This season, join host Frances Johnson as she explores the topic of continuous curiosity, asking: What is curiosity? Why is it important? And what roadblocks prevent us from being curious in our work, homes and communities? Throughout this season, we’ll also hear from guests who have used curiosity to pursue something new – a degree, a profession, or a passion.

In this episode, Frances speaks with Ryan and Melissa Park, who lost their daughter Kylie to a car accident in 2019. The Parks have established two gifts at the Eccles School of Business in Kylie’s name, and are joined this episode by current student Cynthia Wang, the 2021 recipient of the “Launch Your Imagination Kylie B. Park Memorial Scholarship.”

Together, the Parks and Cynthia share how Kylie’s memory and legacy has inspired curiosity and exploration in their own lives.

On Kylie’s curiosity and adventurous spirit…

Ryan Park (4:30): “Kylie for the longest time wasn't a huge outdoorsy person, but at some point that became part of who she was. She was continually curious about where to go next and what to do, and what to experience. We were in Page, Arizona and she had the wild idea, ‘Hey, let's go to the Grand Canyon for sunrise.’”

Melissa Park (5:25): “So we grabbed blankets out of our trailer and… that is one of the best memories we have. We have seen the sunrise at the Grand Canyon with both of our girls, and it was beautiful.”

On the impact of a memorial scholarship…

Cynthia Wang (13:40): “The lovely thing about being able to have financial support is that it doesn't just open up the door for, like, your college degree. It definitely allows you to pursue all your other passions.”

Ryan Park (): “It means that she still has a continuing impact. And that's hugely important for a parent. Because we miss her all the time.”

On how Kylie’s memory or legacy influences them today…

Cynthia Wang (22:39): “I think a lot of times people come to college thinking, ‘Oh, I need to choose something that I'm gonna do for the rest of my life.’ I definitely came into college thinking that. But I think it really makes me realize, you can really change your path at any time, any moment.”

Cynthia Wang (21:52): “I feel like I'm the type of person who in the past would really stick to the stuff that I know cuz I get really anxious and it’s easy to stay comfortable. For instance, I never thought I would be into rock climbing. I really hate heights and like it still terrifies me, but I really enjoy rock climbing now. That's definitely one of the things I feel like I would never have had the time or energy to pursue otherwise.”

Ryan Park (19:25): “The two of us have tried to continue to find ways to be adventurous, to experience new things, take advantage of the time that we have together. This year we traveled more than we have ever traveled, and we discovered we enjoy traveling. We've experienced some great new places and… we continue to be curious as to what is around us.”

• Artist Scholarship & Award Established In Memory Of Kylie Park
• Kylie Park Obituary
• @Kynd_like_kylie Instagram

This season, join host Frances Johnson as she explores the topic of continuous curiosity, asking: What is curiosity? Why is it important? And what roadblocks prevent us from being curious in our work, homes, and communities? Throughout this season, we’ll also hear from guests who have used curiosity to pursue something new – a degree, a profession, or a passion.

In this episode, Frances speaks with Michelle King, a graduate of the full-time MBA program at the Eccles School. Michelle talks about her non-traditional experience as a student and how it shaped her current role as a consultant with Kalypso. She’s joined by career coach Melissa Young, who shares how she works to foster curiosity in others and the role that a mentor can play in helping someone succeed on an unexpected path.

On barriers to curiosity…

Melissa: (10:24) “Fear is really what shuts things down. And I think when the stakes feel so high - in this case, you have unplugged from your career and you're in that unknown - it's easy to attach to an archetype of what it should look like… scarcity is another thing that can really start to shut down curiosity, feeling like there's lack or not enough.”

On embracing the freedom to be found in uncertainty…

Michelle: (9:39) “It took a little while, but I found that it is so valuable to be curious and truly just learn and talk to other people without the intention of ‘what can I get from them?’ Going in with genuine curiosity, not expecting that they're gonna offer you something after, but just saying: I wanna learn about what they're doing, and maybe that's something I might be interested in.”

On the value of a coaching relationship…

Melissa: (17:09) “I think that my personal way of coaching someone is to really look at where they want to create impact in an organization, and how they want to do that with both their soft skills and their hard skills that they're developing, rather than looking for the [job] title in the very beginning.”

Michelle: (24:53) “Having a coach or a mentor…that person may see things or be able to have evidence that you may not have locked in. [To say] ‘I've seen you do these five things. What are you saying that you're not good at that? I've witnessed this.’ It’s really helpful in that identity-making and shift.”

Michelle: (13:52) “Just giving me that permission to be myself. I don't think I would've been able to unlock that if it wasn't for Melissa telling me that it was okay.”

