributor to that effort. As I mentioned above, I love innovation and Rockfish looked like a great option to look for an internship. Through LinkedIn I discovered that Rockfish Interactive’s Chief Marketing Officer graduated from my undergraduate university and had common connections. I reached out to him, and before I knew it I had phone interviews and ultimately an offer.

LinkedIn Amazon ReadingList App – The Amazon ReadingList application on LinkedIn allows users to list the books they are reading and to leave reviews. More importantly, however, you can see who else on LinkedIn is reading or has read the same books. Especially if they leave a review, this may give some insight into the person’s interests and values. Look to see where they work and what they do…it may end up being something that matches your career interests, and you now have a new person with whom to connect and network.

Undergraduate Symplicity – So you have exhausted the job listings on BYU’s Symplicity site, and you hunger for more options. If you did your undergraduate studies at somewhere other than BYU, you may be in luck. Many schools allow alumni access to their Symplicity sites, and many of the jobs/internships will be unique to that school or area of the country. Certainly many of the job/internship listings will be for undergraduate positions; however, if you see a company that interests you, many listings will include a recruiter’s name and contact information. I reached out to many recruiters, who in turn gave me information on graduate opportunities. If you did go to BYU for your undergraduate, just ask someone like me to give you leads from their undergraduate Symplicity site.

These are just some of the tools I found helpful, and I hope many of you find value in them as well. I would also encourage others to share their toolkit as well. We should all be in this together, so let’s help each other reach our respective career goals and dreams.

David Williams, Class 2012, Marketing

Upcoming Internship: Cummins

Chocolate Boxes and Internships

2011-03-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Though I'm not a huge Tom Hanks fan, I'm not shy about pulling an analogy from Forrest Gump in how life is full of surprises. In the movie titled after the main character, Forrest relates to a stranger how his mother always compared life to a box of chocolates, asserting that you never know what you're going to get when you bite into a random sample. Obviously, they didn't buy Whitman's, but that's another story.

I've found the same to be true in my own life and, in particular, through the travail of finding that ideal summer internship. I'll share my story in hopes to inspire future first-years that things really do work out, and quite often not as you expected.

I knew I had a different path from the start. Being in tech marketing, my search was very different from other marketers looking for roles in CPG or Retail. Tech starts their recruiting season much later and causes much higher stress levels to the spouses of students looking for tech internships. Fairly early in the game, I interviewed with Adobe in Orem. The series of interviews went well and I received an internship offer around the turn of the year. I was convinced that it would be a great opportunity (and still think it would have been in many ways) and was on the verge of accepting it... until we took our Tech Trek to the Bay Area. The experience there was eye-opening, and I decided that the best thing for my career path would be to get out of Utah. I was particularly interested in getting to Silicon Valley and started looking at options there.

I couldn't keep Adobe on hold any longer, and took a big leap of faith when I declined their offer. Through feeling out different companies, I decided to focus on two that I felt were a best-fit for my personality and goals: Amazon and eBay. I could go on for a while explaining the "why" behind those, two, but I'll forebear.

While still waiting for internship requisitions to open up at eBay, some good news came from Amazon in late February. I was contacted to go through a first round of phone interviews. That was when things got a little interesting.

First off, the recruiter sent a confirmation email referencing a cell phone number that I had not used for 3 years. I wrote him to correct it and asked how they got it. It turns out, I had an old Amazon profile. I updated the phone number with the recruiter and on my outdated Amazon careers profile and forgot about the incident. That is, I forgot about it until the phone interview came. As is common, one of the interviewer's first questions for me was to walk me through the resume. Having rehearsed this a good number of times with my Sherpa, Rick, I confidently started with "Well, I graduated with a degree in Spanish..." and ended with "... and that's when I knew it was time to come back for the MBA. And I've loved it here."

I was surprised to hear his reply, "Wait... so, you're going back to get an MBA?"

"No," I answered, "I'm about to finish my first year of school. I'm looking for a summer internship."

"The SFA (Senior Financial Analyst) role?"

"Actually, marketing / retail management."

"Hmm. Well, let's go on with the interview anyway."

The interview actually went really well and the follow-up (Amazon does back-to-back phone interviews) interview was very similar. "Tell me about yourself." "I'm Lewis...Spanish...Online Marketing...MBA..." "Oh, you're marketing?" "Yeah." "Well, let's interview anyway."

I contacted the recruiter to clarify things and they promptly rectified it and set me up with some marketing interviews. I kind of knew pretty quickly that they weren't going quite as well. One of them was just nightmarish (I got put on mute several times, making it impossible to get a read on the interviewer).

About a week later I heard back from Amazon's HR department. They told me that, not surprisingly, marketing wasn't very impressed but that the SFA guys were interested - pending my interest in finance. "Finance?" I thought to myself. "Why not?" I agreed to a follow up interview, which also went surprisingly well. Then, just a short 2 days later, they extended an offer.

The moral of the story? Sometimes the path is twisted and completely not what you would have assumed it would be. But hang in there because things work out. Life really is like a box of chocolates, just hopefully with a lower concentration of saturated fats.

Lewis Gunter, Class of 2012, Marketing

Three Secrets to Nailing the Internship

2011-03-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

You have edited your resume 20 times, written 10 STAR stories, practiced interviewing dozens of times, made a dumb comment during an informational meeting, been rejected by your top company, cried, prayed, cursed the MBA program, prayed again, found a new ‘top’ company, and finally received that beautiful call with the long awaited words, “We would like to extend you an offer!” Now you are happy again—you love the MBA program.

So what’s next? Now you must nail the internship!

After surveying several second-year MBA’s, I believe I have discovered Three Secrets to Nailing the Internship—

1. Make Getting an Offer Your Goal

2. Impress Your Manager

3. Network Strategically

Make Getting an Offer Your Goal:

“A successful intern is one who starts an internship knowing their primary goal isn't to 'learn a lot' or 'develop new skills,' but instead knows that their primary goal is to 'get an offer' at the end of the summer.” –Tara Hair, Interned at P&G

I asked a few first year students to share what their primary goal is for their internship this summer. The most popular answers were—“add value,” “create a network,” “learn,” “gain experience,” and “do a good job.” I don’t have statistics to show how important it is to have “getting an offer” as your primary goal. However, I do have a relevant story I want to share from an alumnus who interned at his “dream” company. This individual’s main goal was to do well on his projects throughout the summer, so he spent most of his time in his office perfecting them. At the end of his internship, though people were impressed with his work, he didn’t get an offer. He hadn’t done what the company expected from an intern. The point of this story is not that you shouldn’t do a great job or learn new skills. The point is that after all your efforts what you really want is a job, not just a pat on the back. Therefore, make that your goal.

Vital behaviors to implement:

· Ask your manager, “What do I have to do to get an offer?”

· At least bi-weekly, ask for feedback to see if you’re on track to landing a full-time offer.

· Before each decision, ask yourself, “Will this help me get an offer?”

Impress Your Manager

“You have to learn how to manage your boss. You have to understand your boss's style of preferred communication and delivery methods. If you don't clearly understand them, you are unlikely to be successful. You need to tailor your work style and work outputs to match what your boss is looking for.” Mark Lingenbrink, Interned at Cisco

Your manager has the most say on whether you get an offer. Crucial Conversations professor, Kerry Patterson, teaches that your main role as an employee, whether you like your manager or not, is to “make your manager look good.” Learn what your manager really needs and deliver it in a manner he/she approves and this will increase your chances of securing an internship.

Vital behaviors to implement:

· Before you begin any assignment, ask for clear directions, results, and deadlines.

· Look for simple “extra” projects your manager needs done and volunteer to do them.

· Before diving into a difficult problem, run your action plan by your manager.

Network Strategically

“As important (if not more) as the actual work that you do are the relationships that you make. I was able to connect with 50 – 60 individuals at various levels of the company simply by reaching out.” Mike Christensen, Interned at P&G

The third and most common way to secure an internship is to network (of course it is; we wouldn’t want to ruin the reputation of business students worldwide). One successful networking strategy I applied during my internship at Microsoft, was taking advantage of the “intern status.” I could send anyone an email stating I was an intern and they would make time to meet with me. As a result, I interviewed several VP’s, General Managers, Directors, and CFO’s. Another strategy is to ask for advice and be coachable. People love to help and coach others and because they’ve been at the company much longer than you, they will be able to steer you in the right direction. Lastly, remember to be proactive. I was fortunate enough to receive a list of 30 individuals, who my manager had handpicked, to network with over the summer. Since most interns will not have this luxury, create your own list of influencers you want to meet. Remember you are always being evaluated. The more people you learn from and network with, the more people you will have advocating your full-time offer!

Vital behaviors to implement:

· Make a list of people you want to interview and contact at least 2-3 of them per week.

· As people offer advice, act on it and send them an email telling them what you learned.

· Find people who have accomplished similar projects and strive to learn all you can.

Edgar Cheney, Class of 2011, OB/HR

Interned at: Microsoft

BYU MBA's Organize Relief Effort For Japan

2011-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

A group of BYU MBA students have built a system for classmates, faculty, alumni and anyone with an internet connection to donate directly to organizations in Japan rather than go through a third party such as the Red Cross which sometimes can be slow to give out funds.

“Our mission is to make an immediate, meaningful contribution to the people and families devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan,” wrote Alex Sakaguchi, a second year MBA marketing student.

The website LiftJapan.org lets users donate directly to two organizations that are currently active in emergency response based in Japan − JEN and KnK Japan. JEN is a first responder organization whose efforts go towards restoring a self-supporting livelihood both economically and mentally to people stricken with hardships due to conflicts and disasters. Knk Japan focuses on assisting children affected by the earthquake and tsunami disasters.

“Our objective is to make a difference, not compete for donations,” Sakaguchi wrote. “We are working hard to ensure that funds go towards making an immediate contribution.”

2011 Annual OBHR Conference and First Annual Alumni Reunion

2011-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce this year’s OBHR Conference theme and speakers!
The theme for this year is "Ignite and Reunite" and the keynote speakers will be:

Stephen R. Covey, FranklinCovey
Jack Zenger, Zenger Folkman
Chris Powell, Scripps Networks Interactive
Paul Gustavson, Organization, Planning, & Design
Bronco Mendenhall, Head Coach, BYU Football

The conference will be held March 30th-April 1st at the Provo City Marriott. If you cannot attend the entire conference this year due to budget or time constraints, we hope you will still consider attending our first annual Reunion Event from 7-8:30pm on Wednesday, March 30th. This event is free, and it is a great opportunity to meet and network with the prestigious graduates of the BYU MBA and MOB programs. Also held at the Provo Marriott, the Reunion Event will be a great way to tap into the power of relationships and kick off our conference theme of "Ignite and Reunite". Please consider attending, especially if you are still in the Wasatch Front area.

If you register for conference attendance before March 28th, the price of the full conference is only $595. After that date, the price is $750. There is also a group rate available. With four or more participants, you only pay $545 per person. This event is currently being registered for PHR and SPHR recertification credits. You can register at http://obhrconference.byu.edu. If you are only interested in attending the Reunion Event, please contact Caleb Brigman directly at caleb_brigman@byu.edu.

Learn more and "Like" us at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marriott-School-OBHR-Conference/15548700450940

We hope you will join us for this outstanding conference!

Weighted Average Cost of ROCK

2011-03-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

Besides having high GMAT scores, high GPA’s, great work experience, and amazingly good looks, BYU MBA’s know how to ROCK!

Introducing the MBA band—Weighted Average Cost of ROCK (WACR)!

Victor Monreal (2^nd year, OB/HR, Lead Vocals), Jeff Butler (2^nd year, Finance, Drums), Kenric Russell (2^nd year, Marketer, Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), James Butler (visitor, Bass), Joe Hilton (1^st year, OB/HR, Keyboard) , and Chris Farnsworth (1^st year, OB/HR, Lead Guitar).

