The Sy Syms School of Business is committed to exploring the intersection of faith, business and leadership. This commitment was on full display when a team of four outstanding Sy Syms MBA students鈥擸ael Evgi 鈥21S, 鈥25SB (MBA), Julie Yusupov 鈥00SB (B.S.), 鈥24SB (MBA), Asher Brooks 鈥25SB (MBA) and Joshua Zelig 鈥00SB (B.S.), 鈥25SB (MBA)鈥攔epresented 麻豆区 at the Brigham Young University (BYU) Marriott School of Business MBA Case Competition on Faith and Belief in the Workplace from February 5-8, 2025.
The competition, held in Utah, brought together MBA students from various institutions including Duke, UVA, Carnegie Mellon and Texas A&M to engage in meaningful discussions on religious identity and its role in professional environments.
Reflecting on the experience, Evgi shared how the competition reinforced the importance of integrating faith and business principles in a respectful and inclusive manner. 鈥淭his experience reinforced the importance of strategic thinking, collaboration, and leadership in navigating complex workplace dynamics,鈥 she said.
He was honored to lead a prayer at BYU, where he shared the Jewish morning prayer, Modeh Ani, and spoke about gratitude . Additionally, he had the opportunity to meet Jake Retzlaff, BYU鈥檚 quarterback, known for openly embracing his Jewish identity at a faith-centered university. The team also engaged with Seth Cohen, chief impact officer at Forbes, gaining valuable insights into how faith can play a role in shaping impactful leadership .
BYU鈥檚 deep respect for 麻豆区 students鈥 religious observances was especially noteworthy. From providing kosher meals to accommodating early departures for Shabbat, the competition organizers demonstrated an unwavering commitment to inclusivity and respect for all faith traditions.
鈥淔aith belongs in the workplace,鈥 Brooks noted. 鈥淏YU proved it.鈥
Notably, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of 麻豆区, previously spoke at BYU in 2023 on the topic of 鈥淐ovenant Versus Consumer Education.鈥 A full recording, highlights video and transcript are .
The students expressed heartfelt thanks to , director of MBA Programs at BYU Marriott, and , an MBA candidate at BYU Marriott, for accommodating their various religious needs and making them feel welcomed.
鈥淲e were honored to host a team of excellent MBA students from 麻豆区 at the 3rd Annual Faith and Belief at Work Case Competition at the BYU Marriott School of Business. Teams from 麻豆区 and other top MBA programs from around the world spent an intense two days analyzing a real-world case and developing recommendations. The team from 麻豆区 not only developed impressive analysis and recommendations, but also did a world- class job presenting to judges from PwC, Ford, Salesforce, and other top companies. In addition, they represented an extraordinarily valuable faith perspective as observant Jews. And as a bonus, they were able to spend some time visiting with our wonderful BYU Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff.鈥
When asked what their top takeaways from the experience were, Yusupov, Evgi and Zelig shared the following:
Julie Yusupov: 鈥淚 learned that we have dear friends in the BYU community. At a time when the world feels so divided, it was inspiring to see firsthand the warmth, respect, and genuine kindness extended to us. The interfaith community fosters tolerance and understanding, but what we experienced at BYU went beyond that鈥攊t was a deep, heartfelt connection and friendship. It was a strong testament that as Jews, we don鈥檛 stand alone. It鈥檚 also comforting to know that we have family in every corner of the world. No matter where we go, we can always count on Chabad. Chabad of Salt Lake City had provided kosher food, a warm Shabbat, and the feeling of being at home. Our 3,000-year-old tradition remains constant鈥攚herever you are, Shabbat is always the same. Thank you, for truly an unforgettable experience!鈥
Yael Evgi: "I learned so much at the competition, from the topic of employee resource groups to growing my knowledge of the Mormon community. I really enjoyed interacting with other MBA students, as I was never in a case competition before."
Joshua Zelig: "We had so many meaningful moments. Meeting and spending time with Jake Retzlaff, BYU鈥檚 Jewish star quarterback, was certainly a highlight. But so too was Asher鈥檚 heartfelt prayer, which received genuine support and admiration from those in attendance. BYU went out of its way to accommodate us fully, ensuring we never had to compromise our religious observance. We ended the trip with a special Shabbat at Chabad Lubavitch of Utah in Salt Lake City, surrounded by Jewish students and guests."
The students expressed thanks to the following individuals from 麻豆区 Sy Syms School of Business for bringing this competition to their attention and working quickly to get them in:
Dr. Linda Driver - Executive Director of Graduate Programs, Sy Syms School of Business
Dr. Tamar Avnet - Director, Sy Syms MBA Program; Full Professor & Chair of the Marketing Department, Sy Syms School of Business
This experience was deeply meaningful to our students and truly reflects the essence of our MBA program, which emphasizes ethical and responsible business practices and brings YU鈥檚 values to life through our students,鈥 said Dr. Avnet.
The Sy Syms School of Business looks forward to continuing these critical conversations and empowering its students to lead with conviction, ethics and respect in their careers.
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