International Business Students Enter to Learn to Go Forth to Serve

Since the Wilford A. Cardon International Sponsorship (CIS) was initiated in 1986, the program has enabled more than 400 students from more than 50 countries to earn graduate-level education from the BYU Marriott School of Business. As students enter to learn gospel-centered business principles, they prepare to go forth and serve in their home countries.

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Charmaine Mabini, a first-year MBA student, worked at a pharmaceutical company before coming to BYU Marriott for her MBA.

Photo courtesy of Charmaine Mabini.

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Mabini says that her MBA experience has been all-hands-on-deck. "We are all in this together," she says. "My family is supporting me to get my MBA, and it's been a fun experience so far."

Photo courtesy of Charmaine Mabini.

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After finishing her MBA, Mabini hopes to get a job at a top pharmaceutical company, grow her network, and build resources to reach her goal of establishing a scholarship foundation in the Philippines.

Photo courtesy of Charmaine Mabini.

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The sponsorship was founded by Cardon after he returned from serving as a mission president in Brazil. The program provides interest-free loans for college tuition and living expenses to international students admitted to a graduate program at BYU Marriott, with the expectation that students will return to their countries to serve as leaders in their professions, communities, and the Church. If students return to their home countries after graduating, their loans are often forgiven by the sponsorship program.

One such student is Charmaine Mabini, from the Philippines, who hoped to build on her career as a pharmacist. As a working mom with two kids and without money for a master’s degree, Mabini says she felt like she was done progressing professionally. But when a friend connected her with a current CIS student, Mabini decided to pursue her educational dream and was accepted into the MBA program. “It sounded like the perfect opportunity for my family,” she says. “I'm just so blessed that people like the Cardons have the heart to help others get higher education.”

Now, as Mabini develops her business acumen, she expresses gratitude to be learning how principles of the gospel align with business practices. “I appreciate that we talk about God and Jesus Christ in our classes at BYU Marriott,” she says, “because I want to have a closer personal relationship with God while I am pursuing my higher education.”

Now, seeing the impact of higher education on her own life, Mabini envisions establishing a similar scholarship foundation in the Philippines once she finishes her MBA. “My dream is to be better equipped to help others gain higher education,” she says.

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Maja Fahring, a first-year MBA student from Poland, holds a bachelor's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from BYU–Idaho as well as a master's degree in clinical psychology from SWPS Uniwersytet in Poland.

Photo courtesy of Maja Fahring.

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Fahring says that her MBA experience has changed her life. "I've learned so much already, and the professors are amazing," she says.

Photo courtesy of Maja Fahring.

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During the summer 2026, Fahring will work for PepsiCo as a human resources intern.

Photo courtesy of Maja Fahring.

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Poland native Maja Fahring found herself in a similar situation to Mabini—she had a developing career in human resources, but she felt that her lack of business education was keeping her from reaching her potential. A second-year MBA student, Jesse Poffo, reached out to her about the CIS program at BYU Marriott, and she jumped at the opportunity.

Now, Fahring says she wants to pass along the mentorship she’s received. “I want to be that network for the future generations to come and get that education and partake of the experiences that I'm able to have,” she says. “I want to help businesses and help people live a better life.”

Poffo shares a similar desire to give back. As he completes his MBA, he prepares to return to his home country of Brazil, aiming to advance not only in his career but also in his capacity to serve. “My main objective is to be able to help other people in my country,” Poffo says. “I want to serve as much as I can.”

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Jesse Poffo, a second-year MBA student, says he has always dreamed of coming to BYU as an MBA student. "I felt this was the right place, not only because of the academics, but because of the environment that we have here," he says.

Photo courtesy of Jesse Poffo.

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Poffo and his wife have two kids, who he says are loving the experience of being in Utah. "They are Cougar fans now."

Photo courtesy of Jesse Poffo.

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When he goes back to Brazil, Poffo says he hopes to not only bring his newfound business acumen but also what he's learned about Christlike leadership. "My main objective is to be able to help other people in my country."

Photo courtesy of Jesse Poffo.

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For Poffo, the emphasis on Christlike Leadership in the MBA program has helped him to see that he doesn’t need to separate his career from his faith. “We don't need to choose if we are leaders in a company or disciples of Jesus Christ,” Poffo says. “The way I want to lead, either in the church or in my career, is as a disciple of Jesus Christ.”