Alumni Snapshots

Company and Job Title

Qatalyst Partners, Banking Analyst

Hometown

Littleton, CO

Current City/State

San Francisco, CA

Previous Experience

Lucid Software, ADR

Activities at BYU

IBC, Finance Society, Tech Club, University Symphony (Cello)

Internship

Lazard, Banking Analyst

Area of Interest

Investment Banking

What would you like others to know about your Marriott School experience?

I didn't realize how strong the BYU Finance program's network and brand were until I began the process of trying to find a position in investment banking. At almost every bank I spoke with on Wall Street, there's a BYU presence--people know BYU and they're excited about it because of the quality of students they've seen us produce. Being able to tap into that network has been immensely helpful, and I've really enjoyed being on the other side of it as I work to help find BYU students positions at our firm. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I thought that school would end when I graduated, but I've found that I'm still learning just as fast as if I were in the classroom. As an investment banking analyst, I get to work on technology mergers and acquisitions, and each transaction is a totally unique opportunity to apply the technical and strategic skills I gained in the Finance Program while learning new ones. If you love learning, there's no better place to be. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

The thing that makes BYU great is that we aren't complacent. We're humble and know we're not innately better than anyone else, but we can and will out-work and out-hustle anyone. Respect and build the BYU brand by pushing yourself to be better than you thought possible, and always pay it forward by helping others around you on that path. 

Company and Job Title

Morgan Stanley, Analyst

Hometown

Mesa, Arizona

Current City/State

San Francisco, CA

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Finance Society, Investment Banking Club

Internship

Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley

Area of Interest

Investment Banking

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

Despite not know exactly what career I wanted to purse as a sophomore, a business degree, especially focusing on skill applicable in every field, would get me to where I ultimately wanted to go. Whether I chose to remain in business or lateral into another field of work, the skills I learned from the finance program will always be applicable. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I cover the public sector clients (municipalities). It is incredibly fulfilling to assist issuers such as hospitals, universities, and other public entities access the capital they need in order to make our society better. 

Company and Job Title

Apple, Supply Demand Manager

Hometown

Walnut Creek, CA

Current City/State

Sunnyvale, CA

Previous Experience

Finance Rotation Program, Microsoft

Activities at BYU

Corporate Finance Club

Internship

Microsoft

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I knew I wanted a business degree, and after doing the prerequisites, I was mostly interested in finance. After talking with some professors and students already in the program, I knew getting a finance degree would set me on the best path to achieve my career goals. 

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program was instrumental in helping me transition into my career. The classes taught me hard skills about Excel and finance subjects I would use in my job. The Corporate Finance Club taught me soft skills about how to interview and network with professionals, which helped me land an interview with Microsoft.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Currently I am a Supply Demand Manager at Apple. I'm working on the iPhone team, so my team projects demand for the next half-year, then works with the Operations and Supply Chain teams to obtain materials and capacity to meet projected demand. Once we receive projected materials and capacity, our team lays out a supply plan for the next few weeks to fulfill orders and demand in every channel and market across the world.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

The Marriott School experience is great because of the people you are able to meet. The professors are always available to help students with classes or advice about interviews and offers. Older students provide great insight into internships and tips for interviews. Students in the program are amazing, and a great resource to keep in touch with as everyone begins their careers. 

What is your story since graduation?

I interned in Microsoft's Finance Rotation Program, where I was extended a full-time offer upon graduation. I accepted and returned the following summer. During the two-year program I had roles within Capital Markets (Treasury), Consumer Device Sales, FP&A Revenue and GM, and Scorecard Metrics for the Windows Team. I was then recruited by Apple to interview with their Supply Demand Management team. In this role I use finance principles to create projections, work in Excel spreadsheets, and work with Sales and Corporate Finance teams as we prepare for quarter-end.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I love how tangible my job is. When our team does our job, customers are able to pick up any product they want, from any store or online order, anywhere in the world. We also work to provide accurate estimates for next quarter for Investor Relations. It's great working with different teams within the company, and across the world, to make that happen. I also love working for a company that has such a great culture, where everyone is excited about the products and services we offer our customers. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Use the Marriott School network. Current professionals are always willing to talk with students and give insights into potential careers. Speaking with alumni is so beneficial because you make connections at companies or within roles that you're interested in, and you also learn how finance works outside of a classroom. I'm convinced I landed my internship because of all the time I spent reaching out to Marriott School alumni, as well as leveraging the skills I had been taught in classes and the clubs. 

Company and Job Title

Wells Fargo, Vice President

Hometown

Seattle, WA

Current City/State

Charlotte, NC

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Investment Banking Club

Internship

Wells Fargo

Area of Interest

Corporate and Investment Banking

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

Finance has the most rigorous mathematical and modeling elements and therefore gives you valuable hard skills for employment.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Sudweeks' 415 course had extensive modeling and qualitative analysis for companies.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Vice President, Corporate and Investment Banking. I lead coverage in the southeast US for early and growth stage life sciences companies to deliver Wells Fargo's broad platform, including IBCM, treasury, credit, investments, foreign exchange, etc.

What would you like others to know about your Marriott School experience?

The more math and modeling you do, and the more deep analysis of companies you do, the better.

What is your story since graduation?

I have been a top performer and have advanced quickly at Wells Fargo. Today I am the first full-time coverage officer in the southeast for the early stage life sciences sector.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Meeting incredibly smart executives, venture investors, and scientists, diving deep into the bleeding edge of medical and scientific advancement, and being on the front lines of bringing new cures to cancer and rare diseases to market.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Seek out challenges. Seek out math. Seek out modeling. Mine the BYU alumni base for opportunities (but with proper etiquette). Network while in school. People cannot help you if they do not know you.

Company and Job Title

Ernst & Young, Senior Global Equity Consultant

Hometown

Eustis, FL

Current City/State

Salt Lake City, UT

Previous Experience

Ernst & Young

Activities at BYU

Phi Eta Sigma, Golden key, Finance Society

Internship

Dimensional Fund Advisors

Area of Interest

Asset Management

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I felt that out of all the options at the Marriott School, the finance major was the most ambitious and forward-thinking. I considered both accounting and marketing at the time (and psychology), but I loved the concept of asset management, of turning money into more money, and the finance world in general and knew that's the direction I wanted to head. At the time, the program and classes also held a familial and entrepreneurial spirit. Everyone seemed very close and willing to help each other in a collaborative environment, even though we were all competing with each other for the best grades. Last, I knew that if I wanted to make a lot of money...this was the way to go. I've never regretted my decision.

How did the Finance Program help you transition into your career?

Although what I currently do is a subset of finance and tax, and not a direct career path from the finance major, what I learned gave me the technical knowledge and research capabilities to be able to succeed in ANY consulting or finance/accounting-related position. Honestly...what you learn in an academic setting will almost never translate perfectly into whatever career you choose. But what is important is that you learn to work hard, and diligently. I feel like the finance major prepared me in my PERSONAL finances/investments, more than it did my actual career.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I'm a Senior Global Equity Tax Consultant at Ernst & Young (plan to make manager next year). Under the direction of senior managers, I lead several teams of 2 to 5 individuals in assisting clients with their Internationally Mobile employee population who hold or are being granted equity as part of their compensation package. We help in structuring corporate equity compensation plans to take the greatest advantage of current tax laws, and advise both companies and employees in regards to how their equity will be taxed (and credits that may be available to help offset their liabilities or reduce double taxation). Most recently I've been heavily involved in creating, testing, and implementing proprietary technology to perform calculations for equity transactions to determine reporting and withholding obligations in more than 140 countries. I am also leading a charge (working directly with a partner in the firm) to build out a new service offering within our group to assist clients with improving their end-to-end equity comp. processes (SEC reporting, employee communications, tax withholding and payroll obligations, etc.), as well as identifying redundancies for removal or technological implementation.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

I value it above all else. You cannot beat the value you get from this experience and the networks you will build.

What is your story since graduation?

My wife and I both started our careers at the same time (May 2016) in San Jose, CA. After our first baby was born last year, we made the mutual decision that she would quit her career to stay home and raise our family. As we could no longer afford to live the lifestyle we wanted on one income in San Jose, I put in a transfer request to the Salt Lake City, UT, E&Y office. We bought a home in West Bountiful, UT, and that brings us to the present.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Being able to work with many different people across many, many diverse backgrounds. EY highly values diversity and inclusion, and I find that our teams work extremely well together because of that. I love project management, and being able to see a client through from implementation to completion and to have them fully satisfied and have them go to market for you. Nothing better than that.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Focus on your extracurricular activities and internships! More than anything, this is what will set you apart. Your studies are important, but prospective employers are going to care MUCH more about what experience you have in the industry than what your GPA is. That being said...don't let your GPA tank. It's important to find a balance.

