Benjamin Cole Williams

Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Business

“Passionate leader dedicated to community, change, and innovation in business and beyond.”

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Fun fact about yourself: I grew up spending summers in a rodeo town, so while visiting Costa Rica, I jumped in and volunteered to be the rodeo clown for multiple rodeo performances.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Master’s degree in Construction Management and Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Arizona State University

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Superintendent at Sundt Construction

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? EY, Dallas, Texas

Where will you be working after graduation? EY, Senior Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Co-President of BYU MBA Faith and Belief at Work Case Competition
• Strategy & Consulting Association President
• Cougar Consulting Group COO
• MBA Lead Consulting Mentor
• Supply Chain & Operations Communications Chair
• Kaizen Group Lead
• Co-organize food shelter service work with over 50 hours donated
• Led teams to success at the PWC Case Competition (1st place), the ICC International Case Competition (2nd place), and the TCU Global Supply Chain Case Competition (3rd place)
• Youth Group Leader
• Captain of innertube water polo team
• Provided free consulting work for large international corporation in the Philippines to improve logistical operations
• Organized and hosted a retreat for entire BYU MBA program

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I served as co-president of the MBA Faith and Belief in Work Case Competition. We invited MBA students from across the country to share ideas on how we can strengthen the workplace through diversity and expressions of faith. We ended up hosting 16 MBA programs from across the country and various sponsors from Equinox to PayPal and other companies—all who represented diverse faiths, including Christians, Scientologists, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, agnostics, and more.

I am most proud of this event because research shows that work satisfaction, happiness, and drive are affected by your ability to bring your whole self to work, including spirituality. From this event, I was able to see people from all walks of life find common ground and become friends. There’s a fundamental need for people to be understood. I think when you understand each other, you’re able to build a bond.  And when you build a bond, you’re able to work better together.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Before starting the MBA program, I was the superintendent on a $12B chip manufacturing construction project, where I was responsible for managing teams, schedules, materials, and more. It’s one of the largest construction projects in the US and involved some integrated and unique construction.

What I am most proud of is not the construction itself but giving voice to more than 5,000 workers on the project through a program that I helped develop and lead. As management, I noticed that I didn’t have enough eyes and ears, and I didn’t want those who were doing the hard work to feel disgruntled or frustrated. I wanted to give them a way to express their feedback.

In addition to my regular responsibilities, I invited workers from all our contracted partners to spend a lunch hour each week providing feedback on the project. We then passed that feedback on to the project managers. Sometimes, our solution was as simple as bringing in more portable restrooms so workers didn’t have to walk 30 minutes to use a bathroom. And sometimes we modified the schedule to ensure the environment was safe for workers during every stage of the project. These weekly lunches created a safe space for each group to discuss issues or concerns that we could address. I got to help people go from disdain and frustration in the workplace to fulfillment.

Why did you choose this business school? I had already been accepted and offered a substantial scholarship to another MBA program when my wife told me to talk to someone in the BYU Marriott MBA office. With most other MBA programs, my interactions felt like a transaction. At BYU Marriott, even from the first phone conversation, I felt like I was not just a number but that I truly mattered and was considered family. I believe that is because the MBA program at BYU Marriott is truly committed to its values, one of which is “Respect for All.” I am honored to be surrounded by so many unique individuals who respect one another for who they are. That truly translated during the inquiry phase of my application at BYU Marriott and has remained true in my experience here.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? MBA Director Dan Snow creates a demanding but fun atmosphere in the classroom. His expectation is excellence in work and playfulness in learning. At the end of the semester, Professor Snow put together a class period culminating everything we had learned. He explained that when you’re sitting at your desk at the end of the day, working for a company and trying to figure out what to do, it comes down to this: what you learned in the MBA program. In the class, he called on students to answer questions about what we learned from the different case studies we went over that semester. You didn’t know if you were going to be called on, but we were ready and eager to respond. He created such a dynamic and fun atmosphere that also pushed me to do my best.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Cougar Strategy Group is what we call an LDB or Learn Do Become. The class is set up to create a learning environment where students learn by helping run a real consulting company. Learn Do Become created a learning opportunity for MBAs and undergraduate students to help companies overcome their challenges.

After the first semester, I moved into a leadership position as the COO. I’d sit down with the professors outside of class and we’d talk through how to make the environment better. We discussed which teams were struggling, what tools they needed, and how to help those working with the clients to be successful. In this process, we decided to build a mission, vision, and values for the group. I had never done that before. It was an intense process, but once everything was finalized, we could structure everything around our mission, vision, and values.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? In January, I helped plan the Spring Haven retreat event. We rented out a lodge, and 110 first- and second-year MBA students came together to network and connect. I love bringing people together and helping them have a good time. We had dinner and played games. It was a really fun environment. I didn’t just love the retreat because I helped plan it but also because I got to enjoy time with people in the program who have helped me. It allowed all MBA students to spend time together outside of the classroom and build connections that would help them throughout the rest of their time in the program.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would not change a thing. Perhaps if you ask me in a few years, I might have some ideas. I made a promise to myself that I would not let a single opportunity pass me by, and I have strived to get involved in everything the MBA program has to offer. My MBA experience changed my life for the better and shaped how I view the business world. Even the ups-and-downs are part of the whole experience and have helped transform me into something new—something better.

What is the biggest myth about your school?

Myth: Going to a faith-based school is boring.

Reality: It is anything but boring. I was happily surprised to find amazing, fun events happening every night on campus. The real problem is trying to get all of the schoolwork done and have time for all the events on campus.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Provo, Utah is so close to both the outdoors and to the city. My backyard literally has some of the best skiing, hiking, and national parks in the world. At the same time, I get all of the benefits of being in the city and I have an amazing city life.

What surprised you the most about business school? What surprised me most about business school is how dedicated the alumni network is to helping students succeed in their career goals. I started the MBA program planning to go back into construction management in an administrative role. So I reached out to the network asking about construction management after an MBA, and I connected to 10 alumni in the field. I realized construction management wasn’t what I want to do, so then I looked at consulting. I had a similar experience when I reach out to alumni. There were so many people willing to talk to me because I was a BYU Marriott MBA student. Overall, I ended up talking to more than 100 people, from big companies to small boutique firms. It was a cool experience.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Ben Nzojibwami, the current BYU MBA Student Association President. He has the most amazing story and is the kindest man. He comes from a very humble background; he originally escaped genocide in Africa. He became a teacher in Canada and is now in the BYU Marriott MBA program. He is kind, intelligent, genuine, and understanding. He is someone who everyone wants to be around because he makes you feel like a million bucks. I often look to his example of how to treat people with dignity and respect.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. I want to work and live in another country.

2. I want to become a mentor for others and help them reach their full potential.

What made Ben such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Ben Williams has brought three things to our program that are invaluable. First, he brings an analytical rigor and ability to push thinking down to the level or core assumptions that has benefited every project he’s worked on for my group. Second, he has high standards for what represents quality work. He has raised the performance expectations for our entire group. Finally, he brings a passion for consulting and career development that infects others and encourages them to try new things.”

Paul C. Godfrey
William and Roceil Low Professor of Business Strategy
Management Department Chair

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