Michael Nelson

Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Business

“Former physical therapist and curious problem solver who values people and deep connections.”

Hometown: Medford, Oregon

Fun fact about yourself: Every year I celebrate National Homemade Bread Day (November 17) by making 25 to 35 loaves of bread and delivering them to friends and neighbors.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Undergrad: Brigham Young University – BS in Exercise Science

Doctorate: Hampton University – Doctor of Physical Therapy

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Jackson County Physical Therapy, Neurological Physical Therapist

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024?

Company: Copeland

Location: Sidney, Ohio

Where will you be working after graduation?

Company: Copeland

Role: Product Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Supply Chain and Operations Association, VP of Activities
• Savage Global Consulting, VP of Merchandise
• MBA Cohort Presidency, VP of Activities
• Spanish Fork Airport, Lead Consultant
• Utah College of Healthcare Executives, Student Committee
• BYU Healthcare Leadership Network Conference, Volunteer
• MBA Faith and Belief at Work Case Competition, Volunteer
• Lifting Hands International, Volunteer
• Sub for Santa, Volunteer
• Human Resources Management, Teaching Assistant
• Church Children’s Program Leader
• National Homemade Bread Day, Chair
• Organized and hosted an overnight retreat for the entire BYU MBA program
• Provided pro bono international consulting for a global export company based in Peru, identifying strategies to reduce logistical costs.
• Wasatch Cup Case Competition, 3rd place
• Global Supply Chain Savage Scholar

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I worked with a medical imaging company on a consulting project. The company had more than 2,300 employees across 20 locations—from administrative offices to manufacturing factories—around the world. Recently, one of their work locations unionized, which worried investors, so my team and I were brought on as consultants to assess the risk probability that employees at other company locations would unionize.

In collaboration with the company’s HR team, we identified factors that indicated risk of unionization based on a thorough analysis of account stakeholder preferences, employee survey feedback, and industry recommendations. We examined the data to uncover key drivers of employee engagement and discovered insights the organization had not previously considered. Using the identified factors and the data, we created a scorecard that could be used to assess each location’s risk of unionization.

After creating the scorecard to measure the risk factors, we presented our findings to the company’s CEO, chief human resource officer and executive board, who were impressed by our thorough preparation, recommendations, sources, and delivery. This project not only taught me the right way to approach a consulting project and how to effectively collaborate with clients to solve their problems, but it also gave me confidence in my ability to deliver something that would really make a difference for the company.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? While I was a neurological physical therapist, I worked with patients who had suffered brain injuries, and one of the major challenges I faced was the lack of collaboration between medical providers with whom I shared these patients. For example, many athletes recovering from brain injuries would see a primary care doctor, a speech therapist, and others in addition to seeing me for physical therapy—but there was no collaboration between providers to ensure coordinated care.

Seeing a need for providers to work together, I personally reached out to individual doctors and invited them to join a community concussion group. It was challenging at first, as some medical providers were resistant to collaboration—sometimes because they were mistrusting of new treatments or reluctant to pass off paying patients to other specialists. But six months later, I was able to bring together a group of providers from different disciplines—psychology, sports medicine, occupational therapy, speech therapy, vision therapy, athletic training, and physical therapy—to treat athletes with concussions.

Group members would refer patients to each other and share findings and treatment suggestions. As a result, we could help athletes get back to playing after two weeks instead of three months. I also worked with the group to provide high school athletic trainers and local physicians with community education and resources, and I recruited medical providers who were willing to collaborate and see their patients get healthier faster.

What began as a passion project to provide better support for my patients quickly gained traction as both medical providers and patients recognized the value of this collaborative approach. Together, the community concussion group overcame obstacles and developed a model that truly moved the needle in treating an underserved demographic in the community—which remains long after I’ve left healthcare.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose to attend the BYU Marriott School of Business because of its vision: “We aspire to transform the world through Christlike leadership.” As a medical provider, I was used to feeling a deep sense of purpose in my work—helping people and making a meaningful impact. When I decided to pursue an MBA, I wanted to expand my ability to influence and lead, but in a way that aligned with my values. BYU Marriott’s emphasis on ethical leadership and lasting impact resonated with me, and my experience here has reinforced my desire to be a force for good in the world.

BYU Marriott also has an impressive global network. I considered other local MBA programs, but those were more regional in their network and scale. While at BYU Marriott, I felt that I could connect anywhere and that I could go anywhere.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was John Gardner, who teaches the MBA quality management course. His passion for the subject is contagious, and he consistently emphasized the importance of improving professionally as well as personally. One of our most impactful assignments involved applying various quality management tools and frameworks to our own lives, helping us become better individuals—not just better professionals.

For my personal improvement project, I focused on finding greater meaning and peace in a busy life. Using FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Critical Analysis) charts, cause-and-effect diagrams, and the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) framework, I identified the root causes of stress, quantified associated risks, and pinpointed the highest impact areas for improvement. I had previously viewed these frameworks as strictly operational and business management tools, but I learned they could be used in other areas of my life.