Company and Job Title

Honeywell International, Financial Analyst

Hometown

Gilbert, AZ

Current City/State

Houston, TX

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Corporate Finance Club

Internship

Honeywell International

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

My career title is Financial Analyst at Honeywell, supporting the CFO of one of Honeywell's business enterprises. I am a part of the Future Finance Leaders Program, which is Honeywell's development program for future finance professionals. I am on the Global Financial Planning & Analysis team, which is the team responsible for all of the planning and forecasting cycles during the year. I am in charge of helping provide analysis on Working Capital, Past Due Receivables, and many other key metrics used to help run the business that I work in. Also, I support the FP&A manager with the planning cycles and anything else that is needed. My responsibilities change daily based on the needs of the business.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

My experience at the Marriott School helped prepare me for the beginning of my career at Honeywell. At BYU, I learned how to manage competing priorities as I worked hard in school and competed for a good job after graduation. The professors always maintained a good balance of teaching technical and behavioral skills, while upholding the spiritual environment that is found at BYU. Overall, I had an excellent experience at the Marriott School.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Current and prospective finance students should explore different careers in finance. The finance program offers so much guidance whether one wants a career in real estate, corporate finance, investment banking, or any of the other tracks offered at BYU. The current and prospective students should explore all of the different tracks in order to narrow down their choices before jumping into the craziness of recruiting season.

Company and Job Title

Yale Law School, JD Candidate

Hometown

Kirkland, WA

Current City/State

New Haven, CT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Finance Society; PE/VC Club

Internship

Solamere Capital; Scalar Analytics

Area of Interest

Corporate Transactional Law

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

Several factors influenced my decision. I knew I wanted a degree that had clear, practical implications for a future career. I was interested in macroeconomics and securities markets. And, of course, I'd heard about the high quality of the Finance Department.

What is your story since graduation?

I decided to pursue a graduate degree, and I am currently working on receiving my JD from Yale Law School. My particular interest is in securities law.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Don't feel pressured into following a particular career path simply because it's what everyone around you is doing. I was deep in investment banking interviews before realizing it wasn't what I wanted to do, and decided to shift to law school applications. I ended up at an amazing school, and am so happy with my decision.
Relatedly, a finance degree opens more doors than you might expect. Don't be afraid to explore career options; the Finance Department does an incredible job at preparing you for any number of opportunities.

Company and Job Title

Adobe, Sr. Financial Analyst, FP&A

Hometown

Boise, ID

Current City/State

Lehi, UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

President of Women in Business Club, Finance Society

Internship

Adobe, HP

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I knew from a very young age that I would do something with numbers when I grew up, because my favorite subject in school was math. As I got older and gained a better understanding of my options, I realized I wanted to use my love for numbers to do something in business. I found my passion when I found finance. 

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program helped lay the foundation for how to be a critical thinker, how to learn, how to analyze data, how to problem solve, and so much more. I also feel like the business school gave me the soft skills such as mentoring opportunities, networking opportunities, job interview prep, resume workshops, how to be professional, etc. These invaluable skills will help me through the rest of my life. 

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am a Sr. Financial Analyst in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) at Adobe. My job consists of managing one of Adobe's biggest budgets, forecasting, building cost models, creating and providing reporting packages, benchmarking, business partnering with executives to help them make business decisions and working on strategic initiatives to pave the way of Adobe's future.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

I appreciate my time at the Marriott School. I firmly believe that it is one of the best educations you can receive. I have yet to come across another business school that does as good of a job at preparing their students to excel in the workforce and in life. 

What is your story since graduation?

I have been at Adobe my entire career since graduation, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I love Adobe, the people I work with, the benefits and my life working here. Two years out of school I received my first promotion, and two years after that, I received my second one. I work in an environment where my managers want to see me succeed and make it possible for me to do so. One of my passions in life is to always be learning and growing, and Adobe has given me that opportunity along with so much more. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I wake up every morning excited to go to work. I like going to work because I love working with such great people, I love that I get to always be learning and growing, I feel good about my opportunities for growth within the company, I know that I am valued for the great work that I do, and I love the freedom I've been given to create a work-life balance that works for me and my family. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

You can do so much with a finance degree, whether you work in a traditional finance role, something completely different or you don't work at all. A finance degree will set you up to create a happy and successful life for you and your family because it equips you with so many useful tools. You will be able to manage family budgets, know what to do for retirement, get a great job, start your own company, and the list goes on and on. Take advantage of all that the Marriott School has to offer (resumes, networking, mentoring, clubs, professional advice, etc.). This is your opportunity to learn these things and use them to your benefit in the future. 

Company and Job Title

1-800 Contacts, FP&A Manager

Hometown

Fruit Heights, UT

Current City/State

Provo, UT

Previous Experience

doTERRA International, FP&A Analyst

Activities at BYU

--

Internship

Sorenson Capital

Area of Interest

Corporate

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I had always planned on going to dental school. But while I was on my mission, I felt inspired to switch to business and specifically finance. When I got back, I took Jim Brau's FIN 200 class and absolutely loved it! The rest is history.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

I felt unbelievably prepared to go into the workplace. There was nothing in my job that I wasn't at least familiar with. The BYU finance faculty did a great job getting me what I needed to be successful in an entry-level role.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am just finishing the MBA finance program here at BYU. Following graduation, I will be starting as a Financial Planning and Analysis Manager at 1-800 Contacts. I'll act as a business partner (liaison of sorts) between finance and a few of the other departments in the company.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

This program provides a first-rate education and is by far one of the highlights of my academic career. Additionally, I loved getting my education in a place like BYU where we could begin classes with a prayer, where guest lecturers could talk about the gospel in conjunction with their successful careers, and where I felt comfortable incorporating my faith into my learning.

What is your story since graduation?

I went to doTERRA International as a financial analyst, and over the course of three years had the opportunity to work on many high-stakes projects for the company, as well as lead a small team of interns. After three years at doTERRA, I decided to head back to MBA school at BYU. Following graduation, I will be joining 1-800 Contacts as an FP&A Manager.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Being able to work with a lot of people across many different departments is something I really like and appreciate about corporate finance. It keeps things interesting!

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Having a finance background is one of the most valuable hard skill sets you can acquire in school. No matter what industry or discipline you want to get into within business, finance is a great tool that can propel you into any number of different careers.

Company and Job Title

Brandes Investment Partners, Research Associate

Hometown

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Current City/State

San Diego, CA

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Investing Club President

Internship

Capital Group, HSBC

Area of Interest

Asset Management

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I took FIN 201 my first semester because it satisfied a general and was a Marriott school prereq. I found the class fascinating, especially the concept of time value of money. I was hooked so I decided to study finance. I came to realize as I studied more that a lot of my decision making processes (both qualitative and quantitative) were using general economic and financial principles that I never had a name for or concrete way to articulate. The Finance Department taught me the intricacies and took me deeper than I ever could have on my own. 

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Being apart of the asset management track of the finance program meant that I was already practicing what I would be doing in my career (albeit at a much simpler level). The finance program also did an incredible job helping with resumes and interview prep, this is arguably the part of the program I am most thankful for. You can get technical skills studying in a library anywhere, but the finance program taught the soft skills necessary for those crucial interviews.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am a Research Associate at Brandes Investment Partners, which is an active mutual fund with 26bn assets under management. I am a part of the communication services team, meaning I am looking at companies in that sector both internationally and domestically. I have a few major responsibilities. I update models and reports for companies we already own or have looked at. I build models and write reports for new companies that we might be interested in. I also present investment cases with my analyst to the different investment committees here at Brandes.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

I couldn't have picked a better program to prepare me for my career as well as for life after school. Finance is an industry that can sweep you up and change you, but the spiritual grounding from the finance program offers a foundation to keep anyone humble and to keep the most important things in perspective.

What is your story since graduation?

I ended up pushing my graduation up a semester because my wife was pregnant and we wanted to be out of school when our son came. That means I had a semester and a summer before I started my full-time job at Brandes (my offer was for August). I luckily had a great job at a tax software company that I had worked during the school year that I could do full-time at. Once the baby was born I was able to take a lot of time before starting at Brandes to bond with my wife as a parent and my son as a father. It was an incredible time that I was able to have without having to worry about getting right back to work.

