Where the BYU Executive MBA Begins
Residency Week is the official start of the BYU Executive MBA. More than an orientation, it is a five-day, immersive introduction to the people, expectations, and leadership journey that define the program.
Held on campus in Provo and at the BYU Salt Lake Center, Residency Week takes place in late July or early August and marks the first experience for each incoming cohort. From day one, students are immersed in the academic rigor, collaborative culture, and values-driven leadership that make the BYU EMBA distinct.
By the end of the week, students understand the program and each other. This week sets the foundation for everything that follows.
An Immersive Start
Residency Week is not a welcome session or a soft introduction. It is intentionally intensive. Classes begin immediately. Teams are formed. Expectations are made clear. Faculty engage deeply. Students are challenged mentally, professionally, and personally.
This fast start allows the cohort to compress what would normally take weeks or months in a traditional program into a single, high-impact week. The result is faster trust, stronger teams, and a shared foundation that carries through the rest of the program.
“Residency Week with my EMBA cohort was transformative. Hard, fun and humbling all in one.”
— Marilyn Contreras-Pinegar
Built Around Cohort and Team-Based Leadership
From the first leadership session to the final class of the week, Residency Week is centered on how leaders actually work: in teams, under pressure, with imperfect information.
Students are placed into learning teams early and begin working together immediately, analyzing cases, navigating leadership challenges, and reflecting on their own leadership styles. Faculty guide discussions that help students identify strengths, blind spots, and opportunities for growth, both as leaders and as teammates.
This team-first approach reflects how leadership is practiced in real organizations and sets the tone for the rest of the EMBA experience.
Leadership in Action
A defining moment of Residency Week is the team-based leadership experience at Camp Williams, a Utah Army National Guard installation.
Here, students participate in the Leadership Reaction Course (LRC), a series of physical and mental challenges that require teams to solve problems collaboratively. While the experience is active, it is not about competition or physical ability. Instead, it is designed to surface how teams communicate, make decisions, rotate leadership, and support one another under pressure.
Each obstacle requires a different leader. Each challenge reveals something new.
Students consistently describe this experience as a turning point, an early, shared test that accelerates trust and self-awareness.
“What would have otherwise taken weeks to develop in the classroom, we accomplished within a few hours at Camp Williams.”
— Robin Allman
Academic Rigor from the First Session
Residency Week also marks the beginning of the academic journey. Students engage in multiple class sessions led by BYU Marriott faculty, covering core concepts that will carry through the program.
Many students are surprised by how energizing these first classes are even in demanding subjects.
“The thought of sitting through six hours of accounting and coming out eager for more seemed unfathomable—yet here I am, excited for our next session.”
— Tyrell Vance
The week blends instruction, discussion, and team application, reinforcing that learning in the BYU EMBA is active, relevant, and immediately applicable.
Relationships That Last Beyond the Program
Residency Week is also about connection with your team, your cohort, and with your faculty.
Structured networking, informal conversations, and shared experiences quickly turn classmates into trusted peers. A residency dinner with guests underscores the program’s recognition that leadership development does not happen in isolation.
Students frequently cite Residency Week as the moment they realized the strength of the BYU EMBA community and the lifelong relationships that begin there.
Grounded in Values, Focused on the Whole Leader
What truly differentiates Residency Week, and the BYU EMBA, is its grounding in shared values.
Faculty consistently reinforce that professional excellence does not come at the expense of faith, family, or integrity. Students are encouraged to do hard things, lean on one another, and lead with faith, purpose, and integrity.
This balance of rigor and perspective resonates deeply with professionals seeking not just career advancement, but meaningful growth.
“The recurring message from all professors was that we can do hard things, we can lean on each other, and not to forget the important things in this journey: faith and family.”
— Marilyn Contreras-Pinegar
The Foundation for Everything That Follows
Residency Week sets the tone for the BYU Executive MBA. It establishes expectations, builds trust, and launches students into a transformational experience alongside a cohort that will challenge and support them throughout the program.
If you are ready to challenge yourself, learn from world-class faculty, and grow alongside a committed cohort, the next step is to apply.