After taking classes for three potential majors at BYU and not finding what he was looking for, Joshua Beacham discovered the experience design and management (ExDM) major at the BYU Marriott School of Business. Now a senior in the program, Beacham came to realize the major was the perfect fit for his career goals.
Beacham, who is from Tomball, Texas, initially explored the psychology, advertising, and sociology majors, but none of those options truly resonated with his primary interests of connecting with people and solving problems. However, while exploring BYU Marriott’s nonprofit management minor, Beacham was introduced to the ExDM program by one of his professors. “ExDM felt right to me and is the perfect combination of my interests,” Beacham explains. “My path to discovering the major included taking the right classes and knowing the right people.”
The main way Beacham wants to connect with people and solve problems is through corporate social responsibility. His appreciation for and understanding of the sector grew through BYU Marriott’s Ballard Center for Social Impact, where he worked on several projects. As he thought about ways to be involved in the field, Beacham decided to follow his passion for the sports and entertainment industry.
“I started to think about what industries I would like to work in,” he says. “Any company is going to have a philanthropy arm, so I was trying to figure out what area best fits my personality, and that’s how I landed on sports and entertainment. One of the best things about sports specifically is how the field brings people together from different parts of the world and different walks of life. Once all those people are together, organizations have a tremendous opportunity to solve problems.”
Beacham has enjoyed a variety of internships as he prepares for his career in the sports industry. He is currently a premium experience intern with the Utah Jazz, where he has gained an appreciation for the NBA’s commitment to social responsibility. “One of the reasons I like the NBA so much is I know the causes the NBA supports are things that actually matter to people,” Beacham explains. “Personally, I’m drawn to the NBA because of how heavily tied the league is to the Black and African American community, which I want to see flourish and grow.”
In addition to his role with the Jazz, Beacham is an events and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) intern for BYU Marriott’s Deans Office. He uses aspects from his ExDM classes every day to plan and market events and implement DEI initiatives for the entire school. “I enjoy seeing events go from an ethereal idea to actual execution. I love being able to see the look on students’ faces as they participate in events I planned,” he says.
As Beacham prepares to graduate in April 2022, he looks forward to working in the sports and entertainment industry full-time and making a difference wherever he can. “I'm currently applying to positions for post-graduation, looking for an opportunity to break into community outreach,” he explains. “I’ve always been a huge sports fan because of the storytelling that happens in sports. With entertainment, I love how different forms of media are such a great way to express the overall human experience.”
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Writer: Mike Miller