Since starting at Brandes, I have been able to work with very interesting companies and maintain a great work-life balance.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I am intensely curious. My job allows me to satisfy my curiosity to the fullest degree, researching companies and industries that I wouldn't have ever thought to look at otherwise. Going from never even hearing about a company to knowing the obscure facts about it and its business model is always intensely fulfilling.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Take advantage of your time to really learn. The program can be rigorous and stressful with GPAs and competition. A deep understanding of the concepts is going to be so much more valuable than a high GPA that was attained by regurgitating information for tests. That understanding is always going to show through in interviews even if the numbers on your resume are less than stellar.

Company and Job Title

Director of Commercial Real Estate Investments and Financing

Hometown

Salt Lake City, UT

Current City/State

UT

Previous Experience

Strategy Analyst, Area Business Manager, Investments Manager, etc. 

Activities at BYU

--

Internship

Walt Disney Company

Area of Interest

Commercial Real Estate

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

The enabling power of finance can propel you in so many different ways. I chose the program so I could be equipped with the correct tools to help companies operate better, to be able to make sound wise investment decisions, and to be able to pursue new ventures and projects that I become passionate about. 

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

As stated, it gave me a toolset that was adaptable to so many projects and companies that I have worked with. More importantly, it equipped me with valuable discipline and understanding in my own personal finances. The finance program was a base that can be built in so many different ways. 

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am a Director of Commercial Real Estate Investments and Financing for Blue Mountain, Inc. It's just a handful of us, but we have been the largest home/property buyer in the State of Utah for many years. We take small distressed homes, neighborhoods, and communities and rehabilitate them. I oversee all of our commercial work. I manage all of our commercial properties which range from flex, retail, to office. I also do the financing for all those investments. I am currently leasing up those properties and also currently selling Blueridge Apts (BYU student housing next to King Henry).

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

Look at what everyone is doing and then do something different! I can't stress this enough. Don't be cattle. You don't have to go in the same direction everyone else is. The Marriott School is chock full of miniature Mitt Romneys that are smart, good looking, white, sharp, clean cut, driven, etc. Find ways to be different. There are so many different opportunities. From a finance perspective, there's so much more than just Investment Banking and Corporate Finance. 

What is your story since graduation?

I did strategy for all Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. I then was working in the Caribbean managing a portfolio of ATMs in hotels and casinos--primarily in Puerto Rico. I then started a cutthroat journey into commercial real estate knowing that was the direction that would get me to where I wanted to go. I wanted to have time and financial freedom to pursue ideas. I quit my job and started a master's in real estate development at the University of Utah. I simultaneously began working without a paycheck at Marcus and Millichap doing commercial real estate investment sales. From there I began working on a project with a friend who started SeaQuest (nationwide interactive aquariums). We developed an indoor immersive adventure park concept to fill the vacant department store spaces at malls. It's currently moving forward with the help of some Disney minds. I recently finished my master's and have been working with Blue Mountain in North Salt Lake for about a year. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

There's room for entrepreneurial thinking. We all wear a lot of hats. We get creative with our skills and find unique opportunities in a shifting world and market. I have a lot of autonomy. I am currently working remotely under the sun in San Diego for a few days. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Run! Sprint! There are so many opportunities out there that no one is looking at because they're all looking in the same directions trying to get rich real fast. Be different. Think different. 

Company and Job Title

Hulu, Corporate Development

Hometown

Irvine, CA

Current City/State

Santa Monica, CA

Previous Experience

Janes Capital Partners - Investment Banking

Activities at BYU

--

Internship

JP Morgan Private Bank

Area of Interest

Tech / Media

Company and Job Title

BYU, MAcc Student (will be working at EY SLC) 

Hometown

Salt Lake City, UT

Current City/State

Salt Lake City, UT

Previous Experience

Goldman Sachs

Activities at BYU

Vice President of Events–Collegiate Entrepreneur's Organization Club, Student Body Vice President–Marriott Undergraduate Student Association, BYU Campus Presidents Leadership Committee (Invitation Only), Finance Society, and Women in Business

Internship

Goldman Sachs

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I loved that the finance program had so many different resources available to students. The professors, mentors, and counselors are all extremely available and have the student's best interest in mind. The class sized are small and we got to know each other and our professors on a personal level. I also appreciated that the program was well recognized by employers and it made our students a top pick for jobs and internships. 

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program not only taught technical skills but really worked on the soft skills that set the program's students apart from others. For example, the networking skills are so important in the work force and the program made sure that we had a lot of opportunities to learn how to network. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Try to be as involved in the program as you can! You will get way more out of the program than what you put in. All of the clubs and extra suggestions that professors/counselors arrange are for your benefit and will help you be successful in the long run. 

Company and Job Title

Shearman & Sterling, Associate 

Hometown

Roseville, CA

Current City/State

New York, NY

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Walked on BYU football for the 2015-2016 season 

Internship

--

Area of Interest

M&A and VC

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Having a background in finance has been incredibly useful in law school and will continue to be in my career as an M&A attorney. The ability to understand and use financial statements and models sets me apart from other new associates who have not had such training. My finance background also allows me to connect with our clients, often I-bankers and fund managers, because I can speak their language.

What is your story since graduation?

Attended law school at The Ohio State University, where I placed at the top of my class and landed a big law associate position at a prominent New York law firm. I begin working there in the fall. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

The opportunity to be involved in some of the business world's largest and most important deals--stuff you read about in the Wall Street Journal. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Hustle!

Company and Job Title

Lazard, Investment Banking Analyst

Hometown

Winnipeg, Canada

Current City/State

New York, NY

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

PEVC Club Co-President, Investment Banking Club, Marriott School Student Council, BYU Club Hockey Team, European Business Study Abroad, Global Finance Investment Internship

Internship

Lazard

Area of Interest

Investment Banking & Private Equity

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

When I was young, several people whom I admired worked in the finance world, specifically in investment banking and private equity. The combination of my uncertainty of how "finance" worked (it was a black box to me) and my desire to become like the people I admired, led me to study finance. Additionally, I wanted to study something that both pushed me and would help me develop a prism to understand and appreciate how the world works. While there are several majors that I believe can accomplish these goals, finance is among the best.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program offered me three unique and distinctive opportunities that very few other schools offer. First, incredible in-class academic and theoretical preparation. Very few schools offer an academic finance experience as thorough and high-quality as the Marriott School finance program. Second, unparalleled career training from the Finance Society and its sub-clubs (in my case, particularly the Investment Banking Club and the Private Equity and Venture Capital Club). Third, sincere and invaluable personal mentorship from several finance program professors. Their mentorship has been more than just career guidance. My mentors have and continue to help guide me to become the best I can in every area of my life.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

I would advise every current and prospective finance student to do two things. First, aim higher than you think you can reach. With the support of the Finance program and a humble and gritty attitude, you can accomplish much more than you realize. Second, recognize that there will be setbacks. I had many humbling moments as a student. Use those moments to learn. Don't give up, even when that seems to be the logical choice. Consult with your mentors and devise a path forward. The path may be much different than you expect, but don't let that discourage you. 

Company and Job Title

McKinsey & Company, Senior Business Analyst

Hometown

Pleasant Grove, UT

Current City/State

Cleveland, OH

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

BYU Football (Linebacker)

Internship

Private Equity

Area of Interest

Management Consulting

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Between my fellow students and teachers, a lot of good people shaped the way that I viewed future success and helped open my eyes to what real impact looks like. The program helped me develop that higher-level perspective and feel empowered to make a difference.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

There are a lot of ways to make money, but being a part of something bigger than yourself with opportunities to build up others to be successful is what gets me excited to go to work everyday. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Enjoy your time in the Marriott School and at BYU surrounded by wonderful people. Work hard to put yourself in a position to qualify for exciting opportunities, but have an open mind about doors that may open. Live the right way, take care of others, and trust that you will be guided to the right opportunity.

Company and Job Title

J.P. Morgan Chase, Commercial Banker

Hometown

Austin, TX

Current City/State

Salt Lake City, UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Women in Business Club, BYU Women's Chorus, Finance Society, Investment Banking Club

Internship

Goldman Sachs

Area of Interest

Commercial Banking

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I first took an accounting class my freshman year and I was hooked! I had originally been an English major but accounting gave me the tools and vocabulary to truly articulate what I had noticed about companies in my previous jobs. After learning more, I decided on majoring in finance as my interests aligned with forward-looking analysis and strategy.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program gave me the fundamentals to understand how to analyze a company. As my business is relationship oriented, it's critical to be able to analyze financials, management teams, projections, industry trends, and other factors as I am involved in the client selection process.  

