Abukar Hassan, a double major in entrepreneurship and finance and a First Ascent Scholar, has been named one of only 100 students to earn the inaugural Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service — also known as the Voyager Scholarship — funded by the Obama Foundation and Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. He is the only student in Utah to earn this scholarship. Barack and [...]
When working to earn an MBA, you learn more than hard skills such as data analysis and marketing. You also spend a significant amount of time learning soft skills such as leadership abilities. As a leader, gaining trust from those you manage is crucial to success and motivation. Possibly the most important way to earn trust is by acting with integrity. The intersection between [...]
Congratulations to all Eccles Beginnings Summer Bridge students for participating in the annual Eccles Beginnings Case Competition. We are thrilled to announce a two-way tie for first place: The Case Busters and Team Nebula! Each July, we welcome a cohort of incoming first-year students to campus as part of the Eccles Beginnings Summer Bridge program. During their time on campus, students take math [...]
Are you wondering why your classes are canceled on Monday, June 20, 2022? Juneteenth, which many people refer to as Freedom Day, is a new federal holiday that celebrates the freedom of those who were enslaved. Juneteenth is a day of emancipation, celebration, and reflection. What is Juneteenth? In the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, Abraham Lincoln ordered that all slaves were to be [...]
Allyship is a term that sprung up within the last decade, a popular discussion topic within social justice spaces over the last couple of years. The definition of allyship is the act of a person of privilege standing in solidarity with marginalized communities to support ongoing efforts against systems of oppression. Allyship has a large role in creating an equitable environment and community. [...]
The David Eccles School of Business recently invited alumna Anfissa Silva Smith, CPA and former Senior Audit Manager of KPMG, to speak to First Ascent Scholars as part of their Alumni Dinner. This annual event allows students, faculty, and mentors to connect over dinner and shared experiences. Silva Smith shared her international journey — from Italy to Brazil to Utah — as she [...]
Editor’s Note: This is the first installment in the blog series Amplifying Marginalized Voices, which aims to provide space for voices from marginalized backgrounds and inform readers about the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our lives. Have you ever felt discredited or wrongfully invalidated within a group? Well, according to a recent study, this behavior is not uncommon. [...]
Over Fall Break, Opportunity Scholars at the David Eccles School of Business gathered at the Zion Ponderosa and Ranch Resort for a weekend leadership retreat. During this annual event, students have the opportunity to explore their potential, strengthen their leadership skills, build community, and recharge as they focus on their academic path. Reflecting this year's theme, Looking Back and Moving Forward, Latu Kinikini, [...]
The Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) was the first national organization focused on the development of Latino professionals and continues to provide men and women with opportunities for internships and jobs at the largest companies around the world. Their mission is “to empower and develop Latino men and women as leaders of character for the nation, in every sector of the [...]
The Opportunity Scholars Program is synonymous with service. Each semester, students come together to serve and support the community. Over the last year, they helped at the St. Vincent Dining Hall, Welfare Square Cannery (300+ hours of service in one day!), and the Utah Food Bank where they packed and distributed food to the local community. Below students reflect on what volunteering with [...]
On May 14, I along with 15 other students from Howard University, made the journey to Salt Lake City, Utah to start a summer program sponsored by a Howard University and David Eccles School of Business partnership. Every Saturday since then, I have been helping to plan fun events for us to attend. This partnership was designed to give Howard students a unique [...]
It often seems like team meetings result in some voices being heard, while others are completely overlooked. Similarly, sometimes credit is misassigned to someone who didn't actually offer up the idea. The phenomenon is a concern to many, and particularly women and people of color. However, the use of amplification, publicly endorsing someone's idea while giving credit to that person, can give underrepresented voices [...]
Rainbows are popping up all over for Pride month, and while campus is a bit quiet for the summer, the David Eccles School of Business still has some ways to celebrate. For students, there is Out for Business, a professional development and community outreach group that develops relationships, resources, and education among faculty, staff, students, and companies for the benefit of LGBTQ+ business students. [...]
Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company that manufactures high quality herbal and nutritional products, announced the creation of a new scholarship in partnership with the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah to support diverse students in their education. The company has pledged $200,000 over four years, and the Eccles School will match 50%, for [...]
Ninety minutes. That’s all it took. I gained a deeper understanding of how data informs an elected official’s thought process regarding racial and ethnic disparities in Utah. He, in turn, reviewed the data and considered how he might incorporate this data into policymaking. Both of us acknowledged the importance of the issue, need for increased opportunities and inherent strengths that can help Utah improve. [...]
Last week, the Opportunity Scholars program honored their 2020-21 graduates with a virtual Luau. The event gave students a chance to celebrate this important accomplishment with their families, faculty, staff, fellow students, and donors. The evening started with a welcome from program leaders Richard Kaufusi and Latu Kinikini, and a dance performance from student ambassador Haylie Heale. Graduates then spoke to those who [...]
On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, the Out for Business (O4B) student organization, in partnership with the Eccles Alumni Team, hosted a panel of experts for "LGBTQ+ Advocacy: Becoming the Advocate You Were Born to Be." Below, student Brian Pham, Executive Director, O4B, takes us through major takeaways from this extraordinary discussion. Watch the full discussion on YouTube here. On April 14, we sat [...]
The Goff Strategic Leadership Center at the David Eccles School of Business, in conjunction with Real Women Run at the YWCA and the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, hosted a competition that challenged students to develop ideas, strategies, and programs that would help increase the number and diversity of women running for office in Utah. Student teams developed and proposed [...]
I remember my first day of classes at the David Eccles School of Business. I walked in the SFEBB 20 minutes before my first class and saw the promised table of bagels. There were dozens of students standing around with their fresh backpacks and bagels in hand, yet the space was eerily quiet. I guess we were all freshmen. Beginning college is a [...]
The Inclusion & Business Strategy Case Competition rounded out Eccles Inclusion Week on Feb. 5. Dozens of students competed in teams to solve a variety of real, complex business challenges. The case competition, sponsored by Dominion Energy, Wild Utah Project, the Goff Strategic Leadership Center, and the David Eccles School of Business Office for Student Inclusion, demonstrated the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion [...]
The David Eccles School of Business recently hosted our annual Eccles Inclusion Week aimed at celebrating our diverse community and strengthen the inclusive culture at the Eccles School. This year’s theme “Rise Up: Our Ongoing Commitment to Equity,” sought to demonstrate our renewed commitment to take action to fight inequity, both now and going forward. The week featured a wide variety of guest [...]
Editor’s Note: The David Eccles School of Business is celebrating Black History Month by sharing the successes of Black business leaders who have made big impacts in the business world. Ash Cash Exantus was raised in a single-parent home in a public housing development in Harlem, New York City. He always had an entrepreneurial mindset, bagging groceries at the grocery store at age [...]
Editor’s Note: The David Eccles School of Business is celebrating Black History Month by sharing the successes of Black business leaders who have made big impacts in the business world. Mahisha Dellinger grew up in a public housing project in Sacramento, California, with her single mother. It was there she witnessed how a community and its closeness can really impact a child’s upbringing. [...]
Editor’s Note: The David Eccles School of Business is celebrating Black History Month by sharing the successes of Black business leaders who have made big impacts in the business world. Jon Platt is the current Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the largest music publisher in the world. After being appointed to the position in April of 2019, he emphasized the importance [...]
Editor’s Note: The David Eccles School of Business is celebrating Black History Month by sharing the successes of Black business leaders who have made big impacts in the business world. Monique Idlett-Mosley is a powerhouse within the entertainment industry. She served as the CEO of Mosley Brands and Mosley Music Group for more than 14 years, working with several iconic artists throughout her [...]