Just sit back and enjoy!

Sweet Child of Mine-Guns and Roses

Livin on a Prayer-Bon Jovi

Jump-Van Halen

Why BYU Was For Me

2011-03-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

Everyone wants to go to Harvard or Stanford. For me, coming to BYU Marriott School of Management gives me the sense of the accomplishment equal to going to either one of those schools. BYU for me is not just a school. It is a place of transformation, where I have been looking for. To be a better manager, one must be a better person. I know the route to being a better person is by living high standards that will shape me into a faithful contributor to my employer, church, and community. I know there are many successful ethical individuals in business and I want to be the type of the person they are.

To me, management education is more an art rather than a science. Prior to coming to the business school, I had two things in mind -one to learn how to be a manager and to be a high performer; two to learn the skills to analyze complexity. If we truly believe that no management decision are completely wrong or right, then to minimize the loss and maximize the gain requires good analytical skills. At BYU, professors help us learn how to ask the right questions. Students through participation-centered learning participate in discussion and learning from each other. I believe it is during the time when we participate actively in discussion that we sharpen our skills in analyzing problems.

I have been so excited about BYU and the opportunities it offers to better understand myself, cultivate my inner self, and search for deeper meaning in my life. At BYU, my investment of time, energy and money have been well rewarded. I consider the study of business to be a noble pursuit, as business has the potential to improve the quality of life around the globe, shape leaders who can strengthen communities, and provide goods that would be unattainable without the help of large-scale organizations. In my opinion, the MBA program at Marriott School of Management trains students to become effective business missionaries – people who can transform, who can spread new visions, and who care about bringing the best out of people in making the vision real. I believe the program curriculum and culture will assist me in becoming an ideal business missionary.

Additionally, I believe my spiritual development and associated behavior implications is in line with the attitude and behaviors of students and faculty, who influence much of the structure and culture of BYU campus life. In return, the campus life they created enhanced my personality and behavior in the community. Being part of this engaging community, has made me feel comfortable to share and grow, to have a positive outlook about life and learn more about faith. Faith has had a great impact in my life; it defines my life’s purpose and in turn has increased my ethical decision making. It surrounds my relationships, daily living and challenges with a more optimistic outlook. Giving to the community, whether through charity work or donation has helped me better understand my purpose in life and given me a sense of human compassion. I realize the power of faith helped me to seek for that inner peace and most importantly trust in my ability to benefit those with whom I work as well as those people my efforts serve.

As I know that my past can be used to prepare me for the promises of the future, I hope to blend the two and truly utilize my education at BYU along with past experiences to grow intellectually. But I am continuing my desire to grow spiritually, socially and emotionally. I believe that the MBA program has an adequate environment encouraging my growth in these personal areas – bring out the best in me to influence and cultivate with the community I am involved in.

My own experience, as a foreign student, has taught me to never give up on my dream. My own experience, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has taught me general principles of life that will make me a more effective leader in every role of my life, whether be it an auditor, financial analyst, CFO, citizen or a mother. Above all, my time spent at BYU and Utah has guided me closer to my Heavenly Father, who provides the ultimate foundation in shaping who I am.

Susan Chen, Class of 2011, Finance

Interned at: Disney

The Ride of Your Life

2011-03-07T07:44:00.001-08:00

If you are entering the program this fall, and are nervous about landing the perfect internship, you are not alone. All MBA students in the program have felt this way at one time or another. But, don’t worry; there is hope.

The internship search can be a rollercoaster ride. One minute you are on top of the world after getting an interview with a company you are interested in and the next you are feeling dejected when that same company turns you down for an offer. For this reason, I asked a few second-year MBA students who each landed phenomenal internships late in the winter semester last year to share some ideas on what they did after their first, second, third, (and so on) choices for internships fell through. I have included some of their ideas and some additional thoughts below.

1. Stay focused on your goal and maintain the right perspective. Speaking of keeping the right perspective, one student said “There are so many fantastic companies that don‘t recruit at BYU. One of the main reasons why so many great companies do recruit at BYU is because people found internships at a company that didn‘t recruit here and left a good impression. Not getting an internship with a company that recruits at BYU is a wonderful opportunity to open doors for BYU and make a difference for yourself and future students.” Another student I spoke with said “last year I didn‘t have anything once finals were over but I kept looking and ended up with five offers.” Stay focused on your end-goal and maintain a positive attitude. The results will come.

2. Continue to practice and maintain a sense of urgency. Be humble enough to seek guidance and help from others in your internship search. Take advantage of the insights, expertise, and feedback that your Sherpa, second year mentor, can give to you. But, don’t stop there. Reach out to other first or second year students that can give you different perspectives, feedback, and suggestions. Keep networking and practicing your interviews. You need to be prepared when an opportunity presents itself.

3. Use the alumni database and the Holy Grail (Excel spreadsheet filled with connections to hundreds of companies). Speaking of using the alumni database, one student said “I sent dozens and dozens of emails out and likewise did dozens of informational interviews with people at my top companies, who I found through the alumni database and the Holy Grail…each of these contacts helped me understand the company better.”

4. Last but not least, never give up. Keep working hard. Never stop talking to people inside and out of the MBA program about your internship search. You will get out of the internship search what you put into it.

I love the scripture in Ether 12:6 that states, “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith”. If we persevere and have faith through tough times and trials, the Lord will eventually bless us. This certainly applies to the rollercoaster ride otherwise known as the internship search process. Stay positive, keep working hard, and put your trust in the Lord. The blessings will surely follow.

Mark Lingenbrink, Class of 2011, OB/HR

Interned at: Cisco

"Y" Walking on BYU Campus

2011-03-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

Do these undergrads know answers to simple business questions?

What is the tech bubble?
What does S&P stand for?
What is black Friday?

Jeff Butler and Dave Wood take it to the streets of BYU campus to find out what they know.

Check out more interviews at the BYU MBA Morning Market Call.

2nd Years From a 1st Year's Perspective

2011-02-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

An author once said, “Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” We’ve all heard similar sayings or quotes to that effect – the idea that painful failure can actually build positive character in the long run.

That lesson is poignant to a first-year BYU MBA student, especially when they take a moment to observe one of their second-year counterparts. The bar to get into the Marriott School is high enough that you probably won’t make it without a notable history of success to one degree or another. That means that most of us showed up on the first day of orientation with optimism and high hopes for the challenges that lay ahead.

But, every first year can attest to noticing something a little different about the class just ahead of them, and not just because the second-years have authoritative roles. A new MBA student can sense that a second-year carries a quiet type of confidence – the kind deeply based on assurance.

Most first-years now have an idea of where that confidence comes from. And, the class of 2013 will get that same sense from them. It starts with experiencing failure that is more painful and stressful than most probably expected. It is refined when they overcome that and succeed.

Whether it comes in the classroom, at the career center, or beyond, failure and stress are trademarks of a BYU MBA. But, we move passed it and collect our war stories. Next fall, a bunch of second-years will don the Sherpa polos and get down to business helping the new class. The new batch of first-years will be enthusiastic, optimistic, and talented. But, the second-years will have that quiet assuring confidence that can only come from prolonged time in the battlefield that is the Tanner Building.

Devon Black, Class of 2012, OB/HR

Thinking Beyond the Resume

2011-02-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas, I received a book in which I found a quote from Neal A. Maxwell which reads, “How important is a line in a resume if it comes at the expense and neglect of loved ones?” Upon reading it, that line pushed me to instant introspective contemplation. Since starting the MBA program, I admit to focusing too much on lines of black text over a white sheet of paper, and not enough on the relationships that will endure beyond my money-making endeavors. I think this is a common problem for MBA students and driven business professionals. We become laser focused on getting to the end of the ‘great thing’ we are working on now, only to realize that we squandered our precious time and resources on things that don’t really matter from a long-term perspective.

Twenty-three years ago, my ele¬mentary schoolteacher Mrs. Jackson didn’t come to class. A substitute teacher came in her place, explaining that Mrs. Jackson had some personal issues to take care of and that she wouldn’t be back for a couple weeks. She came back eventu¬ally but never mentioned what the pro¬blem was. Being young and disinterested, none of us pressed to know why she was absent. It wasn’t until the last day of 5th grade that she unloaded on us.

She asked for our absolute attention. Her face changed from a crooked smile to a quivering lip, to all-out weeping in a period of 15 seconds. Through her flowing tears she said, “You probably remember when I was absent for a couple weeks a few months ago. I was afraid to tell you what happened but now I think I need to explain for your benefit. I was gone because Mr. Jackson killed himself. I needed some time to recover.”

She continued on for a while explai¬ning that her husband hated his job and was unhappy working there. Although he hated the long hours, he couldn’t walk away from the big pay checks he was bringing home. She told about how two of her children didn’t care to talk to their father because they never built a strong relationship with him at home. He was always too busy for them. The image of Mrs. Jackson’s swollen eyes remains indelibly in my mind.

I assume that most of us arrived at BYU with the expectation that we would be successful in our classes, work hard to find that perfect job, graduate, and then live happily ever after. We knew that earning an MBA would require rigorous work and sacrifice, but that it would only be a temporary burden to our loved ones. Unfortunately, we all know of too many cases where some have conditioned themselves to the sacrifice and continued that practice for the rest of their lives. Their loved ones have become conditioned to not having their father or mother or son or daughter or brother or sister around very often. How sad.

I remember a quote I read years ago on the wall in a YMCA: “Be careful climbing your life’s ladder of success; you may get to the top to find it is leaning against the wrong wall.” I’m not suggesting that we neglect our studies or cheat our employers of an honest day’s work. What I am saying is that each of us vitally needs to inspect ourselves and truly prioritize that which is most impor¬tant to us—not most important right now but most important in the long run. And we should repeat such an examination often. I know I will benefit from doing so.

-Adam Cuppett, Finance, Class of 2011

Interned at: Property Reserve Inc.

Interview With Carine Clark

2011-02-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

Morning Market Call reaches another milestone: First interview with a C-level Fortune 500 exec! Carine Clark, CMO of Symantec Corp, joined Morning Market Call to share her secret sauce to MBA students on the traits they need to succeed. Be assertive. Be brave. Have your life in order. Know the numbers.

Check it out! Leave comments and tell us what you think!

Check out more interviews at the BYU MBA Morning Market Call.

The Academy Positions You to Achieve Your Goals

2011-02-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

As a junior undergraduate finance major, I had just barely begun to understand the benefits of continuing my business education when I was first introduced to the Academy. I wasn’t sure how or where, but I knew I wanted to eventually push on in school and get my MBA. My Academy experience has helped clarify these previously clouded ideas and goals.

Most BYU students are like me and knew little of the Marriott School Academy. The Marriott School website explains, “The Marriott School Academy is a structured program designed to assist prospective graduate students with the MBA application process, GMAT preparation, and the post undergraduate job search. Its purpose is to attract talented college juniors and seniors who can offer a diverse perspective to the Marriott School MBA program.”

I feel the program successfully completed its purpose. The Academy is designed to help students who are interested in a graduate degree in business identify the best possible option and put them in a solid position to achieve that goal. This is done by helping students in various ways. I have discussed just two below:

Learn How to Network. “Networking.” This word is so often misunderstood. It’s the word that often conjures up emotions of resentment, fear, political correctness, and even fear. At the same time, I’ve come to understand how “networking” may be the most important factor in learning about career options, making professional connections, and ultimately landing a career position. Through the Academy, I learned that networking was more about building mutually beneficial relationships that can open doors to you. Although we discussed networking in class, most of what I learned about networking I learned outside the classroom. The Academy offered me significant networking opportunities which were great opportunities to practice this skill but also to build real, meaningful relationships with recruiters and other professionals from reputable companies.

