Marriott School Graduates Honored

PROVO, Utah – Apr 28, 2017 – Sharing his insights on a balanced life, Alfred Gantner, cofounder of Partners Group and an MBA alum, addressed graduates at the BYU Marriott School of Management convocation held 28 April 2017 in the Marriott Center.

In his remarks, Gantner recounted his own experiences as a BYU student and his journey to success, emphasizing some of the keys to his personal and professional achievements.

“I would be rotten, or at best mediocre, at my job if my personal journey was centered on business success alone,” Gantner said. “We cannot be first rate in our profession if our work is all we are. We need balance in our lives, and therefore, my advice for you today is to get a balanced life.”

A member of the Marriott School's National Advisory Council, Gantner graduated with an MBA from the Marriott School in 1994 before working at Goldman Sachs. In 1996 he then cofounded Partners Group, based in Switzerland. After serving as chief executive officer and executive chair, Gantner stepped down to serve in his current role as the chair of the company’s global investment committee and a member of the board of directors.

As Gantner continued his address he shared four ways to help graduates maintain balance by using the acronym LIFE: be loyal, be inspired as well as inspiring, be family focused, and be eternally minded.

“Now walk out of here realizing you are the one who has control over your own life,” Gantner said. “As you become the person you desire and that Heavenly Father needs you to be, your life will be a blessing, and you will truly leave your indelible mark on the world.”

Other speakers at the ceremony included Lee Perry, Marriott School dean, and Hussam Eddin Qutob, a marketing graduate from Palestine. The musical number was sung by FreeVerse, an a capella group that includes Drew Hooper, an OBHR graduate from Mesa, Arizona.