• Michelle King LinkedIn
• Melissa Young LinkedIn

This season, join host Frances Johnson as she explores the topic of continuous curiosity, asking: What is curiosity? Why is it important? And what roadblocks prevent us from being curious in our work, homes and communities? Throughout this season, we’ll also hear from guests who have used curiosity to pursue something new – a degree, a profession, or a passion.

In this episode, Frances speaks with Jeff Olsen, president and CEO of Boart Longyear – the world's leading provider of drilling services, drilling equipment, and performance tooling for mining and drilling companies. Jeff talks about the role curiosity plays in the corporate culture at Boart Longyear and what he and his team do to make sure they are hiring and nurturing curious employees.

On the challenges of managing a global business…

(4:23) “Because we work in so many different parts of the world, we have the danger [of solving] the same problem in different parts of the world in a different way. And sharing those solutions is a really hard thing to do.”

On the value of curiosity across operations…

(5:38) “Finding new ways to do things is about sharing good ideas, and sharing good ideas is often about curiosity.”

(12:46) “I don't think there's too many industries out there that don't need to keep reinventing themselves to stay relevant.”

On how Boart Longyear fosters a culture of curiosity… 

(15:01) “Personally, I like to ask how people solve problems. You know, tell me a problem and how you approached it. And the reason why I do that is because it gives a good sense of are they curious? Did they explore different options? How much do their previous biases come to bear?

Or are they very open minded about how they approach a problem? I think that mindset is actually very important.”

• Jeff Olsen’s bio
• Boart Longyear’s website

This season, join host Frances Johnson as she explores the topic of continuous curiosity, asking: What is curiosity? Why is it important? And what roadblocks prevent us from being curious in our work, homes, and communities? Throughout this season, we’ll also hear from guests who have used curiosity to pursue something new – a degree, a profession, or a passion.

In this episode, Frances chats with Jason Sloan and Brooke Lenzen, who lead the Executive Education department at the David Eccles School of Business. Jason and Brooke share their tips for growing – or pivoting – your career through continuing education and go in-depth about the resources offered through the Exec Ed program.

On who can benefit from executive education

Brooke Lenzen (3:59): “We never stop learning in our lifetime. Learning is not a destination. It's really a journey. And what executive education provides is the opportunity for people to be lifetime learners. So what I love to see in all of our classes is individuals that not only receive promotions or additional compensation in their careers but gain so much personally as well. We have our MBA programs that are offered underneath executive education for those seeking a degree, but we also have the non-degree certificate-based programs that allow someone to up-skill in certain areas that provide them that next step in their educational journey and the opportunity to really increase their curiosity and grow as leaders, both personally and professionally.”

Jason Sloan (21:30): “What we're seeing from organizations that encourage that curiosity is that they build a little bit of loyalty. And that the investment that they're putting into individuals, they are getting retention from those individuals because they know that they're continuing to grow.”

On finding a work-life integration, not “work-life balance”

Brook Lenzen (20:16): “Change is constant. And so preparing yourself for change means that there's not a balance. And that's okay, it's about finding rhythm. And that rhythm doesn't end when you walk into the office, right? That rhythm is still there. It's there 24/7, and it's going to change as individuals change and as their lives change and their priorities change as well.”

On the long-term benefits to employers and organizations

Jason Sloan (21:49) “When people look to change, they're seeking something different, right? Something in that organization is not working. Are they growing? I think that's what a lot of people are looking for. They feel that the organization is not allowing them to explore a new space, encouraging them to grow. And … by offering an opportunity for them to seek out ways to engage that curiosity, I think that is potentially an antidote for some of the quiet quitting and great resignation that we've seen.”

• Brooke Lenzen’s bio
• Jason Sloan’s bio
• Executive Education page

Welcome back to a third season of the Eccles Business Buzz podcast! 

This season, join host Frances Johnson as she explores the topic of continuous curiosity, asking: What is curiosity? Why is it important? And what roadblocks prevent us from being curious in our work, homes and communities? Throughout this season, we’ll also hear from guests who have used curiosity to pursue something new – a degree, a profession, or a passion.

In this episode, Frances chats with Glen Kreiner, Chair of the Department of Management at the David Eccles School of Business. Glen is also the L.S. Skaggs Presidential Chair in Business Ethics Management. His award-winning research focuses on our identities at work, mindfulness, work/life dynamics, and ethics. 

Glen talks about the relationship between mindfulness and curiosity, and how we can all work to develop what he calls a “beginner's mind.”