At one Academy event, I was able to pitch myself to 10 different companies, such as Cisco, Deloitte, Union Pacific, KPMG, and AFLAC. Each company then gave me feedback about my networking, what I could build upon and what I could improve upon. This proved valuable at later events at which companies such as Ford, Intel, and Goldman Sachs exclusively invited Academy members to attend luncheons with their representatives. As a result of joining the Academy, I was able to take advantage of the pre-existing relationships the Academy has with many companies, to learn to build my own professional relationships, and to confirm a career-launching position before leaving school.

Understand How an MBA fits on a personal level. “Fit” was a common word in many Academy discussions. Although I knew an MBA would be beneficial, the Academy helped me understand how an MBA “fits” with my goals and endeavors. As a student with an undergraduate business background, my eyes were newly opened to the fact that most MBA programs seek diversity. Yes, this means different nationalities but it also means different backgrounds. In the Academy, I found myself among psychology, dance, engineering majors who brought a different perspective to light and who all were competitive MBA student candidates.

Learning about this MBA “fit” produced different results in the Academy. One undeclared-major-student decided she wanted to prepare for an MBA by becoming an undergraduate business student. Another member and fellow finance undergraduate student decided he wanted to move in a different direction. He later noted that his Academy experience was “just as valuable as it was for those who decided to pursue an MBA” explaining it was just as important for him to know what he didn’t want to do. The Academy is organized to help students decide if an MBA fits for them, and if it does, provide every resource possible to find a job that will prepare them for graduate studies, prepare to take the GMAT, compare MBA programs, and even choose a specialty tract – whatever “fits” for the student.

Joining the Academy was one of the most influential decisions I made during my time at BYU. It has proven valuable in every aspect of my future professional life by guiding me to current opportunities, preparing me for future education as an MBA student, and increasing my ability navigate a successful career.

Spencer Barlow, Marriott School Academy Student

BYU to Compete in Hult Global Case Challenge

2011-02-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

Provo, Utah (February 3, 2010)—Hult International Business School announced today that Brigham Young University has been accepted and will compete in the 2^nd Annual Hult Global Case Challenge – a call to action for the world’s brightest business school minds to tackle the world’s most pressing issues. This year’s competition, in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative and Water.org, an organization co-founded by Gary White and actor Matt Damon, will focus on developing solutions to the global water crisis. Hult will make the winning idea, along with a $1 million prize, available to Water.org to accelerate access to clean water and sanitation.

“Hult is thrilled that BYU has joined the Challenge,” said Stephen Hodges, President of the Hult International Business School. “This year, we have thousands of students from around the globe competing to help solve the issue of clean water access which can benefit millions of people. The diversity of these teams, from the world’s top business schools, consists of some of the most talented thought leaders of our time, ensuring a spirited competition. We wish every team the best of luck and thank BYU for supporting this effort.”

Each team selected was chosen from more than 1000 applications received. Most schools had multiple team applicants with one or two teams from each school being chosen.

Regional competitions will take place on March 5 on Hult’s five campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai. BYU will compete in San Francisco.

All regional winners will be flown to New York City for the final competition which will be held on Thursday, April 28 at the W Hotel on Lexington Avenue. Every finalist will receive the opportunity to meet and have photos taken with President Bill Clinton, who will serve as the keynote speaker and present the winning team with the award.

BYU’s team members include second year MBA students—Andrea Cordani, Dan Myers, Edgar Cheney, Thamina Sbai, and Tim Young.

Hult chose fellow CGI member, Water.org from among CGI’s 1,800 ‘Commitments to Action’ made by the world’s top organizations dedicated to world change. The organization was chosen by Hult because of their pioneering efforts in the clean water space – including their innovative WaterCredit initiative, which facilitates small loans for water and sanitation access.

The Hult Global Case Challenge is an annual event by the Hult International Business School, which plans to continue its financial commitment each year toward the implementation of solutions for a select cause.

To learn more about the Hult Global Case Challenge, please visit: www.hultglobalcasechallenge.com.
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/hultglobalcasechallenge
Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/hultglobalcase

What Marriott School Academy Can Do For You

2011-01-31T09:17:00.000-08:00

A little known resource for undergraduates students interested in a graduate business program at BYU is the Marriott School Academy (listed as MBA Academy on the Marriott School of Management’s website). Many of you have probably never heard of the Academy. You aren’t alone. When I was first approached about heading the Academy, I wondered why I hadn’t heard of this program during the two years I was in MBA school and quickly discovered that the Academy was only started three years ago.

What is the purpose of the Academy? To quote the Marriott School’s website, “The MBA Academy is a structured program designed to assist prospective graduate students with the MBA application process, GMAT preparation, and the post undergraduate job search. Its purpose is to attract talented college juniors and seniors who can offer a diverse perspective to the Marriott School MBA program.” The program includes a three-day retreat before school starts and a student development class during Fall Semester.

Now that we have gotten through all the formality, let me give me you the inside scoop. Andrew Woo already had taken the GMAT and applied for Harvard’s 2+2 program when he joined the Academy, but realized an opportunity existed that would help him pursue his goal of an MBA. Little did he know where it would lead him.

Since September and October are big recruiting months on campus, I focused the student development class on resume building, networking, and interviewing. Andrew reworked his resume using the guidelines discussed in class then contacted me for another review. We spent over an hour reworking every line of his resume to reflect MBA principles of action verbs and quantifiable results.

In class we talked about elevator speeches and how to use these to begin conversations with recruiters. Andrew had a chance to use his elevator speech at multiple Academy networking events with such companies as Intel, Ford, Goldman Sachs, and Union Pacific. For one event, the Academy partnered with the ALPFA club (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting) for the Minority Summit which had such companies as KPMG, Ernst & Young, PWC, AMEX, Cisco, AFLAC, and others. Once again, Andrew continued to hone his networking skills and found himself invited to company information sessions.

During this time, I introduced behavioral based interview questions to the Academy. The student development class focused on creating STAR stories from their resumes and Andrew was no exception. Current MBA students came to class and conducted mock interviews with the students and provided valuable feedback. Andrew took that opportunity to learn and refined his stories. He recognized the need for more practice. He reached out to me as the Academy coordinator, and I was able to help him improve his stories in multiple mock interviews.

All this work and diligent effort paid off. Andrew applied for a position with Bain and was invited for an interview. The day finally came that he had been waiting for. Bain called and offered him a full-time position. Andrew approached me at the end of class one day to share the good news. He explained why Bain offered him the position. “You interviewed like an MBA not an undergrad.”

That is what the Marriott School Academy is all about. We help students prepare and find valuable full-time employment which gives them the work experience necessary to succeed in an MBA program. Each student in the Academy has a story. Andrew’s is only one of many. If you are interested in applying for the Academy’s Fall 2011 class, email me at thamina@byu.edu. I’ll help you as you begin your own story.

Thamina Christensen, Class of 2010, Marketing

Marriott School Academy Program Coordinator

Wake Forest MBA Case Competition 2011

2011-01-27T13:47:00.000-08:00

Some of our students put together this video to apply for the Wake Forest Case Competition. We thought we would share it with you.

Career Choices in Human Resources

2011-01-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

While students may be tired of hearing about career options after months of discussion, my own career search has uncovered some interesting information about the two most common career paths for BYU OBHR students: Consulting and Corporate HR.

Consulting:
BYU is continually gaining a reputation in Human Capital consulting. Many students have deep interests in Organizational Behavior theory, and find consulting to be a strong match for this interest.

Benefits: Consulting boasts a fast-paced, intense learning experience that is challenging and exciting. As a consultant, you have the opportunity to work in multiple industries and on multiple projects each year. You can increase your exposure to HR challenges, exponentially increasing your learning and potential.

Drawbacks: Consulting usually requires regular travel, and most students value a strong work/life balance in a career. While it is possible to have time for both, it can be difficult. The culture of consulting is high energy and high performance, and one is rewarded for what is accomplished. With increased intensity, ambiguity, and change, a self-awareness of your own work style is necessary.

Corporate HR:
BYU has a strong reputation in Corporate HR, with over a dozen companies recruiting students and interns annually. Our program seems to uniquely prepare us for Corporate HR roles, and many students find success here.

Benefits: The businesses that recruit at BYU are looking for truly strategic HR partners. You can work in a variety of areas, including leadership development, compensation, and employee relations, or you can bring them all together as a generalist. You regularly work with the same teams and you see projects through from start to finish. There is usually less travel and more stability in your daily schedule, creating a feeling of more control over work/life balance.

Drawbacks: Corporate HR may not provide as fast a pace or an environment as innovative as consulting does. While you certainly have opportunities to be creative, you may find it difficult to move forward with so many stakeholders. In supporting the company’s goals and objectives, you have to move through the proper channels to get things done. Because of the variety of tasks you perform in Corporate HR, you may have times in your career where you have to perform tasks you don’t enjoy. Whatever you choose to do, the future is bright for the OBHR students of the MBA program.

—Kelsey Harris, Class of 2011, OB/HR

Interned at: GE at NBC Universal

When You're a BYU MBA, What Happens in Vegas...

2011-01-21T08:10:00.001-08:00

... can be readily posted on the internet without anyone getting embarrassed. Recently a group of MBATS (MBA Tech Society) members took a trip down to Las Vegas for the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). In addition to enjoying a brief escape from pure cold into just a mild chill, the venture was a very memorable experience.

CES is hard to summarize. 140,000 participants walk around for 2-4 days to see as many as they can of the 2,700 technology exhibitors. It's really difficult to give a sense of the scope of the place if you haven't been there. Needless to say, by the end of our second day, my feet were sore and the exhibitors with massage chairs became very popular. You'll never see more large LCD displays in one place in your life. You'll likely never be able to practically afford most of the cars. You'll possibly even see a good number of products you couldn't imagine using. If it's shiny, gadgety, or over-the-top, you'll find it at CES.

My personal top picks during the trip were:

1 - Nvidia's tent which featured their Tegra chip used in the new Tesla Model S. The display that the Tegra drove was nice and all, but I was personally attracted more to the car itself. I'm a huge fan of the move to electric vehicles and Tesla just makes a pretty car. It's well worth checking out when you get a chance.

2 - Glasses-free 3D. I'm pretty opinionated on the 3D fad right now. I'm all for progress in entertainment technology, but I don't like having to wear uncomfortable glasses for the minor value-add of watching something in 3D. That said, LG, among other companies, was displaying some early prototypes of working glasses-free 3D TV. The viewing range is limited, but the effect was awesome. LG expects the technology to be consumer-ready in 3-5 years and I'll seriously consider upgrading at that point.

And, of course, the greatest takeaway of the whole experience was getting to know my fellow MBAs better. I learned about Barney's adventures as a pop star on his LDS mission in Thailand and Mike's experience as a walk-on for BYU's football team. We survived smoking heaters in a cheap motel and a less-than-exciting continental breakfast. We clinked glasses with the president of HTC in Caesar's Palace on HTC's dime (and were the only ones drinking seltzer water with lime). Most importantly, though, we formed memories that will last much longer than the gadgets we went down to Vegas to see.

-Lewis Gunter, Class 2012, Marketing

Innovation in Social Entrepreneurship Case Competition

2011-01-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

On February 10^th and 11^th, 2011, Brigham Young University will host its first national graduate case competition. The first annual Innovation in Social Entrepreneurship (ISE) Case Competition will be held on the BYU campus and will host teams from The University of Michigan, George Washington University Ohio State University, and The University of Washington. As the name denotes, the competition will be centered around social entrepreneurship and each year a case will be written focusing on a problem of the chosen, target, organization for the year. This year’s target organization is Fundación Paraguaya. Fundación Paraguaya is an established organization that focuses on the eradication of poverty in Paraguay. It has operations in microfinance, education, and research and is making significant headway in providing needed assistance to the people of Paraguay who suffer in poverty.

