Below are some rough interview questions for those who are sharing stories for the Video Project (see prior post).

Cultural Beliefs

1. Focus Efforts

Tell us about a Management Society member who has personally influenced you because of their focus on growing moral and ethical leadership.

• What is the name of the person, what is their occupation, where do they live?
• How did you get to know this person?
• What did this person specifically do relating to moral and ethical leadership that influenced you?
• How did you feel when you saw this kind of example?
• Have you seen other people handle this situation differently? Describe.
• When and where did this take place?
• What do you do differently now because of this experience?
• Does seeing someone else live up to these standards make it easier for you to follow their example? Why?
• How does being a member of the Management Society help you to focus on moral and ethical leadership?

2. Meet Purposefully

Describe a Management Society event you attended that caused you to see more clearly the vision of growing moral and ethical leadership around the world.

• When and where was the event?
• If the event included a speaker, who was the speaker and what did he or she say that so moved you?
• How did this event help you see the vision more clearly?
• What was different about this event than other business events you attended?
• How have you incorporated the things that you heard into your personal and/or business life?

3. Grow People

Share a story about a Management Society member who helped you in your professional progress and the influence this nurturing has had on you.

• Who was the person that mentored you? Has a member of the Management Society helped you in some other way?
• How? When and where did this take place?
• Did you have a problem that you needed help solving? How did this person help?
• Was it awkward or embarrassing asking someone you respect to spend some of their valuable time helping you? What was your friend’s reaction?
• Did being a member of t he Management Society make it easier for you to find someone who could help you? Did your membership facilitate the relationship?
• How important was this help to you in your career?

4. Act Professionally

Tell about a Management Society member you know who exemplifies the highest ideals of professionalism by the way they treat other people of a different age, gender, nationality ethnicity, career path, alma mater, religious affiliation etc. Or, describe a Management Society event which promoted this kind of professionalism.

• What is the name of the person, what is their occupation, where do they live?
• How did you get to know this person?
• What does this person specifically do that exemplifies a high level of professionalism?
• How do you feel when you see this kind of example?
• When and where did this take place?
• What do you do differently now because of this experience?
• Does seeing someone else live up to these standards make it easier for you to follow their example? Why?
• How does being a member of the Management Society help you to focus on moral and ethical leadership?

 5. Think Globally

Discuss one of the following:

• What BYU Management Society event have you attended that demonstrated the global reach of the Society?
• Talk about a Management Society member you know who exemplifies this global vision, including a love for and knowledge of other cultures and languages.
• How does it make you feel to be a part of an organization that has members all over the world who share the same values of moral and ethical leadership?
• How have you benefited professionally or personally from a chapter outside of your own country?

6. Align with BYU and the Marriott School

How has your membership in the BYU Management Society helped you stay connected to and aligned with the mission of the Brigham Young University and the Marriott School?

• What has your chapter done to help you stay connected to BYU and the Marriott School and its mission?
• What does that mission mean to you?
• How has a connection to BYU and the Marriott School affected your career?
• Describe how you have personally benefited professionally from your association with the BYU brand.
• What does that brand mean to you and how has it changed your life?

 7. Live the Vision

Please share a personal experience or experiences where the BYU Management Society vision of “growing moral and ethical leadership around the world” has changed how you would otherwise handle a difficult situation or problem.

• Describe a specific situation in business where your vision of “growing moral and ethical leadership” was challenged and how you overcame it. Or, describe someone you know overcoming such as challenge.
• When, where and what were the circumstances?
• What was the challenge and why was it hard to do what was right?
• What risks did you take in making the right decision?
• How has the vision of “growing moral and ethical leadership” changed your life?
• How has membership in the Society helped you live this vision?

BYU Management Society

Annual Leadership Conference

October 2-3, 2008

            By all accounts, the BYU Management Society Annual Leadership Conference, held October 2-3, 2008 on campus in Provo, Utah was a rousing success.  Over 100 participants from 11 countries enjoyed beautiful weather, surroundings, company and educational and motivational workshops, speeches and seminars.  The vision of the Management Society of “growing moral and ethical leadership around the world” was a focus of the entire event.

            The conference began with a day in the mountains at Aspen Grove.  The hills were on fire with the colors of fall in the mountains.  The opening sessions were held in the Emerald Lodge, with a breathtaking view of the Wasatch Mountains through a floor to ceiling glass window about 3 stories high. Gary Cornia, Dean of the Marriott School gave an update on accomplishments at the Marriott School and introduced the Lowell Bennion Award recipient and keynote speaker, former Dean Ned Hill.  Hill recognized the accomplishments of the namesake of the award, Lowell Bennion, reminisced on trips he made over the years to Management Society chapters all over the world during his 10 year tenure as Dean.  He also shared anecdotal experiences to drive home the vision of the Society, “growing moral and ethical leadership around the world.”