What advice would you give to current and prospective pinance students?

It's easy to feel that your only career path options are investment banking, asset management, or corporate finance. However, I'd want students to understand that the finance industry is vast and varied. When I started at the Marriott School I didn't know that my current position existed. I applaud and am thrilled at the success of my classmates who have succeeded in those particular areas of finance, but I think it's important to remember that there are many options out there! You'll find the right place for you.

Company and Job Title

The Carlyle Group, Investment Associate (U.S. Buyout - Aerospace & Defense)

Hometown

Singapore

Current City/State

Washington, D.C.

Previous Experience

Credit Suisse Investment Banking

Activities at BYU

Investment Banking Club, BYU Singapore Association, Marriott Undergraduate Student Association

Internship

Credit Suisse Investment Banking

Area of Interest

Investment Banking, Private Equity

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I knew I wanted to pursue a career in finance before coming to college, particularly investment banking, so getting a degree in either accounting or finance made the most sense. Ultimately I chose finance because the classes were more interesting to me.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Having a fundamental understanding of finance concepts was very beneficial in my first job. I did energy investment banking, so it was great to have a basic understanding of the concepts underlying my work so that I could focus more on learning about the industry and the thought process behind what I was doing. Also, as I was figuring out my career path, several professors from various professional backgrounds were very helpful in teaching me about the options outside of investment banking. Furthermore, participating in case competitions really helped me learn how to apply the concepts learned in the classroom and prepared me well for internships.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I'm an investment associate in the U.S. Buyout fund at Carlyle. Responsibilities include diligence and valuation for potential investments in the aerospace and defense sector, as well as supporting our portfolio companies in various tasks. 

What is your story since graduation?

I worked for two years at Credit Suisse as an analyst in their energy group in NYC, mainly focusing on renewables M&A activity. I've since moved to DC, working as an investment associate at Carlyle. Currently trying to figure out my long term career path and balancing my career with my husband's!

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I think finance, particularly investment banking and PE, can sometimes be intimidating for women since the work/life balance is not ideal, but I really appreciate the steep learning curve and the opportunities both banking and private equity have opened up to me. There are always new things to learn about and new skills to master, especially in PE. The amount of responsibility you are assigned is massive, compared to other jobs at the same level in finance, and subsequently, you learn a lot more within your first 2 to 4 years out of college. So I think the learning, both within the job and from the people I work with, is the most fulfilling part of my job. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Really explore different career paths, be focused on what skills you want to learn, because the first few years out of school have a huge impact on your career path. If unsure, I'd definitely recommend investment banking since you can do almost anything after that!

More importantly, I'd encourage everyone to be mindful and open to diversity, whether in thought, personality, culture, or race. You encounter so many differences that are easily forgotten when at BYU, so it's good to start practicing managing, accepting, and understanding those differences while at school. 

Company and Job Title

Scalar, Principal

Hometown

Highland, UT

Current City/State

UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Basketball, MUSA, Investment Banking Club

Internship

Signal Peak Ventures, JP Morgan

Area of Interest

Venture Capital, Private Equity

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

Prior to my junior year I was planning to apply to medical school, but then I landed an internship with Signal Peak Ventures. I spent that summer working with a biotech portfolio company and it was my first exposure to finance and venture capital. I grew up in a medical family, so the exposure to career opportunities in finance was eye opening. Following that summer I officially applied to the finance program.  

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program taught the hard skills that allowed me to immediately contribute to the success of Scalar. My ability to contribute to the early growth at Scalar has led to great career opportunities.  

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am a Principal at Scalar. I lead the engagements of most venture capital and private equity fund valuation work here at Scalar. I also lead many engagements related to transaction advisory (M&A, fundraising), purchase price allocation, and deferred compensation. 

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

It was difficult and competitive, but my experience at the Marriott School pushed me to be the best I can be. 

What is your story since graduation?

I joined Scalar instead of going to work for JP Morgan in LA. Scalar was only a five-person company back when I joined, and since then we have grown to 50+ people. Coming out of school, I found more opportunity in joining a smaller company where I could play a larger role in its growth. I have made the most of that opportunity and have now been with Scalar for almost 7 years. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Teaching is the most fulfilling part of my job. I spend the majority of my day teaching either clients or employees concepts relating to business valuation. Throughout the year I travel to various VC/PE funds to speak with them about their valuation processes/procedures.  

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

There are many fields within the finance profession. I would tell students to pursue the one that they find the most exciting, not the one that will immediately pay them the most out of school. If you pursue what you enjoy the most, then you will find more financial success and career fulfillment in the long-term. 

Company and Job Title

Blip, Partnership Manager

Hometown

Spanish Fork, UT

Current City/State

Provo, UT

Previous Experience

Scalar 

Activities at BYU

Finance Society, BYUSA, Y-Serve, Inner-tube Water Polo, Soccer, and Flag-Football Intramurals, Women in Finance, Women in Business (Women in Business VP of Mentoring)

Internship

Cisco, PwC (on-campus)

Area of Interest

Corporate

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I grew up working with and watching my dad grow his small business. From a young age, there was talk around me involving pricing, customers, service, payroll, and many other business terms. When I got to BYU, I spent a year taking all different classes trying to find what I would love. FIN 201 was one of my favorite classes. I had also enjoyed working with money, numbers, and math in general. Ultimately, I applied and was put on the waiting list for the finance program. I was not the best candidate in terms of GPA, but luckily I was finally accepted and loved my experience within the finance program. I believe that GPA is not necessarily the best indicator of success.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The experience that we were able to get in finance theory, how to interpret what is going on in the world's economy, and general Excel skills helped me excel in my internships and jobs thus far. The support from faculty is amazing, and they want you to succeed!

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Currently I am working as a Partnership Manager at Blip Billboards. I have always wanted to start my own business, and this role is an opportunity to get experience almost doing that! Currently it is a team of 2, just my manager and I. He brought me on to completely build out the entire partnership side of the business. That means I am doing finance--tracking our expenses and income from partners and agencies; sales--cold calling/emailing potential partners to discover who would be interested in our platform; marketing--creating all content and materials to help market the new partnership program and bring awareness; HR--helping to find new candidates for building out our team; and development--researching platforms/companies which would be most beneficial for use to integrate our software into.

It's an exciting and challenging role as I am building something out of nothing, but it is giving me a lot of experience in all areas. I love that I have a finance background though to be able to accurately measure the analytics of how we are doing. 

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

My experience in the Marriott School and BYU in general was good because I tried to get very involved. I was a VP of Mentoring in the Women in Business Program where I was part of the initial team that built out the Mentoring Program. From there I was able to get involved in the Corporate Finance Club and help build out their Mentoring Program as well. I was part of the Marriott Student Council for a year, worked in the Business Career Center for a few years, and then spent my extra time studying, playing intramurals and volunteering with BYUSA. Getting involved helped me meet lots of great people and have fun experiences while still being a part of the Marriott School.

What is your story since graduation?

I graduated in April of 2018. I started at Scalar (a valuation firm) about 2 weeks after graduation! Those two weeks were spent coaching hurdles at my old high school! Scalar was a great place to use a lot of my finance skills learned in the finance program. I was consistently on the phone with CEOs, CFOs and other high ranked business owners talking through their financial history and projections going forward in order to value the company correctly. For those reasons, I would highly suggest Scalar to any finance students in the future. Though, one of my goals has always been to one day run my own business. When the opportunity at Blip came up, I quickly learned that I would have the ability to have my hands in all different sides of a business, rather than strictly finance. For these reasons I chose to come to Blip and have hit the ground running here since!

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Since my job currently is building something out of nothing, quite literally everything is fulfilling! It's a really cool experience to be able to create something like marketing materials, or talk to someone and get them excited about our product (sales), and then be able to use my finance skills and measure how much progress we have made! I love having my hands in many different things. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Getting a great internship is one of my biggest recommendations, but in order to do that it means getting a sophomore internship or on campus internships, getting involved with volunteer work, and being able to really network and connect with a lot of different people. You can have amazing grades, but if you are not able to really connect with people in an interview, you will never get your dream internship or job!