BYU MBA Students, Jasmine Palmer and Ray Kearney visited the organization in the preceding summer and have been working with Professor Paul Godfrey in writing the case that will be used in the competition. The ISE case competition will be held in conjunction with the Peery Social Entrepreneurship Launch, consisting of a Social Entrepreneurship Film Premier, Recognition Banquet, and a TEDx Conference. The competition and launch are intended to serve a three-fold purpose: 1) Create awareness of the field of social entrepreneurship and establish a name for BYU in this space, 2) Host a venue where students and practitioners can come together to network and collaborate and 3) Provide sophisticated and professional assistance to a deserving organization.

The competition, film premiere, and TEDx conference will be open to the public and all are invited to attend. Tickets for the TEDx conference are free but seating is limited so the must be reserved in advance through tedxbyu.com. Times and locations for these events are follows:

Social Entrepreneurship Film Premiere: Thursday, February 10, 7:30pm – 9:30pm, HBLL Auditorium
Competition Finalists Present: Friday, February 11, 9am – 11am, W408/W410
TEDx Conference: Friday, February 11, 1pm – 5pm, HBLL Auditorium

Ray Kearney, Class 2011, General Management

Interned at: US Embassy in Beijing China

B-School v. Law School

2011-01-15T21:13:00.000-08:00

Which is better, law school or business school? I get asked that question (or a variation thereof) from most MBA students I meet. Surprisingly, few law students bother asking. Why? … probably because many law students already assume nothing could be worse. This post is a sequel to my post about the pros and cons of a JD/MBA. My purpose here is to outline some of the major similarities and differences between the two programs.

Competition

The Princeton Review currently ranks both the Marriott School and J. Reuben Clark Law School as #4 in “most competitive students” in their respective ratings. Having lived in both environments, I believe the meaning of “competitive” is very different at each school. In the MBA program there is an intense competitive spirit when it comes to representing the school and trying to make BYU’s MBA program respected and top-notch. There is direct competition when it comes to vying for individual internships and full-time placement. Yet, come winter semester, most every BYU MBA voluntarily unites to combine their collective networks to ensure every student has a job or internship by the end of April. BYU MBAs compete much like a team: doing their personal best and assisting their teammates to achieve peak performance.

Competitive at the law school has a very different feel. To a competitive law student, GPA is everything. This makes law school inherently cutthroat. Your GPA determines your class rank, which determines which law firms or clerkships will even look past the first line of your resume. Rank/GPA opens or closes doors. This single element makes law school an atmosphere of comparison and aggressive learning. Don’t get me wrong—this is not unique to BYU law school. Nor are BYU law students bloodthirsty pirates stooping to dishonesty and cruelty to move to the top. Quite the opposite. There are many top-quality people in the law school. But you won’t find students creating an internship “war room” at J Reuben Clark like you will at Marriott.

Age and Experience

I was 29 when I began law school. I was an Air Force Captain, held a Top Secret clearance, and had lived and traveled in Asia for most of the time between undergrad and law school. In law school I was surrounded by students predominantly under 25 and fresh from undergrad. I believe my age and experience disadvantaged me when it came to studying and test-taking because I had been away from school for nearly five years. My experience in organizations, decision-making, and working in various cultures did not help me understand torts, contracts, or civil procedure. Eventually I bridged the gap, but it took a lot of effort. Contrast that to b-school, where I was 30 years old and relatively average in my age and experience. Guess where I felt more at home.

Classroom Environment

The famed “Socratic Method” is used in both schools, but its intensity is several notches higher as a 1L than as a first-year MBA. B-school is geared toward collaboration and creativity in approaching problems. Professors want you to insert experience and supposition into your answers. In law school there is a ‘right answer,’ and chances are, the professor is the only one who knows it. Law students are given 15-30 pages of small-print, picture-less, text to read prior to each class. During class a professor will randomly call on 2-3 students to engage throughout the class period. Socratic Method in law school means you are on the hook to engage in a one-on-one discussion with the professor for 10-15 minutes. This can be extremely intimidating and daunting to a 1L who wants to look intelligent in front of classmates. But here’s the clincher: usually no more than 2% of a law school grade will be based on class participation. Experienced law students know that class preparation will have a de minimus effect on their overall performance. Thus, after the 1L year, many law students learn how to minimalize class preparation and focus on what is all-important—the final exam.

Exams

B-school exams are not differentiable from those most of us experienced as undergrads. If anything, Marriott School professors appropriately recognize the inefficacy of exams in promoting learning. More emphasis is put on deliberate practice and solving problems in a more realistic team environment. Not so in law school. Like many aspects of law school, exams are steeped in generations of tradition and few law professors are willing to recognize the futility of lumping all evaluation into a three-hour frenzy. One of my law school friends took speed typing tutorials to improve his grades … and it worked! After most law school exams I have a salt ring on my laptop from my sweaty palms (no joke!). Law exams include a scenario(s) that is packed with about every nuance to the legal subject that the professor could dream up. In three hours or less, a law student is expected to identify every issue and weave every facet of relevant law—including variations in legal jurisdictions—into a brilliant evaluation of each party’s legal case. Law students spend weeks preparing “outlines” of case law to help them study for exams. I’ve seen outlines number over 100 pages of single-space bullets.

Studying

As you might expect, studying in law school is a practice of intensive reading and documenting legal rules. Each law student is given a carrel (a private desk with drawers and cabinets). My 1L year I spent so much time at my carrel that I bought a cushion for my wooden chair because my legs and butt were developing a chronic ache. Fortunately a couple of brilliant law students invited me to join their study group my first semester. We would meet once a week until finals season—when we spent hours each day discussing, debating, and compiling outlines. A few professors try to integrate some team assignments into their curriculum, but most stick to traditional exams—where teamwork is purely optional.

The best and worst part of b-school is teams. Teams can suck away all your time. They breed unnecessary drama and force you to spend time with people you might otherwise avoid. Teams also enabled me to develop life-long friendships, learn from brilliant people, and cultivate vital skills that will help me throughout my career. My first semester MBA team struggled with two roadblocks. First, we spent too much time together and needed to carve out time for individual study. Second, it took us all semester to figure out how to communicate our expectations and appropriately divide work. One of the biggest differences between law school and business school is how you interact with your classmates. In B-school interaction is encouraged and forced. In law school the best students learn to leverage their classmates early on.

Career Prospects

I delve into this topic in my other post, but the topic should be chief on anyone’s mind who is considering either degree. If law school is generally less attractive and antiquated in its methodology, why is it so popular? I think the answer is best demonstrated in this generalized salary graph below:

The answer is in the second mode of the law school curve. Top law firms pay graduates around $160k right out of school. This lures a lot of intelligent (if not misguided) people to the law. No work experience (MBA) or elongated residencies (MD) required for a very attractive salary! Sure, the hours and lifestyle are horrendous, but $160,000 is a lot of money! One of my BYU Law friends took a job for over $180,000 in a very competitive Texas firm to pay off his six-figure student loan debt in 2-3 years. He will be working 70-90 hours/week for the next three years of his life.

Unfortunately many of us were attracted to law school believing those $160k salaries would be easily attainable. Cue market collapse and sudden death to big corporate deals. Corporate lawyers, in particular, live and die by the economy. This downturn created a perfect storm for many big firms. First, they were paying attorneys too much (a cost passed on to clients). Second, there were too many attorneys. Third, there was not enough business. BYU Law School is respectable, but when push came to shove, even many of the top 15% of my law school class struggled to get the high-paying jobs. Many were given one-year deferments on their job offers. Others had to settle for jobs in the lower salary brackets. This left the bottom half of the class to eat the remaining crumbs. Imagine earning $40k after three years of law school. Sad, but true … at least for many of my classmates.

Even though times have been tough for MBA students, my observation is that they are much better off than our law school compatriots. Companies can live without certain litigation or deals for a few years, but most corporate leaders realize they can’t stop the stream of talented MBA recruits. The law school still hasn’t published it stats for the class of 2010, but my guess is that the median and mean salaries will be much lower than that of the MBA program this year. Traditionally they have been within a few thousand of each other.

Parting Thoughts

I have chosen a career in management and my MBA experience has far exceeded that of my life as a law student. Others out there will have the opposite opinion. I continue to believe the JD/MBA will enhance and benefit my career. Certainly the legal training I now have will help me evaluate decisions, argue my perspective, and communicate my thoughts. Law school isn’t all bad. There are frequent free lunches, dozens of clubs and activities, and some amazing people. If I had to choose between the two, I would still rather invest my time and money into an MBA.

-Tim Young, Class of 2011, 4th Year JD/MBA

Interned at: Cisco

Adobe Web Analytics Competition

2011-01-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

The Adobe Web Analytics Competition was a pretty unique opportunity for me and my teammate Alex. We entered with little more than a general understanding of what web analytics is and a diehard commitment to win if at all possible. At the start of the competition, we received some basic training on how to use Adobe’s analytics software, and then they left us on our own to figure out how to find business opportunities within the client's site traffic data.

The client was dogfunk.com, a prominent online snowboard retailer. We found it easy to become immersed in the analytics tools and the client’s website as we spent hour after hour combing through reports, searching for ways to add value.

We were lucky enough to have a great team dynamic. As we found opportunities on the site, we discussed and debated them endlessly to ensure our ideas were well vetted and that we had a compelling story to tell. After all, if we couldn’t convince each other, how could we ever convince a panel of seasoned judges that we knew what we were talking about?

We also brought in outside research to support our recommendations. This paid off big in the end. We embedded a quote in our presentation on analytics best practices written by an Adobe consultant. It turned out that the author was one of our judges. We couldn’t have asked for better validation of our work.

After solidifying our recommendations for the site, we went to work building a presentation we thought would wow people. We considered our audience beyond the panel of expert judges and thought about the client showing our presentation to executives from their company. This strategic move really impacted the way we structured things and even led us to create executive summary booklets – something I think helped us stand out from the other competitors.

And after all this, we practiced fanatically in front of audiences as small as our wives and as large as a classroom full of students. We may have gone overboard in terms of the amount of time we put in, but we were determined to test the theory that there is a correlation between effort and success. Luckily for us, this test turned out positive.

At the end of the day, Alex and I felt confident that we could take the skills we acquired and find meaningful work in the burgeoning industry of web analytics. It seems that the competition has even opened some doors with Adobe and we’re excited to explore job opportunities with a renowned leader and a terrific company.

I would recommend this competition to anyone interested in web analytics, Adobe, or even just $15,000. Only one caveat: winning came at a big cost in time for us. We had to set other things aside and sometimes forget them altogether. But it was worth it.

Team Name: Check Plus Plus

Alex Sakaguchi, Marketing, Class of 2011

-Merritt Aho, Marketing, Class of 2011

SHERPA Advice

2011-01-06T09:02:00.000-08:00

We asked the MBA Sherpa’s (2^nd year MBA’s who mentor and coach 1^st years through their internship search) to give some advice to the 1^st years entering their second semester of business school. We thought we would share their advice with you:

The Sherpa program has been a lot of fun. I have become friends with several students that I would normally not have much contact with. You are amazing...

“Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. You are not destined to be a scrub. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity. Believe that you can do it - whatever it is that you set your heart on. Opportunities will unfold and open before you. The skies will clear when they have been dark with portent.” – Gordon B. Hinckley“

If you wait till the last minute, it only takes a minute.

You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, but dog-gone it, make people like you.

Your focus needs more focus.

My Mama always said, “Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you‘re gonna get.”

1st or 2nd years taking the Heaton Beatin‘ next semester, do not be afraid. All you need to do to ace the class is simply ask Prof. Heaton, “You worked at BCG?“ That is sufficient for an A-.

Advice to those searching for jobs: Your future depends on your dreams, so make sure you‘re getting some sleep.

