Since the pandemic, Zoom classes—often filled with muted participants and blank screens—have been a new part of the classroom experience. But for students at the BYU Marriott School of Business who are part of the Silver Fund class, a Zoom discussion featuring 65 BYU–Pathway Worldwide students in 18 different countries provided inspiration and connection.
The hybrid gathering, organized by Adjunct Professor of Finance James Fletcher and Associate Professor of Finance Brian Boyer, connected MBA, MAcc, and economics students who work on the BYU Marriott Silver Fund with BYU–Pathway students who work as interns for the Ethos Pathway Emerging Markets Fund. Fletcher started the Ethos Pathway fund and, through a partnership with Mountain River Partners, has helped 250 BYU–Pathway student interns get experience researching stocks in their home countries, from Asia to Africa to Latin America.
“When we met with the students from BYU–Pathway, I felt a deep and immediate connection because of our shared faith in Jesus Christ and our ambition to be successful in business,” shared Zachary Matthews, a senior in the MAcc program from Fruit Heights, Utah. The hour-long discussion was run without an agenda, with only one topic of conversation: How principles of finance relate to principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“The discussion highlighted the power of connection, combining faith and business,” Matthews said. “Being able to hear everyone’s unique views on how financial principles align with the gospel strengthened my testimony that we’re all God’s children.”
For Taylor Nadauld, chair of BYU Marriott’s Department of Finance, the discussion had two main goals: help students become professionally excellent and become disciples of Jesus Christ at the same time.
“When we do those things together, we really can change the world in meaningful ways,” Nadauld told the students. “It’s not always grand and it’s not always obvious, but one household at a time and one ward at a time, we lift people and create a better kingdom of God through this combination of professional excellence and faith.”
The experience renewed Matthews’s sense of gratitude for the opportunities he has had, especially the access to education, mentorship, and professional networks, and inspired him to sign up to mentor a BYU–Pathway student in Nigeria. “I’ve learned a lot from him,” Matthews said. “We’ve been in touch regularly, talking through career goals, options, and next steps. That connection has been rewarding, and it’s reminded me how important it is to lift where you stand.”
Students, however, weren’t the only ones who said they were impacted. Fletcher commented that most people, himself included, were left in tears by the end of the class. “It felt like the classroom filled with light,” Fletcher said. “We all felt so inspired to learn together from our brothers and sisters all over the world.”
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Written by Bryan Ross