Company and Job Title

BYU, MBA Student

Hometown

Sacramento, CA

Current City/State

Salt Lake City, UT

Previous Experience

Commercial Banking at Zions Bank

Activities at BYU

Management Consulting Club, Finance Society

Internship

KPMG (Valuation)

Area of Interest

Banking/Investments

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

Pure impulse! I remember researching BYU degrees while on my mission and having this idea of majoring in finance; I told the woman next to me on my return flight from Brazil that I was studying finance and at that time anticipated continuing on to get a law degree. During my sophomore year, I took all business prerequisites, and after a semester's dalliance with the economics major, I found myself applying to the finance major. The Marriott School programs eventually helped steer me away from a career in law and into the finance world.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Words cannot adequately express how under-prepared I was to place in a career in finance. I remember meeting with Tina Ashby for the first time in 2014; she eyeballed my resume, where my only work experience was my work as a fry cook in the MTC cafeteria. Her words were something along the lines of "I've got nothing to work with here"; my only differentiating factor at the time was my high GPA. While many of my classmates were actively recruiting for asset management and investment banking roles, I was finally learning what "networking" was and how to format my resume. Despite being woefully unprepared, career services helped get me into an on-campus internship with Merrill Lynch and eventually an internship that matched my interests in economics and valuation at KPMG. During my senior year, I was finally prepared to network and actually explore my interests, and I eventually ended up in a local leveraged finance position at Zions Bank.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Formerly I was an analyst at Zions Bank in its acquisition finance group--I was referred into this role by a fellow finance major. Currently I am an MBA student at BYU and am again exploring new interests. I'll be interning in corporate finance at Intel this summer as I sit for the CFA Level III exam; afterwards, I will consider opportunities in corporate development, credit research, and tech.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

It's like bowling with the bumpers up. If you have to choose between the Marriott School and another major, you're more likely to get a strike with the Marriott School than in another field (unless you figuratively bowl 300). I didn't know what I didn't know until I joined the Marriott School.

What is your story since graduation?

After I turned down an offer with KPMG in its valuation practice, I alternately explored management consulting and PhD routes. As I prepared for a PhD, a friend insisted that I meet his managers at Zions, where a ~$2B leveraged lending platform operated. I ultimately accepted an offer to stay local and had a great time with many good coworkers at Zions. Ultimately, the Zions sponsor finance group was too small for me to continue progressing, and I realized I had to get out of the state to expand my opportunities in finance. Ironically, when I realized this, my quickest way to find a good job out of state was to return to BYU for my MBA, which is where I currently reside.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

MBA life is rad. Banking life was fun in seeing a variety of industries, deal structures, and rigor in credit risk. Meanwhile, banking is heavily regulated and lends itself to many headaches.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Figure out as early as you can what you'd like to do in the future. It will make your networking genuine and easy, and you'll make friendships with those like-minded professionals you meet. If you're in the program now and are still finding your way, much as I was, don't sweat the future too much--just pick a direction and start moving that direction and eventually you'll get where you want to be.

Company and Job Title

Peterson Partners, Associate

Hometown

Newport Beach, CA

Current City/State

Salt Lake City, UT

Previous Experience

Morgan Stanley IBD NYC

Activities at BYU

Investment Banking Club

Internship

Morgan Stanley, B. Riley, Columbia West

Area of Interest

Private Equity

Company and Job Title

M&A, Finance Analyst

Hometown

Orem, UT

Current City/State

San Francisco, CA

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Finance Society Club Member

Internship

Salesforce

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance/M&A

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I knew that the finance program would allow me to keep doors open in my career path so that if I wanted to shift jobs later down the road, I could easily do so. There are many career opportunities/paths coming out of the finance program.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am an M&A Finance Analyst at Salesforce. Our team is responsible for helping build the acquisition deal model, project managing the integration of finance related functions, and managing Salesforce's integration budget.

What is your story since graduation?

I am now working at Salesforce in their Finance department. I'm on a team that is a unique that focuses on M&A from a finance perspective. I started in August 2019 and am learning something new everyday. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

It's not easy but it is extremely worth it. The finance program allows students to explore various career paths in the world of finance. Take a wide range of classes to find out what you enjoy and what you're good at, then work hard to get a career in that field.

Company and Job Title

Amazon.com, Financial Analyst II

Hometown

Boulder, CO

Current City/State

Prague, Czech Republic

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Track and Field, Rugby Team, Finance Society

Internship

KLA-Tencor / Merrill Lynch / Hedge Fund

Area of Interest

Operations Finance

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I was choosing between accounting and finance and had recently completed two internships in each respective field but enjoyed the versatility and variety of skills that I found myself exposed to during my time at the hedge fund. I had really great professors and tutors in the beginning courses and truly felt connected to my colleagues around me. I fit in.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

 I was then glad that the quality of education kept on improving as I entered in the junior core and beyond and was especially appreciative of all the opportunities that the career center granted me and took full advantage of the on-site interviews, participating in 20+. The theoretical experience from the classes and the interview/soft skills gained from Finance Society and group projects significantly increased my preparedness for a full-time job. One of the best growth experiences I had was when I participated in a full-time internship in Silicon Valley and put my skills to the test. I was able to match what I had learned in classes with real-life application. It was not easy but the internships were possible because of what I had learned in BYU which lead me to my current full-time position now with Amazon.com.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Currently, I am a Financial Analyst II at Amazon.com in Prague, Czech Republic, but have helped launch new buildings in Slovakia as well as assist in legacy sites all over Germany.

I am responsible for analysis of all activities and processes that occur in the building as well as forecasting and synthesizing financial plans vs. our results. I am the major information puller/analyzer/communicator for my buildings and work with EU-wide projects on regular basis.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

My Marriott School experience prepared me for the real world through internships, course and theoretical practice, as well as soft skills refinement. I was given the opportunities to grow as much as I wanted and provided a challenging and rewarding environment to do so.

What is your story since graduation?

I accepted a job at Amazon.com at a building in Los Angeles about 4 months before graduation and worked there for about a year. After an extremely tough time of growth, determination, and perseverance, I looked internally for a lateral move in an international environment. I was born outside of the US and my family is also of foreign roots so it was a natural and desirable step for me.

I accepted a job in Prague, Czech Republic, and moved there in September 2017 without ever visiting the country first. It payed off considerably and think that Prague is one of the best cities in Europe. I have since moved on from my old building and assisted in launching a new Customer Returns building in BTS2 / help out struggling sites in central Germany / will soon start pan-EU wide standardization projects. I am happily still living in Prague with my wife and travel around Europe on our weekends and fully utilize the generous European vacation allotment.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Amazon.com moves at such a breakneck speed that it is hardly boring. At times it is overwhelming with how much change there is around you and little stability but I have learned what it takes to be successful in a place like this. I am surrounded with extremely capable teammates and am constantly learning. With such fluid movement brings regular opportunities to tackle new challenges and differentiate yourself. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

My biggest advice is to prepare yourself by ensuring you are getting real-world experience in combination to your school work. I can fully attribute at least 50% of my financial knowledge to topics and skills I have learned from my summer jobs rather than in classes. Secondly, I would highly recommend to utilize the career center's resources and sign up for as many interviews as possible. I significantly increased my interview skills by really bombing them at first; I learned from my mistakes.

Company and Job Title

Petsmart Corporate, Senior Corporate Merch Analyst

Hometown

Phoenix, AZ

Current City/State

Phoenix, AZ

Previous Experience

Senior Order Management Analyst, Adobe

Activities at BYU

--

Internship

Marriott (Park City, UT)

Area of Interest

Analytics

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I felt that the finance program would best shape me as an all-around business professional.

How did the Finance Program help you transition into your career?

It gave me more opportunities and opened more doors to interview with top level companies around the United States.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

My current career title is Senior Corporate Merch Analyst. I am responsible for making key decisions on how merchandise is placed throughout the 1600+ Petsmart stores worldwide. I use analytics software such as Alteryx, SQL, and Tableau to figure out where each product should go.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

I enjoyed it. I learned a lot.

What is your story since graduation?

Immediately after graduating, I accepted a job in Lehi, Utah, with Adobe in their Finance department. I was there for four years, receiving various new responsibilities and promotions. Recently, my wife placed in Phoenix, Arizona, for her medical residency. We moved to Phoenix, and I quickly found a job with Petsmart Headquarters as a Senior Corporate Merch Analyst. I have been there since October of 2018.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I enjoy that every day offers a new challenge and new puzzle for me to solve. No two days are the same. I am constantly being challenged to solve new problems and learn new skills.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Take more technical electives. Advanced Excel, R, SQL, Alteryx, etc. If you can have these on your resume it will set you apart from other applicants.

