Stories from BYU Marriott
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Practicing the Language of Social Impact
Rather than practicing Arabic primarily at shopping centers and tourist attractions, Kiki Aldridge talked with local Moroccans as an intern with a pediatric oncology clinic. At the clinic, she found that her connections, both foreign and domestic, were key to achieving her goals to make a difference.
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The Faith to Follow
After twenty years of being a stay-at-home mom, Janae Ricks had no plans to get a master’s degree. But receiving unexpected inspiration led Ricks to apply to the MBA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, and she says the network she has built has influenced not only her life but also her family.
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Serving Others, Strengthening Self
Howard says his longer-than-expected mission experience helped him develop a deep love for service that led him to join the BYU Army ROTC program. And a focus on serving others, Howard explains, has helped him become a better and more Christlike leader.
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Beyond the Itinerary
During the summer of 2025, students studying abroad in Europe learned that their tour of the Vatican museums was canceled because of the conclave in session to elect a new pope of the Roman Catholic Church. But changes in plans are part of the adventure, says Sara Bowman, the Business Fundamentals in Europe study abroad coordinator for the Whitmore Global Business Center (GBC) at the BYU Marriott School of Business.
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Rejecting “Eventually”
When Tavita Fewell chose his first major, he says it was mostly to get rid of the glaring “Major: undecided” line on his online student portal. But taking classes at BYU Marriott led him to a people-first career in marketing that he says he feels passionate about.
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Exploring Capability through AI Research
For the past year, information systems (IS) students from the BYU Marriott School of Business have been researching how artificial intelligence (AI) can help increase access to mental health care. For the students, this research project has been more than learning about AI and mental health: It’s been an opportunity to explore what they’re capable of.
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A Cup of Sugar and A Dash of Confidence
By the time entrepreneurial management student Katherine Kimball was 10 years old, her parents started charging her every time she baked because of how expensive her hobby had become. Now, Kimball charges others for her desserts, but establishing her own business, she says, required more than improving her recipes—she first had to learn to be confident in herself.
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Changing the Game
When an injury ended Daniel Lacey’s playing career, Lacey redirected his time and energy toward business and marketing—a pivot that would eventually land him on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
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An Investment in Faith
Miriam Szendre is a sixth-generation Brigham Young University student. But, she says, that wealth of family history at BYU didn’t mean a wealth of financial support.
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Bonding Through Board Games
When BYU Marriott School of Business alumnus Brandon Camp saw his twin sons, both on the autism spectrum, spend their senior year applying and interviewing for jobs without success, he made a decision: “We can complain about the problem, or we can do something about it.” So Camp and his family created Gotta Play Games, a board game company designed to provide work experience for his sons while strengthening family relationships.
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BYU Marriott Welcomes New Faculty in 2026
This year, 14 new faculty members joined the BYU Marriott School of Business. Brigitte Madrian, dean of BYU Marriott, shares, “We are extremely grateful for the talented individuals who have joined our faculty. They lead with and through the light and power of Jesus Christ and are deeply committed to our guiding principle of being centered on students.”
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BYU Marriott Names Trent Williams as New Director of the Rollins Center
BYU Marriott School of Business dean Brigitte C. Madrian has announced entrepreneurship professor Trent Williams as the next director of the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology effective September 8, 2026. He replaces Mike Hendron who served as the center’s director since 2023 and has served in an administrative role with the center since 2017.
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A Piece of the Picture
When Audrey Vengesai took her first accounting class at 13 years old, she says she fell in love with solving complex puzzles of information. As she continues her studies with the support of her family and professors, Vengesai says she has seen how moments of her life connect and build upon each other.
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“Why Am I Not Crushing It?”
Shelley Bushman was working towards her “dream job.” After returning home from her mission, where she attended German Christmas markets, she landed an internship as an experience design and management (ExDM) student with Salt Lake City’s Christkindlmarkt and contributed to the German celebrations in the area. But when Covid hit the event market, she had to pivot.
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Purpose in Service
Brigham Young University student Abe Peterson had no idea what he wanted to study. Discarding the major he'd been in for two years, he decided that any career that allowed him to serve would be the best way to move forward.
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Meeting Healthcare Leaders Halfway Around the World
Between excursions to the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, and Ha Long Bay, students on the healthcare leadership study abroad went off the beaten path to visit hospitals and learn from healthcare administrators. As students traversed India and Southeast Asia, they found characteristics of Christlike leadership in professionals of different faiths.
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Joy Through Full Commitment
After Molly Wakefield left an information session about the finance program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, she felt overwhelmed by information. But she says her parents didn’t raise her to give up after one try, so she decided to go “all in” and give finance her best shot. As she did so, she says she found joy from fully committing—and learned that going all in is easier with a focus on serving others.
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Believing in Others, Believing in Yourself
For Alex Napierski, the key to overcoming feelings of self-doubt and developing the excellence he was seeking came through embracing faith in Christ.
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