On practicing mindfulness

Glen (4:14) - “One of the things we talked about in a paper we had published recently is the idea of mindfulness capacity. That's something that can be built, kind of like putting water into a reservoir. If the reservoir is dry, you don't have any water left. So we try to think about how we build a mindfulness capacity so that in those stressful moments, we can call upon our mindfulness skills. If we want to be creative or curious or think about ourselves or our relationships, we can draw upon those mind practices.”

On the benefits of a beginner’s mind

Glen (16:19) “In the eyes of a beginner, there’s lots of possibilities. But iIf you think you're an expert, there aren't many possibilities. You think you've already figured it out. So that beginner's mind is a really wonderful tool for curiosity and creativity, because it helps you throw assumptions out the window.”

On using mindfulness to understand our identities and the perceptions of others

Glen (29:09) “My perception of myself is not the same as these people's perception of me, or maybe they're seeing something that I can cultivate so that I can feel that way about myself. / (25:47) Whether the label came from me or someone else, what does that word mean? Do I want it, or do I not want it? Do I want to change the meaning of it? Cause maybe I keep the word. Change the meaning of it. And that's what mindfulness and curiosity can allow us to do with these identity labels that either we or others put on ourselves.”

• Glen Kreiner’s bio

Eccles Business Buzz is a podcast created by the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. This podcast features alumni and tackles different topics and issues around the globe and within our community. Stay connected with the school and other alumni through updates on what's happening at Eccles and what's happening in the business world.

When you fall, you can always stand up and do it again and again and again until you make it. That is what perseverance means to Jolly Karungi, a recent graduate of the David Eccles School of Business and Eccles student of the year in 2020.

During her time at the Eccles school, she participated in the Business Scholars and First Ascent programs in addition to a variety of other student organizations on campus. She graduated with a major in Information Systems.

Jolly was born in the Republic of Congo and lived in a refugee camp in Uganda for several years before coming to Utah. 

She shares the struggles she had to endure living in different environments and the difficulties navigating systems without knowing how to speak the language. However, her passion for learning and adapting together with perseverance helped her overcome the challenges.

Jolly also tells her plans after graduation, her future goals, and what excites her the most in going back home where her family is. 

Jolly's definition of perseverance

"If you have a passion, you need to do something; you do not give up. It's tough. It's not easy. So, for me, it's doing things no matter how hard they are and not giving up. It doesn't matter how many times you fall. You can always stand up and do it again and fall again and do it again until you can do it."

Why it's helpful to lean on people and ask for help when needed

"I realized that there are people who are willing to help, as long as you ask. People won't just help you because they don't know if you need help or not. Not everyone will be able to help you, but they will refer you to someone who will help you. So, leaning on people and asking for help, that's what got me through."

What motivated her to go to school and continue learning even though it's hard

"I just loved learning. I knew if I was not in a class, I was not learning. It's true I was not learning at all even when I was there, but just going there every single day, it's a process of me to learn how to learn. It's better just staying home and sleeping, but how would that help you? So, just being there and having the passion of learning and achieving something. Things will not find you sitting. You have to keep looking for them."

Jolly's advice for people who are also struggling to navigate new systems

"I would say just go for it, do something that you love. I know sometimes people want to satisfy their family or their parents. They tell them to do this, but they want to do that. Just be honest with yourself and do something that you like.

Also, the struggle is real. You're not alone. It's real for everyone. I'm not going to tell you it's perfect. So, you're going to struggle but also remember there's support. Don't struggle alone. So many people are willing to help you out, standing on your side even though you can't see them. They are always there. Just go ahead and ask for help or reach out to people in the school and the community."

• LinkedIn
• Business Scholars Program
• First Ascent Scholars Program
• Cotopaxi Foundation

This week, we have the honor of chatting with Gail Miller, the owner of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies and Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of Larry H. Miller Management Corporation. She currently serves on the president's campaign senior advisory council at the University of Utah. 

Aside from being actively engaged in the company's various operations, Gail also presides over the Larry H. Miller Education Foundation and the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation. She gives generously of her time and resources to civic endeavors. 

In this episode, Gail shares with us details about her upbringing and what it was like to grow up in a large family where money was often tight. Listen as she tells us how she persevered through the challenges in her life - from being the supporter of her family to being a wife and mother and ultimately stepping to a new role of becoming the owner of a large company. 

We can all resonate with the biggest obstacle in Gail's life - fear. It's the reason she wrote her book, Courage to Be You: Inspiring Lessons from An Unexpected Journey. It's compelling how she overcame fear through faith and perseverance.