Company and Job Title

Adobe, Financial Analyst in DX FP&A

Hometown

London, England

Current City/State

Lehi, UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

BYU Corporate Finance Club, International Investing Internship

Internship

Adobe

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

I joined the Finance Society's Corporate Finance Club during my sophomore year and stayed active in the club until I graduated. The club transformed my vision of recruiting and gave me the tools and confidence I needed to excel during recruiting season. One of the biggest benefits for me was meeting one-on-one with a senior for weekly mentoring sessions. My mentor helped me perfect my elevator pitch and answers to interview questions. I don't think I'd be at Adobe if it wasn't for his generous support.

What is your story since graduation?

I joined Adobe's Finance Rotation Program right after graduating from the Marriott School. Adobe's rotation program provides work experience in two departments in three years. I worked first in Contract Operations, where I learned how to dissect and improve processes leading to increased deal velocity. Then, I transitioned to Digital Experience FP&A where I reported on revenue and bookings for Adobe's Analytics solution. In these roles, I've learned Tableau, Power BI, the DAX coding language, and how to interact with business partners.

In addition to work in finance, I've immersed myself in clubs and activities on Adobe's campus: I participate in Adobe's service projects, I volunteer on the Adobe Burst council, a social group for interns and new hires, and I am currently the president of our Toastmasters chapter, a public-speaking and leadership club.

Outside of Adobe, I've set up my own side business in photography, developed a love of trail running, and found additional opportunities to serve in the community.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

The people and Adobe's culture. While I love how Adobe is changing the world through digital experiences, it's my colleagues and friends that make this experience exceptional.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Network your way into a job. Speak with enough individuals to really get a feel for the company, to understand its culture and values, and to learn whether it is a right fit for you. Remember, this is your opportunity to interview the company.

Company and Job Title

Intel Inc., Senior Financial Analyst

Hometown

Preston, ID

Current City/State

San Francisco, CA

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

BYU Ballroom Dance Touring Company, Corporate Finance Club VP, Intramural Ultimate Frisbee and Softball

Internship

Intel Inc.

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I have always been fascinated with business and known I wanted to pursue a degree in the corporate world. It wasn't until the 2008 recession that I realized what a huge role finance plays in not only the success of a company, but also in the global economy. The struggles I witnessed in my home and community led me to decide to study finance so that I could help contribute to the success of my family, company, world in which I live.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Everything I have accomplished, I owe to the finance program. It gave me every opportunity I needed to polish myself and more. The training that the finance program provides is truly a gift. In addition to learning interview skills, improving my resume, and other technical skills needed, the most valuable lesson I learned was the importance of helping your those around you. I learned to look beyond my stress and worries and to create a stronger network by simply serving. Of all my non-finance graduating friends, I truly felt that I was the most prepared to successfully enter the working world after graduation.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am a Senior Financial Analyst. In my role I manage over $300 million dollars of Intel's IT budget. I partner with my operations team to manage their spending, forecast and analyze trends, identify savings and investment opportunities, and accurately report quarterly financials to help keep Intel legal. I am also the IT Finance Business Process Management Lead, driving the initiative for process improvement and standardization. 

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

My experience at the Marriott School was invaluable. The professors are top-notch. I still think back to some of my class lectures. All of my peers were the cream of the crop and helped motivate me to be the best I could be. I will always be proud to be a Marriott School alumni.

What is your story since graduation?

During my senior year, I accepted an offer to work for Intel in California. While there, I started dating my now husband, Michael Nugent, who is also a BYU finance alumni. We have now been married for 1 year and are expecting our first baby in July. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

The most fulfilling part of my job is helping people. I've had many opportunities to serve my coworkers. These opportunities include sharing my knowledge of excel and other applications with business partners located around the globe. Corporate Finance can sometimes be hard because it can mean telling your business partners that they need to reduce their number of employees to meet their budget. Some of the individuals I taught have since told me that what I taught them helped them find new jobs after their jobs were cut. As long as I feel like I am helping others find success, I am happy.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Enjoy the journey! The day will come when you will be sitting at a desk for 8+ hours a day, your bank account is no longer nearing empty, and you're finally contributing to your retirement fund. Building a career and having financial stability is wonderful, but there will still be many days when you miss life as a BYU Marriott student. Live it up, make as many friends as you can, and do everything you can to make a lasting impact.

Company and Job Title

GetOutPass, Area Director

Hometown

Aptos, CA

Current City/State

Pleasant Grove, UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Football

Internship

Nuskin

Area of Interest

Real Estate

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am currently working with a startup called GetOutPass. I mainly head up the sales as we expand to new markets. 

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

The Marriott School put many opportunities in my path. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I like that I am often out and about with my desk time being limited. I'm stoked to grow a rad company I think can be huge!

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Learn as much as you can, meet all the cool people, and don't get bummed out. Everyone is figuring out what they're doing. 

Company and Job Title

McKinsey & Company, Business Analyst

Hometown

Temecula, CA

Current City/State

CA

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, BYU Football, Management Consulting Club, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Contrary Capital

Internship

Pelion, ObservePoint, Teal Drones, Silicon Slopes

Area of Interest

Private Equity

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I chose to study finance because I wanted to understand decision making in business. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

As a management consultant, I enjoy working in teams to help large organizations find creative solutions to remove roadblocks. My aim is to tackle the world's biggest problems. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Get involved in the Finance Society clubs. The students leading the clubs have successfully navigated the recruiting process and will be there to guide you along the way. Also, get to know your professors on a personal level. 

Company and Job Title

Blue Diamond Growers, FP&A Analyst

Hometown

Reno, NV

Current City/State

Yuba City, CA

Previous Experience

Cisco Systems

Activities at BYU

Marching Band, Corporate Finance Club

Internship

GPS Capital Markets

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

I speak to many other BYU finance alumni, and we all feel that the program is a high standard for finance programs. Being in a rotation program with other great schools, I started to quickly realize that the finance program teaches us necessary skills, like Excel, presenting, understanding finance fundamentals, and last but not least, hard work ethic.

Many of my other colleagues had never used Excel before, but being in the finance program, I was immersed in it from the beginning. I am so thankful for it. 

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am currently a FP&A analyst covering supply chain at Blue Diamond Growers. Being at a Co-op has it's perks and challenges. First thing is, due to the Co-op's strategy to giving the grower owners a maximum return, head count runs very lean. It has allowed me to present to the CFO, develop cross functional relationships with SVPs, VPs, etc., across the entire company. I currently own the forecast for transportation and warehousing, track and lead margin enhancement activity, implement new financial reporting for supply chain, and support in new co-manufacturing projects.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Get an internship. It can be in anything. My internship was basically in sales with a finance background. I ended up not accepting an offer to go work full time at the company, but it gave me an unique experience that was interesting to large Fortune 500 companies. I ended up at Cisco Systems in the rotation program there, because the Cisco team, thought it was interesting to have a sales internship background entering into finance. It turns out that Cisco is a sales-centric company, and I was a good fit for finance. Don't be afraid to try something as an intern, but get a big name experience if possible. I feel it is easier to start at a large company, then go small, versus going small and trying to go big, unless you go get an MBA.

In order to get that internship, apply to as many places as possible and don't give up on the search. If you feel you are not getting anywhere, seek advice from a mentor and more often than not you will make the necessary adjustments to rock an interview. Don't be afraid of role playing an interview with your mentor if you really want the job. Chances are someone else is fighting for that same job and wants it just as bad if not more. 

Company and Job Title

Valentiam Group, Senior Associate

Hometown

Highlands Ranch, CO

Current City/State

Salt Lake City, UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

GFA Equity Fund, CFC, Consulting Club

Internship

Duff & Phelps

Area of Interest

Consulting, Equities

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I was passionate about starting a career in Equity Analysis and Investments. I knew that the Marriott School had consistently been ranked in the US News as one of the best undergraduate business schools in the nation. I had several friends explain their experience to me and it wasn't a question after that.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The classes and professors taught a rigorous curriculum that engaged my mind to think creatively and solve real world problems. Classroom work wasn't simply reading out of a textbook, but learning from firsthand experience from the professor and then implementing concepts in "case study" formats. Deeply analytical thinking and dissecting the various aspects of finance is what the finance program does best.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Senior Associate - Transfer Pricing

Perform financial and economic analyses pertaining to international tax studies. I help companies plan, execute, and monitor inter-company transactions to better align global tax strategies. I also help with proper documentation of transfer pricing strategies in order to prevent audit and global tax scrutiny. 