Interviewing for internships is like seeing a proctologist.... it‘s uncomfortable, it‘s awkward, you feel exposed, and when everyone asks you about it later, you‘re just glad they weren‘t there to watch.

It‘ll work out. It always does.

My Mama always said, “Stupid is as stupid does.“

Getting internships is like being water boarded...it feels like you‘re going to die and you keep asking yourself, “How can what they‘re doing to me be legal?”

It still amazes me that just because I‘m a BYU MBA I can reach out to any alumni in any company and get the inside scoop. Awesome!

Pay attention to relationships and don‘t sweat the grades.

Don‘t forget to include your family in your schoolwork and internship search.

The best advice I can give is to ask for help! There are so many people in this world that would love to tell you how unimpressive you really are and how to get better. Benjamin Franklin said, “The first degree of folly, is to conceit one‘s self wise; the second to profess it; the third to despise counsel.“

The Supply Chain Track

2011-01-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Supply Chain Overview

A supply chain is the complete sequence of companies and value-enhancing activities required to transform basic raw materials into useful products and services for customers. Successful companies effectively manage operations (quality; response time; cost; and the flow of information, materials, and people) within the walls of their own organization.

However, new competitive challenges require that companies expand strategic and operating decisions and information flows to include customers and vendors, or the entire value/supply chain. A supply chain manager works closely within the company with product design, manufacturing, marketing and sales, purchasing, logistics and distribution; but a manager also maintains strong working relationships with the same functional areas in customer and vendor organizations. Supply chain management is among the fastest growing job markets for business graduates.

Sample MBA Supply Chain Positions

Supply chain management career opportunities may begin with jobs specifically focused on information and logistics interfaces between the company and its customers or vendors, or with jobs in traditional areas of process control, purchasing and inventory management, logistics and distribution, product and process design, or forecasting.

The following are examples of positions that BYU MBA students/alumni have held, or currently hold.

Company	Job Title	Responsibilities
Amazon	MBA Operations Intern	Work at one of our large Fulfillment Centers or at one of our Customer Service sites. Examples of possible projects for this summer include: • Outbound flow optimization • Customer Service Level Agreement enhancement • Vendor lead time improvement • Capacity planning metrics
Apple	Supply / Demand Product Manager	Analyze forecasted demand, inventory, and channel sales to develop and manage supply plans. Coordinate closely with worldwide product planning to ensure supply plans are supported. Partner with logistics teams to determine and execute optimal supply chain for all product shipments. Improve product allocation and planning processes.
Walmart	Logistics Manager	Managing product group at one of our 40 Regional U.S. Distribution Centers (over 1 million square feet). Perform the heart of Walmart operations by keeping millions of products moving to customers each day of the year (24/7 operations that keep 7,200 tractors and 53,000 trailers rolling around the clock and across the country), while using the latest environmentally-sustainable practices to do it.
Lockheed Martin	Quality Analyst	Reviews, analyzes and reports on quality discrepancies related to assembly, process, mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical systems. Investigates problems and develops disposition and corrective actions for recurring discrepancies. Interfaces with manufacturing, engineering, customer, vendor and subcontractor representatives to determine responsibilities. Recommends corrective actions, dispositions and modifications.

Online Supply Chain Industry Resources

The following is a list of valuable supply chain focused news and discussion boards on current topics in the industry:

Additional Career Search and Development Resources

A terrific free online resource for recommendations for best practices in preparing for career success is called Manager Tools, found here: http://www.manager-tools.com/podcasts/career-tools

Specific podcasts of note include the following:

Career Search

· Resume Musts

· Special Resume considerations for recent graduates

· Answering Interview questions about your Career History

· Determining if you qualify for a job application

· Being successful at Career Fairs

· Thank You notes, how and when

School and Professional Behavioral Recommendations

· Time Management

· Building a Network

· Developing Your Career Using Your Network

· Dealing with Colleagues who Don’t Pull their weight

· Effective Communication

· How to apologize after making professional mistakes

· Resolving conflict with Internal Support Providers

Past BYU MBA Supply Chain Recruiters

Click here for a link to past recruiters for MBA Supply Chain students at BYU.

-Luke Terry, Supply Chain, 2011

Interned at: SearchSino in Xi'an, China

What Executives Are Saying

2010-12-31T06:07:00.000-08:00

As you enter the Tanner Building (the building the business school is located in), you see these beautiful gigantic blue banners that have several quotes of top executives describing the business students. We wanted to share some of those quotes with you:

"You will not find a better group of graduates than those educated and trained at the Marriott School of Management.... Their second-language capability and international experience are unequaled by any other business school."

— Nolan Archibald
Executive Chairman, Stanley Black & Decker

"BYU students are trailblazers. They approach problems with open minds and are eager to find creative solutions. I'm impressed with their dedication to innovation."

— Fraser Bullock
Founder/Managing Director, Sorenson Capital

"Graduates come away from the Marriott School with a very high ethical standard. You don't have to worry about what's underneath the résumé."

— Frank Crespo
Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Caterpillar Inc.

"One thing that differentiates the Marriott School is the experience of the student body.... Since business is conducted in a global framework, hiring people who have had real life experience in a variety of countries with a variety of languages allows for a more effective, deeper relationship with the clients."

— Linda Daines
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

"The school offers mature individuals. Most graduates come out of school with an understanding of what it takes to work hard. They are very strong when it comes to figuring out and solving problems. They are ready to make a contribution."

— Reed Maughan
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

"From my experience, communication and analytical skills are the strongest differentiators between students at BYU and those at other universities. Students take multiple classes that develop and hone these talents, which make BYU grads valuable employees."

— Eric Varvel
CEO, Credit Suisse Investment Bank

Source: https://marriottschool.byu.edu/recruiter/index/executivessay

Interview with Jan Saumweber

2010-12-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

Jan Saumweber, SVP of Sara Lee’s Global Walmart Team, gives advice on anticipating how your chosen role (e.g. sales vs marketing) will affect your family, recounts how showing strong ethics early in her career gained her credibility, and finally encourages women to join the business community. Enjoy!

Check out more interviews at the BYU MBA Morning Market Call.

BYU MBA Stress Management

2010-12-16T05:22:00.000-08:00

Word on the street is that the MBA program is stressful. So we set out Mythbuster-style to find out just how stressed people are these days. We found that the vast majority of BYU MBAs (70%) report having medium to high stress on average, with only 3% reporting very high stress and everyone else claiming low or very low stress levels.

It’s possible our data was skewed by the likelihood that MBAs with very high stress are less likely to take non-essential surveys. Then again, that same group is equally unlikely to be reading this, hence a mutual nose-thumbing is in order.

MBAs employ a variety of methods to manage stress. Aside from the usual suspects of exercise, sleep, socializing, and “couch-potato-ing” (actually recorded in our responses), 20% of respondents reported using food (both the good and the bad kinds) to lower stress and 26% claimed to use Jedi mind tricks to counter stress. Among our favorites in the ‘other’ category are: calling my mom, praying often, eliminating cause (we’re interested to know how), getting out of Provo, and hanging out with people more stressed to see how ridiculous they are.

-Merritt Aho, Marketing, Class of 2011

The High-Performance Machine

2010-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

When I wake up today, I’m a 31 year old MBA student-husband-father-friend-classmate with possibly overly divided attentions, a growing list of personal successes, an also growing list of mistakes and awkward ideas, and a rolling list of to-dos that just seems to exist no matter how much effort I put into eliminating it. I’m ambitious. I expect myself to make a difference. I want to contribute valuable insights and work. I want the next moment to be my best moment. I hope the last less-than-my-best moment will go away quietly.

I’m thrilled with this knowledge-building, friendship-gaining, connection-finding, experience-gathering opportunity. I’m also exhausted by it. I’m enjoying this experience, and I expect I’m going to get better at it, but, in the meantime, all of these roles and goals and activities are putting a lot of miles on me.

And that got me thinking again about what I’m doing to keep me going.

A while ago I found that I had to be a lot more careful about what I ate and how much I slept in order to be clear and engaged in my work. It wasn’t that I was suddenly motivated to turn myself into some superhuman gladiator capable of conquering anything I came in contact with. These changes were to just keep up.

I assumed I was getting old, and it was now my job to make sure I didn’t fall apart.

Recently, it occurred to me that needing to eat and sleep better might have less to do with being “old” than I had thought. While looking over a sports car, it dawned on me that the high-performance vehicle required special motor oils, the highest quality fuel, and special tuning in order to function properly. If the car didn’t get those necessities, then it would actually function worse than its less than sporty commuter-class counterparts.

The light went on, and I suddenly realized (rationalized) that I wasn’t getting old, instead, after growing up as a commuter-class “me” that could deal with irregular maintenance and lower quality fuels, I had somewhere transformed into a high-performance “me” that would accept nothing less than the best to manage this high-performance lifestyle I was living.

I know I’m not the only one balancing the student, family, friend, job-hunter, success, failure, feeling-found, feeling-lost lifestyle, and I believe I’m not the only one who’s suffering from “high-performance” maintenance requirements. So, I hope all of you are also enjoying this MBA experience, and I encourage you to keep diving in where you see fit, and, if you’re feeling like this experience is making you age quickly, I suggest to you that you see it instead as refining you into a high-performance machine that needs special maintenance and care, and then continue maintaining yourself accordingly.

Christian Mealey, Marketing, Class of 2012

Leveraging Stress for Success

2010-11-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

So there I was - in the middle of the cubicle farm on the 2nd floor of the Tanner, a smile on my face as I explored the wild Canadian Rocky Mountains. I was doing a Google-Earth flyover of a remote section, trying to find a way to access a new river that appeared to be full of massive trout. Just then a classmate passed by and asked, “I take it you’ve finished the HR Mid-term?” “Unfortunately not!” I replied, “I’m just looking for one more good idea and then I’m basically done.” With a hint of suspicion in his eyes, he wished me luck and moved on. The take-home midterm was due in an hour, and contrary to my friend’s skepticism, I was right on schedule. Just then an idea came to me, and I pulled everything together and turned in the test.

Stress is an inevitable piece of the MBA experience. It is considered an intrinsic part of life and a critical element of success. Without stress in our life we would likely never perform to our fullest. However, the risks of burnout are real. In a recent study performed by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) it was discovered that 40% of all workers today feel overworked, pressured, and exerted to the point of anxiety, depression, and even disease. The American Institute of stress reports that 60% of doctor visits stem from stress-related issues. American businesses lose over $300 Billion annually to absenteeism and lowered productivity that is a direct result of bad stress.

When is stress good, and when is it bad? When we experience stress or pressure to perform, our productivity begins to increase. If we are exposed to the stress for extended periods of time, the brain releases chemicals epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol. These chemicals cause rises in blood pressure, heart rate, and brain activity that are injurious over time. If we continue our exposure to the stress or pressure, we experience a productivity crash (see illustration of Yerkes-Dodson curve). There is a scientifically proven technique that leverages the benefits of a complex physiological dance between stress and relaxation. Completely letting go of a stressful problem or situation for a time allows the brain to rearrange itself, so that the hemispheres can communicate better. You essentially pull the rug out from under the stressful process and allow the brain to recalibrate, thus maintaining your productivity in the optimal range and preventing it from spiraling out of control. The brain is then significantly more effective at thinking strategically and identifying creative solutions to the problem at hand.

I learned this technique back in 2005 and I have noticed a significant difference in my ability to maintain sound analytical and creativity skills when pressure is high and the work is rigorous. I’ve applied this method in various settings such as high stakes meetings with executives striving for critical answers for the direction of the company, or even simply studying for the GMAT. BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall also incorporates this technique into strategy meetings with his staff. Whenever the stakes are high and the task is laborious, we must understand the physiological effects of stress upon our brain and our ability to think creatively and holistically. The next time you feel your productivity starting to suffer, take a mental break that allows your mind to completely shift to a relaxation state, whatever that may be for you. If you feel your study group hitting the same plateau, suggest a 10-minute break that allows everyone’s minds to re-group. You will return with the benefits of more creative and clear thoughts that will consistently facilitate better decisions.

