Michael Scott Peters
Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Business
Age: 30
“I run with purpose, driven by family and a commitment to continuous improvement.”
Hometown: Herriman, Utah
Family Members: Eliza (wife) and baby girl arriving in June
Fun fact about yourself: I ran my first 100-miler last year on an island in the Great Salt Lake. Many members of our cohort showed up to support or sent encouraging videos, and I’m preparing for my next one this fall. I’ve also run 35 full marathons and 35 half marathons.
Undergraduate School and Degree: Utah State University, Marketing and International Business
Where are you currently working? Workday, Director of Sales Development
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles:
* I served as the 2018–19 US youth ambassador to the United Nations—training young people to “Think Globally and Act Locally” at speaking engagements around the world.
* I graduated summa cum laude with degrees in international business and marketing from Utah State University, where I also served as the student body president.
* I now lead the large enterprise sales development team at Workday—focusing on pipeline generation, go-to-market strategy, and talent development.
* In my free time, I enjoy marathon pacing, skiing with my wife, and playing the accordion.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? While serving as our MBA cohort president, I’m proud of the culture we created around our cohort core values: be grateful, intentional, and connected. I led the cohort through an exercise to determine which values were most important to us, and then I created a peer-nominated award to recognize the top two individuals per semester based on their example of our core values. Through these awards, our activities, and thoughtful birthday recognitions, we formed a culture where “Everyone Belongs” became our cohort motto. It fostered an accelerated learning within the classroom and fueled deeper connection on our Epic Learning Adventure in Moab. I credit the inspiring leadership of Nora Ballantyne (VP events and activities), Shelly Spencer (VP communications), Westlee Tonga (VP recruiting and alumni), Brooke Peterson (VP compassionate service), and John Figueroa (VP endowment) for helping make this possible.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am currently completing a major project with the acquisition and integration of Evisort into Workday North America. I designed sales territories, established rules of engagement between Workday and Evisort, set quota goals, and drove accelerated pipeline generation. This project has required me to think creatively and collaborate cross functionally to ensure a smooth transition for everyone. I’ve also grown as a communicator to break down silos and as a project manager to ensure timely progression of critical milestones. Now, I’m shifting my focus to the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and Asia–Pacific region to help scale Evisort’s success across the globe. In addition, I am proud of the way I’ve supported my wife and teammates in their career advancement over the last six-and-a-half years. As a result of my performance within my organization and across our global team over the past four years, I was just promoted to director of sales development!
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I selected the BYU Marriott School of Business because I was inspired by its vision to “transform the world through Christlike leadership.” As I was exploring various graduate programs, this vision inspired me most because of its call to action. After speaking with alumni from a number of programs, I also realized that the BYU Marriott vision is much more than words on a wall. The alumni continue to live this vision long after graduation. I know I made the right choice because of the way this MBA program has challenged me to think critically in the classroom, but also for how it’s developed me into a better husband, community member, and leader outside the classroom.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? While my Workday team has benefited from many great MBA insights, the ADKAR framework for change management was one of the most helpful lessons for me. Our recent fiscal year started with the first major layoff in our company’s history, followed by many new changes to our prospecting tools and go-to-market processes. Helping my team develop awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement was critical because it helped my leadership team facilitate both individual and organizational change.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? On the first day of orientation, we were taught: “You’ll juggle a lot over the next two years. Some juggling balls are made of rubber and others of glass. Make sure to prioritize the glass.” As I prepare to spend two weeks in the Middle East and India, I’ve learned to ask for help and trust the community around me—especially from my supportive parents who care for my pregnant wife and for my coworkers who ensure I can step away from the business to fully engage in this foreign business excursion. The MBA experience is a collective effort, and I’m grateful for the village who has made it possible.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? One of my favorite Chinese proverbs says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” No matter where you find yourself in life, I know you’ll benefit from this top-ranked program because it equips you to lead with excellence, integrity, and faith in every aspect of your life. You’ll learn from distinguished faculty, connect with a world-class alumni network, and benefit from a personally transformative experience.
What was your biggest regret in business school? I’m grateful to approach graduation with no regrets. This is because I got out what I put into the experience—particularly by researching beyond the textbooks and by discussing case studies with family and friends. I learned to think critically, formed lifelong friendships, and grew holistically as a leader over these past two years.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Serving alongside Brooke Peterson in our MBA presidency, I witnessed her exceptional leadership and brilliant mind. I admire her bold move to further her professional career in Hawaii along with her genuine care for each member of our MBA cohort. She possesses a unique ability to connect with people on a personal level, and she never misses an opportunity to help you feel special. Keep inspiring, Brooke!
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? While I was accepted into other MBA programs, I chose the BYU Marriott Executive MBA program primarily for the in-person learning format. The bi-weekly weekend class structure also allowed me to maintain a regular travel schedule with Workday. I’ll never forget the bonding we shared during the Epic Learning Adventure in Moab, where we biked over slickrock, repelled down slot canyons, and navigated through river rapids. No online alternative can replace the in-class insights and out-of-class experiences that have developed us over these past two years.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? Another advantage of the BYU MBA program is the high value you receive for the reasonable cost you pay. That said, my wife and I knew this program would require us to save before and during the program to self-fund the tuition. As a result of a recent promotion and quicker-than-expected ROI from this program, we realize every sacrifice was worth it. Thank you to Workday for allowing me to spend Friday afternoons in the classroom, so that I can ultimately uplift my team.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? To create more leaders and uplift my community by amplifying my core values of purpose, passion, and performance.
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