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

The Marriott School has an educational curriculum and prowess that easily matches that of top-tier ivy league schools. The professors have extensive experience and background that is translated to the student body. The counselors and speakers that regularly come to the school engage students to solve real career goals and issues. I never felt like I couldn't succeed.

What is your story since graduation?

I was offered a full-time position through my case study competition and undergraduate summer internship with Duff & Phelps. I moved to Chicago, IL, to begin my few years as an analyst and then shortly moved to Los Angeles, CA, to work with another group in the West Coast. In pursuit of personal matters, I moved firms to Valentiam Group in Salt Lake City where I was promoted to Senior Associate. I am currently engaged and look forward to whatever life brings me!

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I have the opportunity to speak with a variety of professionals in multiple industries on a daily basis. As a consultant, I get to speak with upper management and dive deep into company functions and structure that most people never get to see. I get to travel and see parts of the world and the interconnected parts of a company supply chain. Although some of the work may be routine, the nuances of each client make each project a fresh opportunity to learn and grow.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Take every opportunity to go to clubs, campus speakers, competitions, and after-class study sessions. These are invaluable and will often serve you beyond what you learn in the classroom. If possible, talk to professors after class and offer to help as an aide or non-paid TA. They have so much to offer in terms of life experience and knowledge. 

Company and Job Title

Hewlett Packard Enterprise, WW Channel Finance Analyst

Hometown

Bountiful, UT

Current City/State

Fort Collins, CO

Previous Experience

Sundance Bay; Accretive Capital

Activities at BYU

Finance Society

Internship

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Area of Interest

Corporate

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

Quantitative thinker; good with numbers, financial statements; career prospects.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

Networking/interview prep; overall technical and fundamental skill development.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Finance Analyst for WW Channel Finance. Track, optimize, and report on channel partner performance.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

I loved the finance classes I took that we're not specific to my internship and full-time offer. They provided me with skills that differentiate me and allow me to pursue these interests outside of work.

What is your story since graduation?

Since starting in 2017, I've supported global sales, external reporting, and channel finance. I've managed and built tools for opex budgets, key performance metrics, and forecasting models. One particular model garnered recognition from our SVP and controller.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Improving performance and reporting visibility through analytics and modeling.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Take Kim Smith's WSJ class. It's a rare opportunity to learn regularly and directly from Kim in a small class setting.

Company and Job Title

Kiln, Manager of Finance

Hometown

Mesa, AZ

Current City/State

Salt Lake City, UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

--

Internship

Workday Inc.

Area of Interest

--

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Autonomy, flexibility, trust

Company and Job Title

Woodbury Corporation, Development Analyst

Hometown

Austin, TX

Current City/State

TX

Previous Experience

Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc.

Activities at BYU

Finance Society

Internship

American Airlines

Area of Interest

Real Estate

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I knew I wanted to be able to make good money to provide for my family. Business opens up many doors to different industries. I didn't know what industry I wanted to ultimately go into, and finance allowed me to test the airlines, mortgage, and finally the real estate industries in a short time period.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

I was prepared by understanding interest rates, Excel, and how to remain aware of current events.  I learned many other things, but the network I built helped me land multiple job opportunities.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

Development Analyst, I am responsible for underwriting new acquisition or development deals and pursue new opportunities for our private equity funds.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

Participate actively in multiple clubs if possible to gain a broader network and really test out what you want to pursue long term.

What is your story since graduation?

I went to work for Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. as a Portfolio Analyst performing data analysis on the mortgage loans the company services.  I felt that I learned a lot the year I was there, but I was not passionate about my work.  I was interested in real estate, but I did not have good opportunities in this field out of school. I applied for the master's in real estate development program at the University of Utah. I was accepted, and I am finishing up my first year. Through the program I received a job opportunity with Woodbury Corporation. I have been at Woodbury for nearly six months.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I get to work with people I really enjoy being around and I get to wear multiple hats. I am not pigeon-holed to one repetitive job. I also have the opportunity to meet many new people and travel to prospect or evaluate properties. The job is challenging and fulfilling in seeing a project from start to finish and earn a respected return.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Do multiple internships and interview a lot to practice. I remember my first interviews did not go well, so I interviewed as much as possible to gain experience and learn how to interview well.

Company and Job Title

Wells Fargo, Financial Analyst

Hometown

Boise, ID

Current City/State

Boise, ID

Previous Experience

Zions Bank, Credit Analyst

Activities at BYU

--

Internship

KeyBank, Credit Analyst

Area of Interest

Commercial Banking 

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I always liked working with numbers and I knew I wanted a career where I could help people. In talking with professors and alumni, I got a sense that the Finance Department put students in a great position where they can give back to the community. 

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program has a lot of great resources to help prepare you for your career. Besides what you learn in your classes, alumni, professors, and especially the career center. There are plenty of recruiting events that help you get in touch with people from great companies. Really, whatever direction you want to take your career, you can receive the help you need from the finance program.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am in the Financial Analyst Program with Wells Fargo. It is a two-year program and trains you to become a portfolio manager. My primary responsibility is to underwrite credit reports which analyze the risk of providing different credit facilities to borrowers.

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

I really felt that I got out of the program what I put in. The program provides more than enough opportunities for you to learn, network, and prepare for a successful career. I feel like my success has been because I took advantage of those opportunities.

What is your story since graduation?

Before graduation, I knew I wanted to go into commercial banking. It is a career that gets you involved with almost every industry and connects you with the community. Wells Fargo has the best training program for commercial banking, and I networked with people from Wells Fargo as much as I could. However, I did not get into the training program the first time I applied. I got a job at Zions Bank as a credit analyst in the commercial real estate group. I enjoyed my time there, but the work was not very challenging and there was not a clear path for growth and advancement. A little over a year from starting at Zions, someone I had come to know through my networking efforts with Wells Fargo reached out and asked if I would be interested in the Financial Analyst Program in Boise. After the interview process, I accepted the offer.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I love how I have to analyze clients from all different kinds of industries. Before deciding on commercial banking, I had a hard time deciding what industry I would want to work in. Being in commercial banking allows me to essentially work in multiple industries. I also like feeling involved in the community. We provide credit facilities that allow our clients to grow their businesses and that in turn helps the community.

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

My advice would be to work hard, network as much as you can, and look into every opportunity that presents itself. This will put you in a position to confidently take your career in the direction you want to go.

Company and Job Title

Ancestry, Associate Financial Analyst

Hometown

Layton, UT

Current City/State

Midvale, UT

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Finance Society, Corporate Finance Club

Internship

Dell Technologies

Area of Interest

Corporate

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I've always had a passion for numbers and analytics, but I wasn't aware of finance as a degree. No one had ever talked to me about studying businesses and the opportunities available. After trying out a few different majors, a friend told me I should look into finance/accounting. After taking both Accounting 200 and Finance 201, I knew I wanted to study finance. I loved doing the reading before class and the concepts came relatively easy. It just felt like the right fit.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program gave me the interview skills to highlight my passions and qualifications. They also taught me hard work. My jobs and internships while in the program were the biggest preparation for full time work.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am an associate financial analyst for Ancestry's Financial Planning and Analysis team. I currently support the CIO and his direct reports by reporting and forecasting his budget. I also support International DNA kit sales and work with business partners in Ireland. Along with forecasting and reporting, I am responsible for performing adhoc analysis to help my business partners be as successful as possible.  

What would you like others to know about your BYU Marriott experience?

The Marriott School is a great place for women. We have tools to be successful in whatever career we choose. Administrators and professors expect a lot, and it pushed me to work harder and be better.  

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

My job pushes me out of my comfort zone everyday. Sometimes, I feel too young in my career to be having conversations with the CIO about his budget, but every time I reach out, I have been treated with respect. People value my opinion and I appreciate that.  

Company and Job Title

Walmart, Finance & Strategy Manager

Hometown

Littleton, CO

Current City/State

Bentonville, AR

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

BYU Finance Society, Bowling, Intramural Sports

Internship

Walmart

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

What led you to pursue a degree in the BYU Marriott Finance Department?

I chose to study finance at BYU primarily because of the variety of career options. I knew that from those options I would be able to jump-start my career the right way and that doors would continue to open in the future.

How did the finance program help you transition into your career?