-Mike McInelly, OB/HR, Class of 2012

Using the "Force" of the OBSA

2010-11-15T22:07:00.000-08:00

Not so long ago, and not so far away there was a techie gone HR, a.k.a. me. I was a career-changing madman trying to land an internship then, and now, a full-time career in the vast and broad field of Human Resources. I began the MBA experience knowing that the ambiguous, the challenging and dare I say mystic world of HR and Organizational Behavior was for me, but I had no clue as to HOW to turn that into reality. The answer came in the form of a student organization, the Organizational Behavior Student Association (OBSA).

The reader needs to know a little bit about the author to fully appreciate the magnitude of the change. I worked for over 8 years in technology, and at the end of that career was exposed to some advanced org design issues that transitioned my interest from the binary to the strategic. I quit work and began the school year full of optimism and hope, sure that despite the drastic shift in career fields I would quickly find success (this is where the evil Sith Lord laughs).

The OBSA provided support on all fronts: networking, resumes, interviewing, and more (for only $19.99 plus shipping and handling – payable to George Lucas). Armed with positive criticisms and feedback, I took to the job search like a techie at a Star Wars convention. Informational interviews, networking, resume submissions, but in the case of this wayward “Jedi,” the chance to interview never materialized.

As I watched my fellow classmates interview and enjoy fly backs, I felt as if I had not only failed to “use the force,” but had been encased in an “occupational carbonite block,” eat your heart out Han Solo. So I put on a brave face and tried to commiserate with my peers as they shared stories about how hard their interviews were, or how frustrating their fly backs had been, and rejoice in their individual successes. As December began, and I felt like I didn’t even have an Obi-Wan Kanobi for an only hope, the OBSA stepped in a had a few second years speak to us at a ProSem. These particular second years had found their internships late the year before. Their words of encouragement, sympathy and faith were exactly what this “Padawan learner” needed.

Because they took the time to share their emotional, difficult and sometime miraculous stories, I found the courage to keep searching for any chance I could find. My family made it a matter of much fasting and prayer and in the end I found my internship through a connection in the OBSA. As the school year rapidly neared its end, a member of the OBSA presidency reached out to me about an opportunity a connection of hers had in her organization. This company (in the fortune 50) was looking for an HR intern with a technical background, you don’t need to hear the voice say, “Use the force!” to realize that this was the perfect opportunity.

To summarize this epic story, the OBSA is focused on training and preparing the students in the HR track to be successful in the job hunt and in their future careers. This it does extremely well, however, the most valuable asset that this organization has provided me is a network of dependable, successful, and supportive friends. It has helped me build lasting relationships that will be a treasure to me both professionally and personally.

Josh Kruse, OB/HR, Class of 2011
Interned at: Northrop Grumman

My BYU Family

2010-11-07T21:11:00.000-08:00

Here I am, less than 6 months away from graduation, and I can proudly say that choosing BYU MBA program was the best decision I could have made 15 months ago. My decision to attend BYU raised many questions among my family and friends. Their concerns were multifaceted, but they all revolved around one question: Why would you attend BYU when you are not LDS? There were concerns about the religious and cultural differences, my ability to fit in, to form friendships and ultimately to integrate into the BYU family.

While I did not have an answer to this question 15 months ago, I had faith. Today, in looking back at what has been one of the most challenging, yet the most successful years of my life, I can say that the BYU family is behind my success story.

1. I had help. I was given all the tools necessary to succeed. The staff, professors and classmates cared about my success and provided me with the support to perform at my best. In countless occasions, students offered, unsolicited, to help me with my resumes, interviews, assignments, etc.

2. I had inspiration. I was surrounded by hard-working men and women, who were both my competition and my daily inspiration. I was inspired by the drive and determination of my classmates, who, for the most part, not only juggled schoolwork and internship search but also family responsibilities.

3. I had faith. While BYU is an LDS institution, it is an institution where anyone can freely live his or her faith. I have been able to live my religion and share my culture with very accepting colleagues. Religion has not been a differentiator but rather a way of bridging differences, learning from each other and growing as an individual.

The fact of the matter is that while the religious and cultural differences were initially a concern of mine, those differences fueled deep conversations and dialogues, which drove my integration into the BYU family.

-Thamina Sbai, Marketing, Class of 2011

Interned at: L'Oreal USA

Squeezing 29 Hours Out of Your Day

2010-10-29T05:09:00.001-07:00

They say that the first thing Peter Drucker told executives to do was record how they spent their time throughout each day and evaluate their priorities. Of course, they also say that Peter Drucker is dead. Regardless, I decided to take on the “Drucker Challenge” for myself. I recently spent seven days carrying a little notebook around to record how I spent every minute of each day. I even recorded trivial things such as: “Watched teammates play Worms while waiting to start our meeting – 20 minutes,” or “Talked to Mac about why Supply Chain is better than OB/HR – 5 minutes.” You get the idea.

My purpose was three fold:

I was feeling pretty spread thin with all my commitments and I wanted to see where I could eliminate waste (or “Mudah” as us GSCMA’ers affectionately refer to it) in my schedule.
I was curious how my actions during each day matched a written list of priorities that I had.
I wanted to have tangible proof of how weird I am.

I’m happy to say that this was a fruitful exercise in achieving each of my purposes.

I divided my schedule into four compartments: School, Spiritual, Career Development, and Personal (non-sleeping). Then I plugged each daily activity into one of those compartments. After the week was over I put all my data into an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed the results.

Here’s what I found:

All school related activities for the week only took 45 hours. I really thought this number would be closer to 70!

I’m really good at thinking about getting a job. I mean, I can spend hours and hours just thinking. Unfortunately, I only spent 1 hour during the week actually doing something about it (i.e. working on my resume, networking, or applying for jobs).

I had 40 hours of personal time to spend during the week. My funniest time log? “Legal Obligations – 1 hr 40 mins,” (good old traffic school).

My “Playing-Halo-with-roommates-to-going-on-dates” ratio was a solid two hours and thirty-five minutes to zero. My ecclesiastical leader may cringe at this statistic, but I’m okay with it.

I found multitasking to be a great way to achieve a couple priorities in my schedule at the same time (and I’m not just talking about applying for jobs while sitting in class). For example, following the news is important to me but I’ll neglect it when I’m really busy, so I make it a priority to listen to some good podcasts while I’m getting ready in the morning, commuting, cleaning, or performing any other essential task that doesn’t require a lot of thought.

I need to use the Internet with a purpose. Part of my study time involved going through my web browser’s viewing history and recording where I spent my online time. It was amazing how often I started out with a simple check up on my Facebook account and that somehow led to browsing Jon Hamm’s filmography on IMDB, any national articles praising Austin Collie’s brilliance, or Jim Gaffigan YouTube clips.

I have to admit that logging all my time day after day made me feel somewhat like a robot, and at times really sucked the life out of life. Having said that, I’m glad I did it and I suppose it’s an exercise I’ll repeat in the future. We all will die someday. Peter Drucker has already died. But, while we’re alive, it’s useful to periodically check how the time we spend matches the supposed priorities that we have. And, who knows? Maybe after your own careful time management review you just might realize that you can squeeze 29 hours out of your day.

-Luke Terry, Supply Chain, 2011

Interned at: SearchSino in Xi'an, China

My OB/HR Baptism

2010-10-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

One moment I was sitting blissfully on my orange raft, and the next, I was submerged in shark-infested (probably) white water rapids. It is difficult to describe the experience of being dislodged while white water rafting. The effects are sudden, wet, shocking, and yet, somehow satisfying (at least in the retelling). The OB/HR raft trip represented a form of baptism for me, not just in the Payette River, but also into the world of OB/HR at BYU. In fact, I would like to rechristen this event: Scout Camp meets Gourmet Road Show meets OB/HR. Certainly there were moments of pressure, and perhaps shock (Re: portapotty? Anyone???). A first-year student summed up our first evening with the recruiters: “I feel like I’m on the Bachelorette, vying for face-time.” At first, meeting the recruiters encouraged a small frenzy, but after the first night, the pressure dissipated and we had FUN. We hung out. And, frankly, the most useful information was not facts about the companies, but rather the more subtle and personal details about the individuals.

My favorite conversations were the casual, inane, and downright ridiculous. I would like to record some of those here. (Names have been deleted to protect the innocent):

“Our group last year was all the jocks.” Ten minutes later. “I’m a dancer. And I love flower gardening.”
“I heart HR [insert 5 minutes of new and strange HR jargon] I heart HR”
“People always call me Ryan when they forget my name. Then I found out that my mother was planning to name me Ryan all along! But my aunt used it for her kid right before I was born and my mom couldn’t use it, so actually my name SHOULD be Ryan. Isn’t that weird?”
“I love my Harley. Maybe not the best investment...but my Harley makes me so happy.”
“Guys, we totally have to have a strategy for attacking that other raft.”
“In Russia you can’t throw the garbage away until your guest is safely home, or it’s bad luck.”
“My wife is such a good mom. I just got lucky” What a softy. Later: “I am going to attack you tomorrow.” (FYI: he is a man of his word.)
(upon viewing natural Idaho scenery): “You guys have really done a great job with the landscaping here. I mean, it must have taken forever to haul in all these trees.”
“I have never [fill in blank with whatever you want]”
(Singing Aboard Raft à la Titanic): “Sempre libera degg´io folleggiare di gioia in gioia!!!!!”
“I have never rooted for BYU...I have never rooted for BYU...define root”

Other significant moments: I showed up without proper gear, but was speedily provided with a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and flashlight! I am now a firm supporter of Boy Scouts of America, even if they plan vacations without washrooms. Another was a classmate saving me a coveted seat by the fire, knowing how important it was to my survival. These conversation snippets and anecdotes may seem silly and meaningless. But, to me, these are the crucial conversations. There is everything to be learned from small talk. With each exchange, I form my perception of the other person, reflect it back on myself, and begin to shape my professional identity. Unarticulated questions are a running backdrop: Am I like you? Do I like being with you? Could I become like you? Do I want to? Every conversation was a window into OB/HR, and into my future.

While I would like to say that I came out of the OB/HR Rafting Trip with a clear sense of direction (track, company, position, salary, location) - I didn’t. I emerged drenched in questions. What I did come out with was a tangible knowledge that I really like these people. In fact, I like them a lot. And since a church can be judged by its members, I must say that my recent baptism into OB/HR may shortly become a conversion.

Elizabeth Keeler, OB/HR, Class of 2012

An Ordinary MBA Summer

2010-10-19T06:55:00.001-07:00

My summer started pretty early. On April 22nd I was on a plane directed south. After 30 hours (I was lucky to find 3 open seats in a row and I actually slept on a flight for the first time in my life), and after seeing Dallas and Santiago, Chile, from the clouds, we landed in Asuncion, Paraguay. And by us I mean Jeff Baxter, soon to be nicknamed Compañero Jeff, and me.

After a couple of days in the capital we were “abducted” and found refuge in a wonderful little house in the middle of the jungle. We spent 4 weeks there: it was an incredible experience!

a sight of the main square of the school from the main office

We had been blessed with a great education during our first year in the MBA; but even a greater blessing was to be able to apply these concepts and provide very useful suggestions for Fundacion Paraguaya. Fundacion Paraguaya is a non-profit organization whose ultimate purpose is to free people from poverty through work and business. In particular we consulted for their Agricultural School in Cerrito. They teach agricultural principles to teenagers and sell the outcomes of their work (vegetables, milk, cheese). They are struggling. We ran a deep analysis of their business and realized that their main and most pressing problem was the sales method. They weren’t reaching enough people because they didn’t have the right materials. They needed carts to help them carry their products and it was our desire to help them make the carts.

me, Alison (MPA) and a bunch of local kids (indigenous local population)

Jeff is an amazing engineer: do you think that for the team leader of the BYU racing car team (182 MpH!) it is too hard to build 3 carts? Well, without the right material and tools it was a challenge. But we made it! The 3 carts allowed them to touch between 200% and 300% of their customers in the same amount of time!

