After The Daily Universe finished its social media bracket ranking the most popular brands founded in Utah, various business professors shared their input on the state’s entrepreneurial spirit.
The 16-slot bracket included brands such as Minky Couture, Owala, Swig and Thread Wallets. Swig won the bracket on Monday, May 25.
Faculty members across Utah’s business schools shared how entrepreneurship has become deeply embedded in the state’s culture.
Ryan Allen, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Strategy at BYU’s Marriott School of Business, attributed this culture to a statewide collaborative environment.
“Utah has a very entrepreneurial culture. Part of that comes from strong community networks, a willingness to take initiative and a general optimism in our culture,” Allen said.
Marketing and Strategy Department Head, Chad Albrecht, Ph.D., at Utah State University’s Huntsman School of Business, described how entrepreneurship is celebrated throughout the state.
“I think it’s in our DNA. In Utah, we celebrate people like Swig. We celebrate people like Crumbl. We celebrate these entrepreneurs,” Albrecht said.
Albrecht shared how these local success stories can motivate aspiring business owners to pursue their own ambitions.
“Trying to start a business, it’s a grind; it’s so hard. But we see success stories. We see neighbors, friends, aunts, and uncles being successful,” Albrecht said.
This entrepreneurial mindset is reflected throughout Utah’s diverse collegiate business programs.
Schools such as Brigham Young University, Utah State University and Ensign College offer various business degrees to those pursuing their undergraduate education. These degrees can specialize in subjects including analytics, management and marketing.
BYU and USU, along with University of Utah, Utah Valley University and Weber State University, also offer multiple graduate programs in their respective business schools. Each of these schools offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree.
At BYU, the Marriott School of Business's extensive opportunities extend past graduation.
“BYU benefits from a strong alumni network that is extremely developmental and supportive of BYU students in their early careers,” Allen said.
Allen emphasized how there are multiple avenues to entrepreneurial success through higher education.
“At BYU, we see financial success as desirable, but it’s not the only goal,” Allen said.
Though financial success is a significant focus for business students, Allen warned that making it a primary focus can cloud higher educational pursuits.
“(A master's degree) is less impactful if students don’t value education and just want to get straight to building something for a quick buck,” Allen said.
However, student success isn’t only associated with a business-related undergraduate or graduate degree.
“I am a big fan of business minors as an interface between different disciplines,” Allen said. “It’s good for our students and for hiring companies to get a variety of perspectives from different majors.”
Up at USU, Albrecht shared how the Huntsman School of Business’ faculty prioritizes their students.
“Our core focus is on the student experience,” Albrecht said. “I think that’s kind of unique to a lot of schools because they are focused on research.”
When asked about the USU student experience, Albrecht praised the proactivity he sees business students exhibit.
“When students are engaged, when they’re involved, when they’re networking, when they start with the end in mind and they plan that for four years, it makes such a difference,” Albrecht said.
Albrecht also highlighted USU’s Small Enterprise Education and Development (SEED) program. He shared how SEED gives students opportunities to develop their business pursuits regardless of their major.
“A lot of students think, ‘Oh, you have to be a business student.’ Absolutely not. Anyone that’s interested can apply,” Albrecht said.
This student-centered approach has given Albrecht a unique view on careers after graduation. He shared that this unique university setting makes the Huntsman School of Business one of the best.
“Whenever I get an email from a student saying, ‘Hey, I just did the MBA and I got this promotion from making $40K to $80K a year.’ I mean, that’s a home run,” Albrecht said.
In downtown Salt Lake City, Ensign College takes on a workforce-readiness approach for its business students with its unique faculty.
“Most faculty members are adjuncts, bringing significant business experience into the classroom,” Sam Dunn, Ensign College’s business department chair, said. “We encourage students to anchor their professional lives in integrity and humility.”
Dunn shared how this approach makes Ensign College emphasize the workplace skills students need after graduation.
“Business alumni successfully launch careers because they master five core college-wide capabilities: teamwork, leadership, communication, technical skills and problem-solving,” Dunn said.
Dunn cited Elder Clark G. Gilbert, of the Quorum of the Twelve, when he described how Ensign College students also take on a spiritual purpose in their entrepreneurial studies.
“Ensign College champions a unique role in higher education by coupling professional excellence with our core religious mission and spiritual anchor,” Dunn said.
Though this spiritual anchor is also a goal throughout BYU, Allen shared what he’s consistently seen in successful graduates in business.
“I’ve seen students succeed in many different paths. The students who tend to do especially well are those who have a strong desire to keep learning and progressing,” Allen said.
Together, these universities and business schools continue shaping Utah’s entrepreneurial culture by teaching their students what experiences, mindsets and goals are needed as the next generation of Utah businesses.