The finance program armed me with the quantitative foundation I needed to be successful. It also provided me the necessary career coaching that has allowed me to succeed via soft skills such as influencing.

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am currently a Manager of Finance & Strategy for Walmart's Online Grocery business. I analyze innovative initiatives that seek to drive convenience and value for our customers. My job is to help the company make wise business decisions that not only drive value for our shareholders, but also make life easier for our customers. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective finance students?

Get out of your comfort zone early and often. Participate in a case competition that you feel you aren't qualified for. Take on a leadership role within a club you are passionate about. Apply to work for companies that normally don't hire from BYU. Expect the best of yourself and help you fellow classmates along the way.  

Company and Job Title

Ohio State University, MHA/MBA student

Hometown

Cleveland, OH

Current City/State

Columbus, OH

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Finance Society

Internship

FlexSim Healthcare

Area of Interest

Strategy

What led you to pursue a degree in the Marriott School Finance Department?

I wanted a robust financial skill set from a top notch, reputable program that would provide a wide array of career options. I had an interest in various fields outside of typical finance fields, but I knew that having strong financial training would make me a valuable asset and would give me opportunities to enter whatever industry I ultimately chose. I also knew I would be gaining a strong network and global brand recognition, with unparalleled support in professional development and the career search. 

What would you like others to know about your Marriott School experience?

Having been inside the Marriott School and now seeing the perception of the Marriott school from others in the business world, I have absolutely no regrets on my decision to enroll in the Finance program. Every professor is highly qualified and willing to help, there are ample opportunities for professional development, and the value of the degree cannot be overstated. I will forever be grateful to the faculty and my peers for the invaluable experience in the Marriott School. 

What is your story since graduation?

After working in the technology sector for a brief period, I decided to pivot into the healthcare field by entering a dual MHA/MBA program at The Ohio State University. I wanted to apply my financial and strategic skill sets acquired in the Finance program into the healthcare industry, specifically in a consulting role. My Marriott training coupled with my graduate school experience has put me in a position to achieve this goal, as I prepare to intern with a healthcare consulting firm in Washington, D.C. this summer. The Marriott School Finance background gave me a distinct advantage through the interview process. 

Company and Job Title

Sam's Club, Buyer

Hometown

Las Vegas, NV

Current City/State

Bentonville, AZ

Previous Experience

--

Activities at BYU

Finance Society

Internship

Walmart

Area of Interest

Corporate Finance

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I'm a fresh food buyer. Club buyers are charged with (a) finding the best items, (b) pricing them to beat the competition, and (c) delivering to P&L expectations. I spend hours each day analyzing sales, market movements, and food trends. To find the best items, I travel all over the country to visit food facilities and taste new products. I work with food scientists and chefs to craft new items that customers will love, and develop our three-year product strategy to catalyze growth. I negotiate cost, packaging, logistics, and promotions so I can deliver both the absolute best price to customers and the consequent earnings for shareholders.

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

Lowering the cost of living for our members and improving their quality of life. Sam's Club started on Sam Walton's premise that if we provided exclusive access to amazing items at low prices, members would pay a membership to shop with us. We work tirelessly to deliver on that founding purpose. When I negotiate $1 lower cost, that's an extra $1 in our members' pocket. When we use locally-sourced tomatoes, which go from farm to salsa jar in less than 48 hours, it creates an addicting eating experience that brings people together. My daily adrenaline comes from the challenge of finding every way to save our members money on irresistible food. 

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

The Finance program will groom you in every imaginable way; but don't sit back idly. Make every effort to maximize your development in the program. Specifically, build an arsenal of technical expertise in modeling, theories, relevant software, data analytics, etc. Don't settle for reading headlines. Your resume only gets you the interview; your interview only gets you the job. From then on, only the robustly technical thrive. So watch more how-to videos, meet with more alumni, ask professors more questions, research more, and build deep understanding into your areas of interest. 

Company and Job Title

Ridgeway Investments, CFO

Hometown

Provo, UT

Current City/State

Chandler, AZ

Previous Experience

PEG Development

Activities at BYU

MBA Marketing Association & Marketing Track Lead Sherpa

Internship

--

Area of Interest

Real Estate

What led you to pursue a degree in the Marriott School Finance Department?

The Finance program was brand new and a lot of my friends and colleagues were applying for the program. They were all smarter than me and knew what they were doing so I followed suit! 

How did the Finance Program help you transition into your career?

The Finance Program has helped me learn to "follow the money". The program kept me relevant in an industry that's constantly changing. 

What is your career title? What are your responsibilities?

I am currently Chief Financial Officer of Ridgeway Investments. We are a real estate investment firm that focuses on development and acquisitions. We do an array of development from ground up new construction to value-ad renovations of existing builds. My primary responsibilities are financing of deals, sourcing equity, managing cash flow of assets, and oversight of all development projects. 

What would you like others to know about your Marriott School experience?

The program gave me the confidence and skill set needed to be competitive in a challenging field. I was able to nail down a desired job in the world of finance due to my Marriott School experience. 

What is your story since graduation?

Immediately after graduating I received an offer to be an analyst for a large development firm in San Diego. I turned it down to pursue a job as an analyst at PEG Development (local Provo firm) and hopefully find my wife. It all worked out! I ended up working there for 2 years doing hospitality and multifamily development. After PEG I started working at Ridgeway Investments and have been there as CFO for 4 years. I've recently moved to Chandler, AZ with my wife and son to pursue a Masters in Real Estate Development at Arizona State University and work remotely. 

What do you find fulfilling about your job?

I thoroughly enjoy working with good people, creating new jobs, and chasing deals.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Work Hard, Play Hard. The more work you put in now, the more rewarding it will be. Also, find a great mentor or two to coach you along the way. 

Company and Job Title

Axon Enterprises, Revenue Accountant

Hometown

Pleasant Grove, UT

Current City/State

Mesa, AZ

Previous Experience

Utah Community Credit Union, Wells Fargo Bank, Tucanos, Los Hermanos

Activities at BYU

Finance Group, Corporate Finance Club, Y Serve New Student Leader, UK Elang Study Abroad 2014

Internship

Ernst & Young

Area of Interest

Corporate, Consulting

What led you to pursue a degree in the Marriott School Finance Department?

I love finance, excel, numbers, markets, ethics, business, real estate, and many other finance-related things. Once I decided to earn a Finance degree I selected BYU because I heard the Marriott School's job placement rates were in the high 90's for graduating seniors, because it was close to where I lived, and because of my religion of origin.

What is your story since graduation?

After graduation I joined Ernst & Young (EY), one of the Big 4 Accounting firms in their Risk Advisory program. Within 6 months of joining I made a big career move to EY's Financial Services Organization (FSO) where all my clients were banks and financial institutions. I loved learning risk, controls, consultation with clients, and so much more over my 3 years with EY. I traveled more than 60% of the time (since not many Banks are HQ'd in Phoenix, AZ), and honestly miss all the LYFTs, airports, hotels, and consulting.

I am now working at Axon Enterprises as a Revenue Accountant in the Finance Department. Axon is saving lives and making the world a better place one taser, body camera, or other product at a time. We are growing like crazy, which means that the opportunities to build procedures and systems that scale with the company are virtually limitless. There is so much work to do, and the people are incredible! I feel properly supported in my new role, and I am passionate about creating something truly impactfull for good in this world.

What advice would you give to current and prospective Finance students?

Life throws you curve balls. If you aren't already, learn to be flexible and moderate - not extreme. Things are not black and white. Open your mind to things you currently dismiss or disagree with. Life is about connection, not about absolute and never-changing ideas. Be moderate, flexible, and allow yourself to be human (flaws, strengths, weaknesses, mistakes, joys, friends, feelings, and all). Perfection is death (and not real), stop expecting it from yourself and others.

To truly connect with people who think, believe, and act differently than you do, you must not judge them. Humans intuitively know when another person judges them or looks down on them in any way. Learn from your co-workers, neighbors, and new acquaintances. Do not try to convert them IN ANY WAY, this is a very quick road to loss of trust, respect, and connection. Remember, what you have and believe is not any better than what anyone else has. People are people, who believe what they do; let's all leave it at that. Discussing religion in any work setting IS NEVER OK - DO NOT bring it up or participate if others do. There is no good outcome from discussing religion or politics in ANY work setting!
 
I recommend adopting a FILO work mentality: be the first in and the last out as much as possible as you begin your career. Also, actively seek out feedback from your coworkers and management for ways you are performing well and ways you can improve. They see more than you can possibly be aware of.