Jeff working and me zoolandering

Time to say goodbye came soon and I flew back to Utah. But just for 2 days! Then a lone drive to Palo Alto, CA, where I started working for Apple, in its Applecare group—Global Commodity Management to be precise. It was challenging but fun. Apple is not how they describe it. It is better. They are super lean, fast, entrepreneurial, innovative and love their customers.

Of course if I talked about what I did I’d have a Job’s SWAT team blasting my door in 5-10 minutes... So all I will tell you is that they had an amazing cafeteria! Great food.

And Palo Alto weather? Are you kidding me? Constant 80 degrees? Made the swimming pool and the Jacuzzi in the complex so much more valuable.

The last week of my summer was a road trip back from California. I still don’t understand how we could drive (with two friends from Italy) for 2,500 miles in 8 days! Bay Area, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Muir Woods, Yosemite, Sequoia, Vegas (in bed at 9.30), Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Moab, Arches, Monticello (ok we only slept there) and Provo. Awesome!

Antelope Canyon, AZ

In the end... a great ordinary MBA summer! You’ll hear many like mine. :)

Andrea Cordani, Supply Chain, Class of 2011

Interned at: Apple

Procrastination? Not at BYU!

2010-09-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

If there were one word to avoid when describing the MBA program at Brigham Young University, it would be “procrastination”. From the moment students get accepted into the program, months prior to the start of classes, they are kept busy with a wide variety of tasks—everything from surveys and pre-requisite classes to personal essays and personality tests. In addition, each new student is assigned a second year MBA “Sherpa” to help prepare the new student for the difficulties that he/she may find in starting the program. The Sherpas also provide mentoring and motivation to new students so that they begin to prepare their resumes, elevator pitch and interviewing skills before starting school. And as if this weren’t enough, BYU provides two orientations for many first year students: one for internationals, and then one for the entire incoming class.

All of the preparation provided by BYU prior to the start of the school year allows students to focus exclusively on their classes and their job search rather than spend half of the semester figuring out what is an optimal resume, how long an elevator pitch should be, or where to find the Symplicity website (Y Business Careers).

The program forces students to stretch in different directions to achieve results. These may come in the form of good grades, better family life or church callings, not to mention a robust personal/professional network and great career prospects.

My first impressions of BYU are related to hard work, discipline, anticipation and great attitude. Already, the program has helped me become a better person, and a better professional. Not only does BYU provide excellent faculty, but it also excels in selecting talented MBA candidates. And one first impression that still rings true is that the word 'procrastination' has nothing to do with this program.

Nacor Tortosa, Supply Chain, Class of 2012

Earl Stice

2010-09-22T05:09:00.000-07:00

We have asked a few of our professors why they teach at BYU, what they hope students gain from their classes, and what advice they would give the incoming students. Today we will hear from Earl Stice, our PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accounting. Enjoy!

-The Blog Team

What makes you different?

1. My love of accounting is a genetic endowment.

My brother and I both teach accounting in the Marriott School.
My older son is getting a PhD in accounting.
My younger son (a BYU accounting major) hopes to start a PhD in accounting next year.
My second daughter (a BYU economics major) is also considering getting a PhD in accounting.

2. I have connections with China.

I teach at business schools in China two or three times each year. This stems from a three-year stay (1995-1998) on the accounting faculty at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
One of my daughters is from China.
My two youngest daughters (both from Kazakhstan) are in a Chinese-language immersion program here in Provo. They are second graders at Wasatch Elementary (across the street from BYU’s Law School).
I have written three cases on Chinese industries (oil, air travel, and telecommunications) that are used in the Financial Statement Analysis course.

Why do you choose to teach in the BYU MBA program?

Teaching accounting to accounting students is primarily about accounting. Teaching accounting to MBA students is about accounting and finance and valuation and regulatory policy and international intrigue and much more. So, teaching accounting in the MBA program allows me to cover accounting as well as the interesting business implications of accounting.

What do you hope students will gain from your course, aside from its content?

Excitement about learning new things.

What advice would you give students in their first year of the MBA program?

Don’t get behind in your coursework. Put in a full day of work every day (except for Sunday). Keep regular hours; late night work is a bad idea.
From Day 1, remember that every interaction -- with fellow students, with faculty, and with Marriott School staff -- will impact your business reputation, for good or ill.

-Earl K. Stice, Ph.D.

Accounting Professor, School of Accountancy

My First Impression

2010-09-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

I embarked upon my MBA experience at BYU with much trepidation and anticipation. After all, this would be my first time in a graduate program, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, as I spent the first two weeks in orientation, and the subsequent weekend on the OB/HR rafting trip, there are several things that have stood out to me.

First and foremost, I have been amazed at how much time and effort the 2nd year MBA students put into making my experience as painless as possible. My Sherpa (second year mentor) has been especially helpful in assisting me as I make decisions that will influence the rest of my life. The alumni network at BYU has also been an outstanding resource. As I have reached out to former graduates I have been very grateful for the advice and information that they have given to help me through this journey.

My fellow classmates have also proved to be amazing people. It is already apparent to me that my peers are among the brightest MBA students in the country. I feel that the relationships I am establishing now will endure for life.

Lastly, I have been very impressed with the faculty in the program. The professors are world class, and it is readily apparent that they really do care for the students. After only two weeks in the BYU MBA program, it is not hard to see why it is among the top business schools in the nation.

Michael Eaton, OB/HR, Class of 2012

Fulfilling My Purpose as an MBA in Ghana

2010-09-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

One year ago I came into the MBA program with no idea of what I wanted to do when I leave. To be honest, when listening to speakers and professors, I would often find myself questioning the purpose of getting an MBA. Yeah, you can make more money, be smarter, and have a really schnazzy resume. But seriously, what does that really get you? An MBA is only a ticket to a higher salary and more hours in the office if you aren’t able to make the connection of where it fits with your greater purpose. The key is to find that purpose. Simple task, right? But it’s something that needs to be explored at an individual level.

My greater purpose is to explore the world and use the experiences I’ve had through travelling and education to benefit those in less fortunate nations. The Marriott School has what I consider to be a best-kept secret – the Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance. (It’s not really a secret; we are all just too busy to look up and see the sign.) The Ballard Center provides students with many opportunities to get involved in social ventures, many of which exist in underdeveloped nations.

Last semester, I applied for a marketing/HR consulting project in Koforidua, Ghana with a rechargeable batteries company called Burro (burrobrand.biz). Burro has an innovative business model designed to help develop economic self-reliance in Ghana by providing more power to more consumers at a much more affordable price. Media and politicians tell us we should serve others by donating goods to those who are less fortunate, and in a time of crisis I can’t think of any better way. But this doesn’t do anything for those in need long term. Economic development is what many impoverished nations need, and companies like Burro help with that development. And BYU MBA students help those companies.

Burro has gained traction over the past two years and now wants to position itself for investors to push for expansive growth. So, four of us MBAs headed down to Koforidua after finals in April to see what we could do. Jennia Parkin and I developed research strategies to help us analyze the company’s branding, product line, hiring, and training efforts. We then made recommendations to the owner regarding marketing and HR strategies that would better serve the company as it positions itself for growth.

We experienced first-hand the challenges of working in a foreign country. It doesn’t matter if you both speak “English;” you will never really speak the same language. Culture, values, and experiences develop dramatic differences in perceptions and you must be acutely aware (and open to) these differences to avoid spinning your wheels. Transportation, processes, communication, sales, and training all happen at a much slower rate in Ghana, as well. It’s not due to a lack of capability or education, but to a lack of infrastructure. Hopefully, if Burro and more companies like it are able to take off in Ghana, the economy will grow, tax revenue will grow, and infrastructure will develop. And the cycle will begin. This takes time, but we must start somewhere. And giving away free products and services to these countries only hinders that economic development.

Let’s not get into that debate, though. This post is about finding the connection between your purpose and your MBA. My experiences in Ghana tie to what I hope will be the future of my career. I ended up doing my summer internship with Procter & Gamble. P&G’s purpose is to touch and improve the lives of more consumers in the world more completely. Burro’s mission is to deliver “high-quality, affordable goods and services to low-income families in the developing world.” If Burro were to write out its purpose, I would imagine it would be very similar to P&G’s, just more targeted to Africa.

These two companies allowed me to discover how my MBA relates to my purpose. My purpose is to explore the world and use the experiences I’ve had through travelling to benefit those in less fortunate nations. It doesn’t matter if I work for a social venture or big corporation.

Business can be one of the greatest aids we can offer any underdeveloped nations. But I wouldn’t have realized this without learning the lessons I did in Ghana. If it weren’t for seeing first-hand how products, like batteries, can develop and improve the quality of life for those in underdeveloped parts of the world, I may have looked at P&G’s purpose as a PR tool to aid in its greedy capitalist strategy. But now I don’t feel that way at all. Having my MBA can only give me more opportunities to explore the world and use business acumen to benefit those less fortunate – social venture or big corporation.

Tara Hair, OB/HR, Class of 2011

Interned at: Procter & Gamble

Grant McQueen

2010-09-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

We have asked a few of our professors why they teach at BYU, what they hope students gain from their classes, and what advice they would give the incoming students. Today we will hear from Grant McQueen, our William Edwards Professor of Finance. Enjoy!

-The Blog Team

I joined the faculty at BYU in 1989 after graduating with a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Washington. I teach Corporate Finance to first-year MBA students; I try to make the course challenging and relevant. Some say my sense of humor is too sarcastic and ironic—I consider this a compliment.

I taught at the University of Washington and Arizona State. Borrowing from my college Prof. Pinegar, the reason I teach at BYU is because at UW and ASU I taught finance, but at BYU, I teach students. I love finance, but prefer to dedicate myself to something bigger than finance. I’m at BYU to prepare students to have great careers, but more importantly, to teach them to help others around the world.

JoLene and I live in Mapleton with our four children. We have a large garden and a small orchard. The McQueens enjoy sports, reading, family outings, and each other--most of the time.

-Grant McQueen, Ph.D.

Finance Professor, Department of Finance

Perspective of an Non-LDS Student

2010-08-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

A year and half ago, when I was vigorously searching for my dream MBA school, I had no idea how I can find a perfect match – one that will be my brand for the rest of my life. These 2 years would be the most critical 2 years of my life, and the investment of time and money and all personal sacrifices that I had to commit to better be worth this.

After a grueling period of GMAT preparation, actual exams, application processes and lot of soul searching, I made my way to the Marriott School MBA program. The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The program, though universally recognized, is not among the most popular choices among many international students (I can speak for the Indians only). More so for those who are not members of the LDS church. The reason might be the apprehension of a culture shock in an environment that has not been publicized so well. Or even a more grave reason may be the commitment to a Code of Honor and ethics and a fear of the consequences of not meeting those standards in the course of 2 years. The Honor Code requirements of the program can put an initial block in the mindset of the candidates and more research about the heart and soul of this program will cease to continue. I am glad that I never made that same mistake.

Everyone has to make his/her own choices. I respect everyone’s choice. I made my own choice when I visited the BYU before I got admitted. When I was on campus on a cool February morning, I immediately felt at home. Now I have quit my job, made my big move to the Happy Valley of Utah and am waiting for the strenuous and dreaded Fall semester to begin. But during the orientation, I could realize the fact that there are no other MBA programs where I can be happier to see myself in. The values and ethics do run in the blood of this program and it is not like a “secondary ethics class” put in the block to rationalize the requirement of ethical standards of an MBA program.

