MAcc student Brenna Doyle is always looking for ways to learn and improve. “I never want to feel stagnant in my career,” Doyle says. “I want to be in places where I can grow, both as a professional and as a person.” Today, Doyle knows that working collaboratively fosters the growth she is striving for—but she didn’t always see it that way.
As she entered the junior core in the School of Accountancy (SOA) at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Doyle was skeptical about working with her team. “I felt school work was easier to do on my own,” she recalls. But her experience in the junior core changed her perspective: “Things that were hard for me, other people could help me on—things that were hard for them, I could help with. I’ve been able to learn how to interact in a team environment and to learn the necessary accounting skills at the same time.”
Doyle finished her undergraduate coursework in accounting alongside her cohort in the SOA. Now in the MAcc program, she enjoys building connections with her professors. “I’ve appreciated professors who have been open and candid, who shared the good and hard things in their lives to help advise us,” Doyle says. “I’ve learned a lot from the things my professors have shared from their careers in accounting, their relationships with their family, and all the other aspects of their lives.”
In Doyle’s experience, faculty were willing to share not only life and career experience but also their networks. “I love the connections I have access to from BYU Marriott,” she shares. “Everyone’s so willing to help you find a job or connect with people—even the alumni.”
Through BYU Marriott alumni and faculty connections, Doyle learned that US-based companies often have offices around the world. The idea of living abroad, experiencing different places, and collaborating with new people intrigued Doyle. She decided to kick-start her international experience by going on the International Accounting Study Abroad in the spring of 2023.
“A big part of going abroad is learning about different cultures in addition to how they do accounting,” Doyle says. “The way their culture impacts people’s businesses and personal lives is so interesting.”
Following her study abroad, Doyle was one of 120 international students chosen to attend the KPMG Global Advantage program, an accounting conference where Doyle learned about key professional skills like interpersonal impact and leadership.
Doyle’s international experiences enabled her to gain perspective on international accounting practices and build her own global network. “The things I’m most grateful for are the people I’ve met and the connections I’ve made,” Doyle says. “I love learning about how other people live their lives and the things they care about.” As she works through the last year of the MAcc program, Doyle looks forward to a life full of working and learning from new experiences, places, and people.
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Written by Melissa Een
