Use God-given gifts, LDS MBA Conference students told

In a corporate world driven by money, power and success in the office, 157 business students took a detour earlier this month to fill up on lessons in service, humility and happiness in the home. Latter-day Saint MBA students from nearly 30 of the world’s top business schools, including Harvard, Wharton and Stanford, gathered at Columbia University in New York City on April 8-9 for the first LDS MBA Conference.

Davis Smith, president of the LDS Student Association at Wharton Business School, along with classmates Evan McMullin and Brandon Peay, organized the event so future LDS business leaders could network.

“We created this conference as a way to find each other, connect and build bonds,” said McMullin. “We have an incredible opportunity to help each other professionally and personally. This is bigger than any career or business. We have the opportunity to have a great deal of influence where it really matters.”

The conference was open to all current LDS MBA students. Organizers secured 10 sponsors, ranging from individuals to Bain & Company, and collected $25,000 in donations. Students paid $100 admission.

Gabriel Valenzuela, who attended from Thunderbird School of Global Management, felt the conference was worth it.

“The idea of the best and brightest LDS MBA students from top tier programs meeting together to network, coordinate and inspire each other was something I frankly could not pass up,” said Valenzuela.

Sixteen successful LDS business leaders from around the country volunteered their time to serve as panelists and speakers. They taught leadership principles and offered advice. Steve Jenkins, guest speaker on entrepreneurship, believes in the importance of LDS bonds, especially when business gets challenging.

“They’ll need each other for help, moral support and positive peer pressure to deal with the sacrifices we sometimes have to make because of our standards,” Jenkins said

 

Students split into breakout sessions focusing on general management, entrepreneurship, finance and public service. Discussions included finding balance, maintaining LDS values, staying humble, and prioritizing family and service. Speakers shared, at times with laughter and tears, personal stories of business successes and failures. Panelists offered counsel on everything from working on weekends to turning down alcoholic drinks. Students, armed with both smartphones and scriptures, asked questions and took notes. The conference inspired Valenzuela and reminded him what matters most.