And feeling of acceptance in another culture? Well, the following incident just talks about how accepted I was in this setting. During orientation, we were told to bring an artifact to describe our identity or story related to the object. This was a good way to delve into the members of your group. The feeling to your peer’s inner self will make the bonding easy and will pay off during a tough time. I brought a picture of 3 revered Hindu religious leaders who were the inspirations and founders of the institute (Ramakrishna Mission) I studied for 12 years in my school days in India. Almost 8 years back, my mom gave the picture to me when I first left home to do a job outside my home city and since then I am carrying this to remind me of my roots. My story of failures and persistence and the role of this picture in my personal and professional life moved my team members and I felt their recognition and acceptance of this different religious perspective. They saw the picture and appreciated me sharing my story with them.

Diversity is the way of life. In every walk of life, people have choices of pin-pointing the differences and make the life a lot more difficult or they can go look for the similarities. As far as the future of mankind is concerned, we are better off going for the second choice. Today, I am glad to embark on my Mission MBA. “Bon Voyage” to my classmates as well.

—Arindam Majumdar, Class of 2012, Finance

John Bingham

2010-08-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

As you have probably noticed, we decided to take a small vacation. We are back now and completely rejuvenated! You can count on seeing at least 2 posts a week until our next vacation. And to show you we mean business, we decided to kick off our new school year with some professor posts. We have asked a few of our professors why they teach at BYU, what they hope students gain from their classes, and what advice they would give the incoming students. We will start with John Bingham, our Strategic Human Resources Professor. Enjoy!

-The Blog Team

Welcome to BYU!

I look forward to seeing you in MBA 548, Strategic Human Resources. I believe you’ll gain tremendous value from my course. I stress that human capital is one of the most vital, yet overlooked, means of establishing competitive advantage today. Many managers believe, or at least expect, this is the case, but have little tangible evidence to make the business case. They believe or hope that their most expensive asset is making a tangible difference, but have little understanding of the metrics that appeal to the senses and to the bottom line—tangible evidence. My goal is to help you understand the evidence that quantifies the human component of the business performance equation. This evidence will provide you with a greater appreciation for the traditionally “intangible” contributions of human capital and will enlarge your ability to manage more effectively for success.

*****

I’m a bit eclectic in my professional and academic background. I’m a research professor with a PhD in business management, but worked in a variety of areas before settling down in academia 9 years ago. In my early college years, I was a professional ski patroller, a backcountry guide, and a river expedition outfitter. Later, I co-founded two ventures; one in professional medical services and the other specializing in outfitting continuing education excursions. I was later involved in an Internet start-up and worked in business development in online retailing and media during the dot.com boom. My unique background gives me perspective and context, which I believe adds tremendous insight and value to my pedagogy and the way I approach problems. I believe this uniqueness is also what prompted my colleagues to invite me to BYU and what ultimately influenced my decision to join BYU and help contribute to the goals of this distinctive institution.

I love Brigham Young University, but I’m not a product of this University and I did not always bleed “cougar blue.” My undergraduate and master’s degrees are from the University of Utah. Later, I pursued my PhD studies at Texas A&M University. When my department chair at Texas A&M University heard I would be visiting BYU as a prospective candidate for a faculty position, he scoffed, asking why anyone would want to attend a University where faculty were not free to explore and develop knowledge as they wished. I had a high level of respect for the academic success and notoriety of my chair. Not ever having attended a Church-sponsored institution, I began to wonder and question whether BYU would truly be a good professional fit.

In my preparation to come to BYU for my research presentation and interviews, BYU’s Academic Vice President, Richard Williams, sent me a document called the “Statement on Academic Freedom at BYU.” He requested that I read it and be prepared to discuss it during my visit. I studied the document carefully, hoping to find some enlightenment and reconciliation. One statement stood out and continues to stand out for me. It is the only sentence repeated twice in the document—once in the opening paragraph and a second time in the final paragraph. The statement reads: “To seek knowledge in the light of revealed truth is, for believers, to be free indeed.” This statement struck me to the core and helped me resolve the tension I had felt. I have come to believe this is a model for how and why learning thrives at BYU. The Spirit can touch our lives to enlighten, strengthen, and sanctify us through “light and understanding.” This is why I choose to teach at BYU. I love what I do and I love doing it at BYU. Very few places allow you to integrate spiritual with secular principles. And I find great meaning doing it in the classroom, in my research, in my associations with other colleagues, and in my cherished interactions with students.

******

There is much to anticipate in preparation for your MBA experience. My suggestion is to assume the role of a good researcher and collect lots of “data.” Everyone will proffer advice about your first year experience. When people give you advice, integrate their perspective, or data point, into your larger data set. Don’t let one data point skew you one way or the other, but let it operate as a unique observation in your attempt to produce a statistically significant study. Good researchers know that few outcomes can be predicted without sufficient statistical validity and enough statistical power to generate robust results and reliable findings. Ask for advice, lots of it. But go along building better predictions about the outcomes that are most relevant and important to you, coupled with the data you collect. Finally, seek out the reasons why you are at BYU. Actively search and you’ll find at least partial, if not full, spiritual explanation and confirmation for why you are enrolled in BYU’s MBA, and not doing something else. The more you seek to understand why you’re here, the more fulfilling (and even less stressful) your experience will be. See you the first week of classes!

-John Bingham, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Organizational Leadership and Strategy

My Most Important Project

2010-07-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

This year has held a lot of firsts for me. First time living in New York City, first real corporate job, first real HR role, and the first time I have felt like I am not performing at super-star level. I started my internship with GE at NBC Universal with a few great plans, and after almost two months of work, I have turned those great plans into more vague and convoluted plans. But I haven't really produced anything.

But now that I have just passed the halfway point, the panic has started to set in. What am I going to do if I can't present something awesome, something awe inspiring, something worthy of a job offer? I am starting to wonder if I am going to have anything to show, or if I will end up like the comic Brian Regan, standing in front of the CEO with a cup of dirt. "So tell me about your project, Kelsey." "Uh, it's a cup of dirt. Can I go home now?"

So I did what any intelligent MBA would do; I talked to another MBA student, because I realized A) they had already been through this and B) we are pretty good at validating each other. This wise MBA grad gave me some good advice. "They're not expecting you to revolutionize the company, they just want you to make an effort to fit in. They want to see you talking to people and making friends. So start talking and quit stressing."

I quickly realized that the most important part of an internship is actually a continuation of what we learn during recruiting. It's all about the networking. You can't neglect the power of relationships, even when projects and mangers and deadlines seem to be staring you in the face. In the end, it is the people you meet that will make your internship experience, not the projects you did or didn't complete. In the long run, no one will really remember what you did, and that's a very good thing when you are standing up there holding a cup of dirt. But if you have built lasting relationships, then you will have nailed your internship.

—Kelsey Harris, Class of 2011, OB/HR

Interning at: GE at NBC Universal

CNBC-Mormon Mission Biz

2010-07-05T06:27:00.000-07:00

Here's "A look at successful Mormon business leaders, with CNBC's Erin Burnett.

There are a lot of comments we could make about this video, but we would rather hear your comments. The only thing that we want to say is this--"While not every missionary may know what an iPad is, we can reassure you that EVERY student, Mormon or non-Mormon, in the BYU MBA program knows what an iPad is!"

-Blog Staff

Lessons I've Learned

2010-06-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

We will be dedicating the month of June to alumni posts. So, check back frequently to see what BYU MBA alumni have to say. And if you are an alumni with something to say, please send us an email with the topic you would like to write on. Our address is byumbablog@gmail.com.

-Blog Staff

I graduated from the MBA program in 2009, and I’m currently in a two-year Global Rotation Program (“GRP”) in Human Resources, a route for the brave or the undecided (or both in my case). I recently moved to London from New York for my second of three rotations at American Express. Having started in Executive Compensation, I’m now splitting my time between two HR generalist roles: supporting our customer service organization in Europe and also working on the structural design and change management process of a global recruitment transformation.

The learning curve of a rotation program has been steep, but the constant movement is exhilarating. I had the feeling upon rotating the first time that just when I was getting a good grasp on my first area, I was thrown into another. Nonetheless, as I think back on my first year post-MBA, I do feel significantly more seasoned than when I started. While part of this is feeling more comfortable with the skills relating to my job, the most important lessons I’ve learned have been around courage, self-awareness, and authenticity.

Don’t be afraid to be non-traditional: When I started the program I worried I didn’t fit the MBA mold. For those of us who didn’t take a direct route to business school, it’s tempting to gloss over a background that seems irrelevant to a future business career, or to limit our interests and activities to those that are resume-worthy. In reality, an MBA program caters to a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. I taught a freshman writing course during my 2nd year of business school, which puzzled many of my peers, yet honing my presentation and communication skills has proved invaluable in my career.

Play to your strengths: I have found that some of my most rewarding work experiences have been “extracurricular,” i.e., something outside my day job. During my first couple of months working in Executive Compensation, I volunteered to rewrite our section of the company proxy. In this case I felt my qualifications were two-fold: I liked to write and had but a cursory understanding of Executive Compensation, a perfect lens through which to explain the complex programs to shareholders who most likely knew even less than I did. While never part of my learning plan, this ended up being the most rewarding project I worked on. I was able to work with senior leaders from the General Council’s Office, Corporate Affairs and Communications, and Finance, and learned a great deal about the company and my area of work.

But don’t ignore your weaknesses: I’ve been surprised at how often someone has said, “Cynthia, you’re an MBA, how do you calculate [x]?” At those times how I wish I had been more attentive in first year finance. One of the challenges of business school is finding time to continue to take classes outside your major, but having a solid grounding in the basics is essential.

Business school was one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done. It has opened up so many doors and given me skills I continue to draw upon in every avenue of my life.

Cynthia Barlow, Class of 2009, OB/HR

Human Resource Manager, American Express

Current city: London, UK

Four Success Factors for Surviving in an MBA Group

2010-06-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

-Blog Staff

Group work is the theme that pervades any valuable MBA experience. To succeed in an MBA program, or later on in business, or in a church calling, or on a sports team, or in a row boat --- you need to be able to work well in a group. Below are four things to consider that will likely help you maintain positive group experiences -- and keep you from rowing in a circle if you ever end up in a row boat.

1. Never burn a bridge.

Not every group will be a success and sometime in your life you will find yourself in a group with someone you have difficulties working with. It can be tempting to give up on salvaging a working relationship and let a group member know exactly what everyone else is thinking but will not say. Resist that urge. People come and people go; you never know when you will see someone again. George Bush and Dick Chaney were once rival peers in their class at Yale (not really, but you get the point.) A dysfunctional team member may end up working at the company of your dreams and may be your only foot in the door.

2. Choose wisely.

Some groups you cannot choose, while others you can. As you progress in your MBA experience, you will gain a better grasp of your performance standards, as well as the performance standards of your peers. If you get to choose your team members, choose individuals you will get along with who also share your work standards. This way you will be happy and they will be happy.

3. Be prepared.

Every group has a slacker, and if you do not know who the slacker is in your group, there is a good chance it is you. If you are not prepared, you will have a difficult time adding value to a group setting, and your group members will not have the confidence to give you the responsibility you need to shine.

4. Be genuinely positive.

Like it or not, good looks, intelligence, and a positive attitude are three success factors in life. You only need two of the three to get people to like you. While intelligence and attractiveness often lie outside of your locus of control, you can always change your outlook to become more positive. Never underestimate the power of being positive. It is contagious.

Rand Blair, Class of 2010, Marketing/Strategy

Web Analytics Consultant – Adobe Systems, Orem, UT