Then, during my product management internship, I used the principles, tools, and frameworks I learned from Professor Gardner more than anything else. He helped me bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? One of my favorite courses was Power, Influence, and Negotiations. This course transformed my approach to negotiations by shifting my mindset from simply claiming a larger share to creating more value for everyone involved. The course emphasized collaboration, creative problem-solving, and uncovering the true interests behind each party’s position. As a result, I now view negotiations as a partnership—one where I can better understand the needs of others, leading to more effective and mutually beneficial outcomes.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA tradition is the orientation track trip. Before the academic year begins, all the students in the operations and supply chain track go on a three-day trip to Bear Lake, where we boated, go-karted, explored caves, and completed escape rooms. Those three days together allowed us to connect with classmates and professors on a personal level while having fun together. I remember my first year on the trip, we were out on the boat when I looked behind us at the two students on the tube: One was from China and one was from Taiwan. Even though we had just met and didn’t know each other’s backgrounds, we were able to bond and connect through spending time together.

The BYU Marriott MBA program is rigorous and demanding, but I felt that the trip gave me and the other students a glimpse of what matters most in the MBA experience: the people.

As we started the program, we were involved in many experiential learning opportunities—we were put in teams to consult different companies, from large corporations to small startups. When I was assigned my groups, I already knew the people because of that trip. Because we knew each other personally, there was more grace, understanding, and collaboration, despite the professional-level work that we were doing. Experiencing the MBA orientation track trip helped me see that everyone in the program is an ally, which creates a culture of support and collaboration that defines the BYU Marriott MBA community.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back on my MBA experience, one thing I would do differently is connect with my professors on a personal level earlier in the program. Several years ago, I spent time at a different university where the professor-student dynamic felt more formal and less personal, which led me to assume this was the norm at all universities. During my first year in the MBA program, I didn’t fully realize just how much my professors genuinely cared about my success. By my second year, I discovered that the professors at BYU Marriott truly had my back and were invaluable resources for case competitions, résumé advice, networking, and even life guidance. I wish I had made the effort to introduce myself to them earlier. Once I began to connect with them, I was able to build meaningful relationships that greatly enhanced my academic and professional journey.

What is the biggest myth about your school? Before starting, I believed the program would be full of competitive, hard-nosed financial gurus, and I wasn’t sure I would fit in. However, my experience has been the complete opposite. Everyone here is incredibly bright, driven, and competent, but what stood out most was the strong sense of community I found. If I were going through a tough time, I knew that each of my peers would drop what they were doing to offer help.

When I was a few months into the program, my nephew traumatically passed away. I was gone for a few days to attend the funeral and spend time with family. When I came back, I was given a note signed by people in the program, letting me know they were praying for me. I had never experienced anything like that in my undergraduate program or my doctorate program.

Amongst the students in the program, there is support without judgment—collectively, we’re there to help each other get an internship and be successful. I’ve realized that, for the rest of my life, I can always count on these classmates to be there for me, no matter what.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about Provo, Utah, is how much there is to do here. There are always community events, festivals, sports games, and performances that make it easy to get involved. Plus, the town is just minutes away from beautiful mountains, so you have quick access to outdoor activities whenever you want.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? I would say the movie Moneyball reflects the realities of business, especially when it comes to adaptability. In one scene, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) says, “Adapt or die,” emphasizing the importance of embracing change. His data-driven approach to building a baseball team challenges tradition and leads to success, demonstrating that in business, staying flexible and open to new ideas is key to growth.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? As part of our first-year core curriculum, we took a data analytics class where we were encouraged to integrate AI into every assignment. From there, we used AI for areas like analyzing large datasets and extracting key insights to designing logos, developing marketing plans, and even writing code for APIs and web scraping. If there was a way to apply AI, we tested it. Coming from a non-tech background, I learned just how much AI can enhance efficiency—automating tasks and freeing up time for more strategic, value-added work.

One of the most valuable ways I used AI was in my negotiations class. I would input my assigned role and my counterpart’s role into AI and then run through different negotiation scenarios to test my approach—a form of pressure-testing my arguments. This helped me see gaps in my arguments, anticipate objections, and refine my strategy in ways that wouldn’t have been possible through a traditional approach. It was like having a constant sparring partner, forcing me to think critically and adapt in real time.

Using AI in this way changed how I approach problem-solving. Instead of just automating tasks, I’ve learned to use AI as a tool for deeper thinking. It helps me uncover blind spots and get to stronger solutions, faster.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire Spencer Larson. He is one of the most selfless, kind, and humble people I have ever met. Spencer is always willing to go out of his way to help others, whether it’s sharing resources or offering support when someone needs it. He’s thorough, positive, and genuinely enjoys being a go-to person for anyone at any time. Spencer is the kind of person who would literally take the shirt off his back to help someone, and that level of generosity is something I deeply admire.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Own and grow a business—I want to acquire a business and focus on scaling it, improving operations, and creating long-term value.

Fund a BYU Marriott MBA scholarship—my experience in the program has been life-changing, and I want to give someone else the opportunity to benefit from it just as I have.

What made Michael such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Michael Nelson is an incredible member of the BYU Marriott MBA class of 2025. Michael was my student during the first semester of the program, and then he worked as my teaching assistant when I taught the same class a year later. As a student, Michael demonstrated incredible intellectual capacity and was a top performer in my class. He was so engaged in the classroom and constantly asked questions and made comments that elevated the learning of the entire class. He was also a team player who made his peers better. When he worked as my teaching assistant, he worked incredibly hard to ensure the first-year students had a good experience in my class. He was an influential mentor for many of the students, and he went above and beyond to provide useful feedback and to help students be successful. I am so thankful for the chances I’ve had to work with Michael and would give him my highest recommendation for this honor.”

Jeff Bednar
Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources
BYU Marriott School of Business

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