On November 17, 2025, Utah Business held its third-annual Utah Business Forward conference in downtown Salt Lake City. At this one-day event, dozens of the best business minds in Utah gathered to share their knowledge in various industries, from product development and manufacturing to finance and entrepreneurship. Through panel discussions, breakaway sessions, and keynote speeches, these top business achievers shared strategies that help fuel Utah’s economy. 

In this special Utah Business podcast, recorded live at the event, Utah Governor Spencer Cox moderates a conversation between two influential leaders, Brigham Young University President C. Shane Reese and University of Utah President Taylor Randall.  

These accomplished presidents dive into the art of being productive rivals, embracing their competitive relationship while discovering innovative ways to collaborate. With insights on how businesses can learn from their approach to rivalries by valuing collaboration over division and finding ways to bridge gaps for shared success. 

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This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this October 2025 event from a Utah Business Founder Friday, executive editor Catherine Bennett interviews three sisters who created Baltic Born clothing. Angela Liljenquist, Allison Hunt, and Marianne Liljenquist started the brand in 2016 with a simple but powerful belief: that every woman deserves to feel confident, beautiful and strong no matter what stage of life she’s in. They came together, sacrificing their time and energy to create dresses and occasion wear with styles and fits that adjust to different times in a woman’s life. While it took years for the company to become profitable, the effort to craft quality, stylish dresses, listen to their customers and put hard work at the forefront has given their once-small business impressive, sustainable growth while prioritizing the things in life that matter most.

This event was sponsored by Kiln and Northwestern Mutual. 

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this September 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, executive editor Catherine Bennett is joined by Ayla & Co. co-founders Nikki and Brody Day. They discuss creating the perfect diaper bags for busy parents, intentional design and branding, and focusing on your business venture goals amid unexpected challenges. 

This event was sponsored by Kiln and Northwestern Mutual. 

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this August 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, executive editor Catherine Bennett and LiveView Technologies (LVT) Founder and Chief Executive Officer, President Ryan Porter discuss problem-solving through innovation and imagination.  

This event was sponsored by Kiln and Northwestern Mutual. 

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

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This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this July 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, assistant editor Kenzie Koehle and Pattern co-founder Dave Wright discuss talent-forward strategies behind the ecommerce acceleration platform’s $2B success.

(1) Build a talent-first organization.

(2) Lead top performers with a light touch.

(3) Persist in building client relationships.

(4) Ask for help and share your knowledge.

This event was sponsored by Kiln and Northwestern Mutual. 

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this June 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, executive editor Catherine Bennett and Crystal Maggelet, CEO and Chairwoman of Maverik/Crystal Inn and FJ Management Inc., discuss three business lessons for leading legacy enterprises. 

(1) Be confident. Stay committed.

(2) Ignore the naysayers.

(3)  Step into your opportunities.

This event was sponsored by Kiln and Northwestern Mutual. 

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this May 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, editor-in-chief Melanie Jones and Beehive Meals founder and CEO Allyse Jackson discuss three business lessons to validate your work when you find yourself frozen. 

(1)  Validate your business.

(2)  Validate yourself.

(3)  Grow from hard-learned lessons.

The event was sponsored by Kiln and Northwestern Mutual. 

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this April 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, editor-in-chief Melanie Jones and JobNimbus Co-Founder & CEO Ben Hodson discuss his journey as a serial entrepreneur. He shares 4 business lessons to make heroes out of employees and clients.

(1) Broad interests mean better problem-solving

(2) Success comes when you stop fearing risk

(3) Don’t chase money, chase impact

(4) Employees should come before the customer

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this March 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, assistant editor Beth Taylor and Minky Couture founder Sandi Hendry discuss 5 lessons for a thriving business: 

(1) Identify market gaps

(2) Be patient with success

(3) Create a nurturing environment for employees

(4) Give back

(5) It’s never too late to pursue entrepreneurship

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

In this February 2025 interview from a Utah Business Founder Friday event, editor-in-chief Melanie Jones and Jacki Zehner, SheMoney founder, discuss 4 tips for democratizing financial literacy: 

(1) Address your emotional relationship with money first

(2) Normalize financial ambition

(3) Make intentional money moves

(4) Have conversations and utilize resources

Visit UtahBusiness.com to subscribe to our email newsletters and the magazine.

Follow Utah Business online on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This episode was produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.