Making the right decisions is critical to leading a successful life, Citigroup CFO Gary Crittenden told students and faculty at the 2007 Marriott School Honored Alumni Lecture Sept. 20.
Crittenden was chosen as the Marriott School’s 2007 Honored Alumni as part of BYU’s annual homecoming tradition of recognizing an outstanding graduate from each of the university’s colleges.
“We’re thrilled to have Gary Crittenden as our honored alum this year,” says Ned Hill, Marriott School dean. “He is a wonderful friend of BYU and one of our most distinguished alumni.”
Five decisions have been particularly important during the course of my life, Crittenden said. While a student at the Marriott School, I made the decision to get the best education possible, despite financial difficulties. “The things you’re doing now turn out to actually matter,” he told students. He also encouraged listeners to marry the right person, take risks, exercise and be obedient.
Crittenden earned a BS in management from BYU in 1976 and an MBA from Harvard in 1979. He demonstrated his financial acuity as CFO of Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Monsanto Co.; and American Express before accepting his current position in March 2007 as CFO of Citigroup, Inc. Citigroup is a global financial services holding company with more than $1.8 trillion in assets.
The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.
Writer: David Garcia (801) 422-1152