We also hear why Gail got involved with the university community and what inspired her to get connected to higher education. She also has some pretty good advice for women who want to transition from being stay-at-home mothers to the workplace once again.

Finally, we get to know the future of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies and what Gail hopes her legacy will be.

Why she supports many of the women's initiatives at the university and business school

"When I was in the trenches of running our company, I think it put me in a position of recognition in the community that here's a woman who took this business, she stepped in, didn't make it fail, and hung on and became very successful. And I think as that happened, other women looked at what I did and felt that I was a role model. I never aspired to be, nor did I ever aspire to be a businesswoman, but that's why I feel it's important to support women as they want to become successful either in the business world or a nonprofit world or education or whatever they want to do. If I can be an influence by supporting women in their endeavors, I'm happy to do that."

On the importance of education

"I can see what it provides. Not just women but anyone who goes to college, it's not just the education you get. It's all of the other parts of it, everything that goes with it. It's being able to prepare yourself in life with what education gives you, having exposure to how the world works and to a variety of organizations and institutions and people, makes them well-rounded. It prepares them to go out into the world and take responsibilities that help society function well. Those are things I think are so beneficial about an education."

On growing up 

"I don't feel like I was deprived because our parents taught us how to be creative, make do with what we have, develop our talents, and have confidence in ourselves. And so, I learned a lot of things from not having much that helped me navigate practically in the world.

And it's interesting how the things that you go through in life do build your character and build that, I call it a tapestry of your life because everything you do adds to that quilt that you're making, and some parts of it are right and colored, and some are not quite so beautiful. But when it's all together, it's quite nice. I wouldn't change any of that."

What does it mean to persevere? 

"To me, it means every day is a new adventure. Today is going to be different than yesterday but because it's a new adventure, I try to look at it with fresh eyes and add it to what I've already learned. And that's persevering - knowing that I can get through today, I can do what I need to, I can benefit from what I've learned, and I can build on that for tomorrow. And I don't have to carry baggage with me. Every day, I can do something new and useful, find joy and courage, overcome my trials, and build strength."

Advice to stay at home women who are looking to transition into the workforce

"I always think of it as seasons of life. There is a time to be a mother and a wife, and a homemaker. There's a time to go to school. There's a time to build your career. And if they dovetail, that's great. If you can manage that, that's great. But only whether you're capable of doing it. And if it doesn't work, it doesn't mean you're a failure. It just means maybe the time isn't right. But it will be later. 

If women want to have a career, that's great. I look at women who have great careers, and I think, wow, I wish I could do that. And then, I think if they want to be a stay-at-home mom, I don't think there's anything more important than that.

So, it's not an either-or. It's a matter of where your focus is and what you really want to do, what you want for yourself. And I think you can have a career and have wonderful children at the same time, but I certainly wouldn't judge anyone if they chose one over the other."

• Larry H. Miller Group of Companies
• Courage to Be You: Inspiring Lessons from An Unexpected Journey

Learn more about Legacy Giving - Email Katie Pearce at [email protected]

Keep moving ahead no matter what life throws at you. It is what Katie Abby, Assistant Dean over Business Career Services and Corporate Outreach, has to say about perseverance. 

Katie began her career in the healthcare staffing industry as a physician recruiter for CHG Healthcare. In 1990, she co-founded VISTA Staffing Solutions, serving first as COO and then as President before its acquisition in 2007. 

She has been named one of the “30 Women to Watch” by Utah Business Magazine, is a generous donor to the David Eccles School of Business, a cancer survivor, and a self-described gym rat. She is addicted to endurance sports, an avid triathlete, and had successfully finished the Wisconsin Ironman in 2007.

Today, we get to listen to how Katie started VISTA, the things she learned in building a company, and the challenges they had to overcome.

Katie also shares her work in career services, the things they do differently from traditional university career services, and how they work together and overcome obstacles as a team. 

Finally, we hear about the most significant obstacle that Katie had to overcome and how she did it through perseverance. 

Perseverance for Katie

"I think perseverance does mean taking what life throws at you and maybe not reacting right away, but taking a step back to think about things because there usually is an answer or a solution or an alternative route that you can take. You just have to keep moving ahead."

Her take on the future of work

"I do think the way we work may be transforming forever. There's a lot of value in face-to-face communication and building relationships. And I think we've learned that while we certainly can continue 100% virtually, it's awfully nice to be able to be with people. So, my hope is that perhaps we transition back towards where we were before but with a more open and flexible mindset."

How she encouraged her team to persevere during last year's chaos

"It's so hard to know how good or not good a job you did, but whenever I face difficult things or challenges, it's really helpful to focus on something productive. 

