CougarTales: The Podcast

Today on the show we talk to Heather Roberts, president of  the EMBA class of 2025. Heather currently works for DoTerra as Director of IT Customer Care and PMO.  In this episode, we get to know Heather. She shares the story behind her  middle name, her love of flying, and her work as an ASL interpreter. Heather also shares a significant life change she experienced just before starting the EMBA program and how she has navigated this transition with resilience and support from her cohort.  She even talks about how ice cream making has helped tie generations of her family together. Without further ado, let's start the show!

Today, we talk to Colton Lund, fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025.   In this episode, we get to know Colton. He shares his experiences growing up in a small town in Utah, from working on his family's farm, to studying mechanical engineering and his current role at ACT Aerospace. Colton also talks about his mission in Mozambique, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned.   We also get a glimpse into his personal life, including his love for his family, his passion for coding, and his thoughts on the transformative power of the MBA program.   He even teaches us what the best toppings for a hotdog.   Without further ado, let's start the show!

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your spooky one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. We're going to change up the pace a little bit tonight. With Halloween upon us, I thought it might be fun to share a couple of spooky stories.  The first story is actually a poem. It's called The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service. It was first published in 1907 as part of a book poetry called Songs of a Sourdough. It tells the story of the cremation of a gold prospector who freezes to death near Lake Lebarge in the Yukon.  The second story is The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. It is a short story told by an unnamed narrator who is trying to convince us of his sanity, while describing some not so sane actions. It was first published in 1843 and is one of Poe's better known works. I hope you enjoy tonight's episode. I apologize to anyone tuning in hoping to hear an interview with a classmate and gets this bait and switch of an episode. Thank you for humoring me.    Link to Mike Rowe's reading of The Tell-Tale Heart: The Way I Heard It Episode 142

Today on the show, I talk with the one, the only Ryan Hall.  Ryan is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025. He has worked in the construction industry for several years and recently started his own roofing business.  In this episode, we get to know Ryan. He shares about how he tries to be a solution finder, how a New Years Eve trip to Las Vegas turned into a significant spiritual experience, and how his background in sociology has helped him in business and in life. He even shares about how his gym habit helped him find love. With no further ado, let's start the show!

I talk with Nora Ballantyne. Nora is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and recently accepted a new role as a finance and operations officer for the BYU ARTS Partnership. In her new role, she administers grant funds, manages team operations for eight projects and initiatives, including marketing & communication, research, HR policies, and leadership development for each arm of our organization. In this episode, we get to know Nora. She shares about her love of music and art, how she has something in common with Indiana Jones, and her connection with the hit show, the Office.  She even shares about how a chance encounter at a Cricket Wireless store not only led to love, but a free cell phone too! With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the program, I talk with Lars Peterson. Lars is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and is a a Fleet Management Specialist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   In this episode, we get to know Lars. He shares about how his graduate studies at BYU required the right timing, some of the lessons he learned growing up providing care for his mother after a tragic car accident, and how the 2002 olympics helped change the trajectory of his professional and spiritual life. He even shares about his time as a member of the Team USA Nation Bobsled team.  Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it's podcast time!

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. Today on the show, I talk with Elizabeth Elder. Elizabeth is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and works as a Realtor for Lotus Real Estate.  In this episode, we get to know Elizabeth. She shares about how a job offer from BYU upended plans for her family, how she makes an effort to put motherhood first, and how as a realtor, she occasionally has to play the role of therapist. She even shares about her love of Polish pottery.   With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the program, I talk with David Chen. David is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and currently works as a compliance officer for Morgan Stanley. In this episode, we get to know David. He tells us about how he works everyday to put client interests first and protect the reputation of his employer. We also discusses how under appreciated family traditions as a youth can bring strength and comfort as an adult, how cold-calls can build character, and how some English words don't sound anything like what they describe. He even shares his best advice about personal finance. With no further ado, let's start the show!

Welcome to the Cougar Tales Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. Today on the show, I talk with Kevin Smith. Kevin is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and currently works as an Instrumentation and Controls Engineer with Burns and McDonnell.   In this episode, we get to know Kevin. We talk about lessons he learned becoming a Tae Kwon Do Blackbelt with his son, how his work travel to India has enriched his personal and professional life, and how following a girl to Utah was a good move.   He even shares about how he served as a missionary in the same chapel in Spain he was baptized in at the age of eight.

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. Today on the program, I talk with Emanuel Figueroa. Emanuel is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and currently works as a compliance officer for USAA. In this episode, we get to know Emanuel. He tells us about how works everyday to prevent money laundering, fraud, and financial crimes. He also recounts his experience in volunteering after an earthquake in Mexico City in 2017, and what carpentry has taught him about life. He even recounts the story about the bonus band that showed up at his wedding reception.  

