For many, where they were on 9/11 has become a milestone in their memories. Danny Anderson, BYU eMBA class of 2017, spent the day on the phone as a customer service agent for Continental Airlines. In this episode of Grades Don’t Matter, Danny talks to Emily Hellewell about his experience that day changed him, and how that day and several other life-changing experiences since then have helped him to really focus on what matters.

A first-generation college graduate, Louis Monaco said he often found himself figuring out life as he went along. He said he made mistakes along the way that he’s now trying to teach his kids how to avoid.

Ben Beck found his voice during the BYU MBA program. In this episode, he tells Emily how the program helped him go from feeling like an imposter to learning that everyone - including himself - is just trying to do their best. The MBA program, he says, gave him the confidence to present and give speeches, and to take on a new challenge: moving his family across the country for a Ph.D. program.

Mike Hawkins tells Emily Hellewell how his invention of a stronger and more durable railroad tie lead him to want to go back to school, how he got accepted to a college basketball team at a school he didn’t even attend, and how he got accepted to the BYU executive MBA program at the very last minute.

When Mike Fielding was accepted to the BYU executive MBA program he was living in Texas for his job, while his wife remained in their home in Utah. So even though he had to commute to class every other weekend, turns out class weekends provided a respite allowing him to be home with his family. Mike talked to Emily about how he navigated that time, the challenges he faced during the program and the ah-ha moment he had in finance class.

Scott Morris found his calling working in sales. But when he was passed over for a promotion he thought he was prepared for, he realized he wasn’t learning and had stagnated in his career. Scott tells Doug Tolley about the light bulb that went off in his head leading him to BYU’s executive MBA program, a program he says he chose because it allowed him to bring his entire soul into the classroom.

Corey revisits his undergraduate honors program, his time outside the intermountain west, and his experience speaking at graduation.

In a fun conversation with Doug, Andrew shares his path to BYU, memories of his grandpa, how speaking Chinese led him to his current job at Lucid, and his latest adventure outside of work that includes, unsurprisingly, a lot of work.

Adam Black takes Doug on a tour of the mind of an honest optimist who realizes that there is no glass.

Emily talks with Jason Barron about his MBA experience, what it's like to work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Jason's knack for interesting side projects.