Just giving people the opportunity to be able to do their job, first and foremost, but then if they were having challenges or problems, whether those be personal or professional, to allow them the opportunity to say, Hey, I'm really struggling here and cut them a little slack. And it seems to have worked well."

The lesson she learned on overcoming the biggest obstacle in her life 

"First and foremost, you can take your situation and either wallow in it or take your situation and say, okay, this is where we are; let's do something with it. As a family, we chose to not focus on the end of life but focus on life today and right now. And I think that that has helped me in pretty much everything since then.

Whenever I have an obstacle now, I think about its importance, and it might be important, but in comparison, how big a deal is it, really? Putting things in perspective can help you take that step back and figure out a way to keep moving forward."

Advice for people who are experiencing hard days and having difficulty moving forward

"Over the years, one of the biggest things I've learned is that we don't have to go at it alone. When I feel frustrated, I turn to so many people. I'm surrounded by incredible talent on my team. If I'm having a personal challenge or a professional challenge, I don't have to sit there and try and figure it out by myself. I have a number of people who are skilled and talented and willing and want to help. 

And so that's a big piece of advice that I give to people because as a competitive person, it's sometimes really hard to ask for help, but the more you do it, and the more you realize the satisfaction and the joy you get over overcoming obstacles as a team, it becomes easier and easier to do."

• Career Services 
• School Profile
• LinkedIn

Saving the world — one box at a time is the ultimate goal at Packsize and Packsize NOW™. Today, we are thrilled to chat with Hanko and Laura Kiessner of Packsize Intl and Hansi Kiessner of Packsize NOW™. All three are proud University of Utah alumni!

Packsize is a multinational technology company that develops, manufactures, supports, and sells a full spectrum of advanced packaging systems and automated machine technology. In 2016, Hansi founded Packsize NOW™, which provides big box store technology and pricing with local box store service and support.

Hanko and Laura talk about how they started Packsize from scratch and their challenges, especially with a growing family to take care of. They also tell us how perseverance helped them become an industry leader today due to their focus on innovation and improvement, as well as sustainability. This year, Hanko was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by MountainWest Capital Network.

Hansi also shares his experiences with Packsize NOW™. He tells us the company's early beginnings, where it is now, and the path it's going moving forward, plus how they managed to get through the pandemic as a young company.

Hanko's vision when he came back with his family to the US

"So, fresh off the boat in New York City, Hanko takes me to Wall Street and tells me that someday we're going to play a role in the world's biggest economy here. And that's what we did." - Hansi

On starting a business and taking care of a young family

"It's just staggering and overwhelming, just the sheer energy and dedication and commitment required to start a business. And in addition, you've got three young kids that you're raising. You're a parent to those kids. And to navigate that, it took a lot of self-awareness and understanding the leadership style and the working style of your partner, and understanding that there is that difference between business and a difference between family, but somehow they're married, and one needs to understand and make priorities." - Laura

Advice on young entrepreneurs:

"I would say that the journey is the goal. And so, focus on the steps. Of course, you should know where you're headed, but you need to be flexible to walk around obstacles, to get things out of your way. To really enjoy that journey the best you can and do what you can to make sure that it's fun and sustainable. You just stay focused on where you are." - Hanko

"One needs to enjoy what you're doing and have a passion for what you're doing. And take the time to set the priorities and make time to spend with your family, make time to get to know people, and enjoy the people you're working with because they are really what makes going to work fun." - Laura

On persevering through all failures and obstacles:

"That element is a key; when you get pushed down, come back up and figure it out, and keep figuring it out until it works." - Hanko

"Building something from nothing and not giving up took a tremendous amount of strength, both physically and mentally, and emotionally. Never give up, commit and be dedicated, and be loyal to know that you are going to help make a difference by making this business successful." - Laura

On their commitment to minimizing environmental impact:

"When we started Packsize, I made the commitment that I didn't want to start just any business with the same problems that some or many businesses have, which is they need to be profitable but then they end up being profitable at the expense of the society.

When you add up the pollution, the destruction to the planet, and you compare that with the profit of the company, the destruction might be a higher number than the profit and the goods that the company might have ever done. 

If you create a higher cost to society than your profit, you haven't done anything for society. So, from the get-go, I wanted to create a company that I'm proud of. And I wouldn't be proud of it if we were doing more damage than we were doing good. So, that is where we came up with we need to be sustainable." - Hanko

• Packsize
• Packsize NOW™
• MountainWest Capital Network Names Packsize CEO Hanko Kiessner 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year