Despite economic tightening around the country—and across the globe—MBA alumni this spring are paying it forward. In response to an email appeal from MBA director Craig Merrill, MBA alumni have been beating the bushes for internships. Through some creative hunting and friendly persuasion, MBA alumni have found or created nearly 100 leads for new internships. A large number of these opportunities were created especially for and are open only to BYU students.

The help has come just in time, as first-year BYU MBA students feel the pressure to gain experience that will give them a competitive edge for next year’s uncertain job market. While the phrase “pay it forward” rose in popularity as the result of the 2000 Warner Brothers movie, the idea has been around for a long time.

In 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote to a friend: “I do not pretend to give such a sum; I only lend it to you. When you shall return to your country with a good character, you cannot fail of getting into some business that will in time enable you to pay all your debts. In that case, when you meet with another honest man in similar distress, you must pay me by lending this sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. . . . This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money” (emphasis added).

Always clever, Mr. Franklin got it right. Paying it forward allows one person to magnify the good he or she can do by convincing others to do likewise.

We have been buoyed up by our alumni’s response to an appeal for help. As one placement administrator said, “The great thing is there appears to be no end. Leads continue to come in, and a number of people have also contacted us with full-time employment opportunities.”

As a result, we are ahead of just about every major business school in the percentage of MBA students with internships. More than 90 percent of our first-year MBA students have summer internships. And we are in the top third of schools in terms of the percentage of graduates with job offers. About 75 percent of our recent MBA graduates have accepted full-time positions. There is no question this has been an extremely challenging year. But we simply wouldn’t be where we are without our alumni’s help.

We may never discover how an act of service affects someone else, how it may alter someone’s course or give a needed boost. But as King Benjamin reminds us, we are all debtors—owing our very breath to Him who created us. I believe we also owe the many who daily shape who we are and what we become. In the end we are all reaping the blessings of what others have paid forward.

Sincerely,



Joseph D. Ogden
Assistant Dean

PAY IT FORWARD CONTACT:
Bill Brady
Director, Business Career Center
801-422-1790
bill_brady@byu.edu