            Ron Malouf, National Advisory Council member and Chair of the NAC Management Society committee, addressed the importance of service to the community and Management Society members.  Chris Feinauer, Alumni Association Liaison, shared tips on “Board Structure, Recruiting and Use.”  Chet Harmer, new member of the International Steering Committee member over New Chapters, discussed successes in the Silicon Valley chapter, which in the last year included an astounding 96 events and 9,300 participants.  Perhaps more impressive is the focus on service to its members through business workshops which teach people how to get, keep and improve jobs..  Silicon Valley also works closely with the J. Reuben Clark Law Society in calendaring and publicizing events.

            A one-hour “Success-o-rama” was then held covering topics such as Golf tournaments, scholarships, breakfasts, employment councils, career fairs, surveys, Young Professionals, newsletters, the new Hispanic Chapter and big company involvement.  Concurrent sessions were then held for chapters at different stages in their development including: new, struggling and strong.  A dinner program featured music by a bluegrass group, “Brushfire,” and keynote speaker, Michael Webb, who addressed how to establish a strong network of business contacts to find a job at any stage in your career.

            Friday began on campus in the new Tanner Building addition, with a hot breakfast, a “State of the Society” address by Chair Bill Chapman which reviewed the major events by chapters throughout the world during the last 12 months.  It was announced that the 2009 Regional Conference will be held in Europe at a specific loction to be determined.  Chair-Elect, Troy Romero, then gave a presentation on the One Page Business Plan, a new goal setting program introduced to the Society by Steering Committee member and NAC member, Joel Deceuster, of Silicon Valley.  Concurrent database training seminars were then conducted by Rixa Oman (beginning) and Robert Gardner (advanced).  A panel of Steering Committee members addressed each of the Society’s Cultural Beliefs.

            Bradley R. Agle, PhD and Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, led a thought-provoking discussion on a case study on ethics.  A luncheon was organized by region so that chapter leaders could share what they had learned and discuss local issues, unique to each geographic area.  Following the luncheon each country outside of the United States took a turn highlighting events and progress in each of those countries.  Gustavo Estrada next spoke on LDS Employment and networking.  The international and domestic chapters then separated to focus on topics pertaining to each of those types of chapters.  A closing session allowed participants to set goals based on things they learned at the conference, followed by an open discussion on highlights of what was most helpful.

            An added dimension to the Conference was a Friday night dinner meeting, first ever for the new Hispanic Management Society, with Elder Pingree giving the keynote address.  Over 100 were in attendance.

            A great deal of enthusiasm flowed through from the start to finish of the conference.  Interactive discussions allowed a liberal exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences.  Friendships were made or renewed and a new commitment seemed to be felt by all present. 

Elder Wickman stated that developing positive relationships with government officials “involves not just lawyers but also general authorities, area church leaders and Latter-day Saints who travel internationally in their private capacity.”  He called the BYU Law School annual symposium on international law and religion “certainly one of the most important diplomatic outreach efforts made by the church.”  Two questions came to mind as I read this comment:

1. What can the BYU Management Society do to help those who travel internationally on business develop positive relations with government officials; and
2. Is there some analogous symposium that relates to “growing moral and ethical leadership around the world” that the BYU Management Society could host in conjunction with the Marriott School?

Please share any thoughts you might have on the above.

• Explanation: Chapters should support and help each other across national and international boundaries, thus building the Management Society worldwide while developing strong leaders for businesses, communities, churches and families. Chapter leaders can use their love for and knowledge of other cultures and languages to help chapter members around the world.
• Examples:
  • Chapter activities can also focus on global international issues and how they relate to ethical leadership.
  • By developing leadership training programs, chapters can establish effective, confident leaders among international communities.
  • Chapter-to-chapter mentoring and leader-to-leader mentoring between chapters can strengthen both sides while taking advantage of individual language, cultural, and business knowledge.
  • Posting speakers’ talks on the web for every chapter to access them
• Experiences:
  • Dean’s Seminars have specifically addressed global business by using the expertise of Marriott School faculty.
  • Chapters may partner with other chapters across international lines where help is needed.
• Evaluation:
  • Number of new chapters per year. TARGET: 5 chapters
  • Number of reactivated chapters per year. TARGET: 5 chapters.
  • Number of cross-chapter connections (any combination of international and/or domestic chapters). TARGET: 5 connections
  • Annual Leadership Conference will address global reach of the society.