When thinking of human resources (HR), it's the managers tasked with recruitment, benefits, and compensation who often come to mind. To Abby Ebert—senior in the BYU Marriott School of Business—HR is about much more. The human resource management (HRM) program has helped Ebert find peers who encourage her to step out of her comfort zone and lead with compassion.
Growing up in Bountiful, Utah, Ebert learned the value of working hard and never taking opportunities for granted from her parents. “My parents worked hard to help me and my older sister get through school. If you are gifted an opportunity, you have to make the most out of it,” Ebert says. Inspired by her family role models, including well-educated parents and a sister who has two degrees, Ebert gives her all in pursuing her education.
Ebert’s choice to study HR stems from her personal mission to spread compassion and foster a sense of belonging wherever she goes. “To me HR is about helping people feel comfortable in their workplace and like they belong,” she says.
Ebert feels that sense of belonging in BYU Marriott’s HRM program. “I feel like I’ve found my people,” Ebert shares. “HRM was always at the top of my list because the people in the program are nice and bright individuals.” The program’s cohort design allows Ebert to forge bonds with other students as they collaborate. “Everybody gets to know each other very well,” she says.
Because of the competitive nature of the HR field, Ebert has worked hard to pursue multiple opportunities beyond the classroom. Ebert has completed internships and serves as vice president of events for BYU Marriott’s chapter of the Society of HR Management (SHRM). “I also doubled up on classes during the pandemic and applied to over 100 internships that helped me land my intern position at Pattern,” Ebert says.
“I’ve always been someone who likes to be busy, but I knew I needed to step out of my comfort zone to succeed,” Ebert explains. “The people around me challenged me. They encouraged me to apply to be vice president of events in SHRM, and I began doing things I never thought I would end up doing,” she says. “Sometimes you have to find those people who are more driven than you and hitch your horse to theirs. You can be just as successful starting as a follower.”
Ebert’s interest in being a compassionate human resource professional coincides with the mission of BYU Marriott to create Christlike leaders. “The gospel-centered learning at BYU holds students to a high learning and performance standard. This gives me confidence that I can successfully implement high standards in my future workers,” Ebert says.
After graduation, Ebert will begin a master of human resources program at Utah State University (USU) in the fall. She plans to bring her unique life lessons, skills, and personal mission to lead with compassion to USU, and wherever else her future career takes her.
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Written by Alice Gubler