Today on the program, I talk with Fabrice Ntambwe-Kalala. Fabrice is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and currently works as the Director of Global Product Finance at Nu Skin. In this episode, we get to know Fabrice. We talk about his experience growing up in Africa, what athletics has taught him about being a leader, and how Jesus was the best team builder and coach.  He even shares about how a MoTab CD gifted to his father played a critical role in his life. With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the program, I talk with Lizeth Kent. Lizeth is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025. Lizeth currently works as a Clinical Pharmacist Lead with Intermountain Medical Center.  In this episode, we get to know Lizeth. We talk about her conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ, her experience as an immigrant to Utah from Colombia, and why she wants to keep doing hard things.  She even shares how she completed her pharmacy clinicals, became a US citizen, and had her 1st child all on the same day. With no further ado, let's start the show!    

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. As the cohort of 2025 is off exploring Moab, I decided to do something a bit different this week. We're gonna sit down with someone who is not a current member of the class, nor is she directly connected to the EMBA program. I hope you'll indulge me as we feature a conversation with my 19-year-old niece, Ellie Corbridge. Ellie is just finishing up her freshman year at BYU Provo.   In this episode, we talk about what it's like to be a freshman at BYU in 2024. We also talk about some personal lessons Ellie has learned as she wraps up her second semester, and how even when professors give you a terrible grade, they're still rooting for your success.   We also talk about a bunch of other great stuff.   I hope you enjoy the conversation; I know I did.   With no further ado, let's start the show!

Welcome to Cougar Tales: The Podcast, your one-stop shop to learn about the students and faculty of the BYU Executive MBA Program. Today on the show, we talk with Gregg Paskett. Gregg is a fellow classmate of the BYU EMBA cohort of 2025. Gregg currently works as a Project Manager with the aerospace company L3 Harris. In this episode, we get to know Gregg. He tells us what he really thinks about Olive Garden. We also talk about how work in sales is growth inducing, how Dr. Pepper helps you make friends, and how hard times helps makes us more empathetic.  In addition to this, we talk about how his singing career led to love.  With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the show, we talk with Lee Petek, fellow classmate from the EMBA class of 2025. Lee currently works as a Sr. Principal Consultant with Cognizant, focusing on Workday Integrations. In this episode, we get to know Lee. We talk about his experience growing up in Taiwan, how he went from majoring in piano performance to business operations management, and of course his dog Rosie. We even talk about how a secret romance changed the trajectory of his life.  With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the show, we talk with Westlee Tonga. When Westlee isn't in class with the cohort of 2025 working as the VP of Alumni Relations, he works as director of sales development with Nice CXone and consults under his own company, Halo Sales and Strategy. In this episode, we get to know Westlee. We talk about leadership lessons from his time playing football at the University of Utah, his experience working in tech sales, and how the spirit can inspire us to help others.  In addition to this, we talk about the best anime cartoon ever made, Dragonball Z. With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the show we talk with Dr. Troy Nielson. Dr. Nielson is currently a professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources in the BYU Marriott School of Business. He previously served as the department chair of Business Management at Utah Valley University and worked as an associate professor of Management at CSU San Marcos. Dr. Nielson earned his BS in Information Management from BYU and his PhD in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management from the University of Utah.  In this episode we get to know Troy. He shares how he changed his stars when he changed his undergraduate major from Electrical Engineering to Information Management, why you should plan a trip to Hobbiton in New Zealand, and how to improve your resume with numbers. If that wasn't enough, Dr. Nielson shares his secret for getting the best seat in the house for concerts. With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the show, we talk with Michael Scott Peters, President of the BYU EMBA class of 2025.  Most recently, Michael has been working as a senior manager in corporate sales development for Workday. Don't be fooled, he's nothing like his namesake from the NBC sitcom.  It's hard to keep up with our Micheal both figuratively and literally. Not only has he been the Utah State University student body president, worked with Operation Underground Railroad in the Dominican Republic, and served as a youth observer to the United Nations, but he is also an accomplished long distance runner with plans to complete a 100 mile race in March of 2024.  And to add even more to our show, Michael teaches how we should be applying Pokemon into our life. 

Today on the program, we talk with Katie Neilson. Katie is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025. Katie most recently worked as President and Co-Founder of Assure, a venture capital fund administration company specializing in Special Purpose Vehicles, better known as SPVs.  In this episode, we get to know Katie. We talk about what it's like to run a business with your spouse, how owning a company is like having an extra child, and how "Summer of '69" may be the greatest karaoke song in existence.  With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today on the show, we talk with Keith Halterman. Keith is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025. When Keith isn't doing homework and spending time with his family, he's working as the VP of Engineering for the streaming platform Angel Studios, probably most well known for their original series, The Chosen. In this episode, we get to know Keith. He shares why he got into computer science, what he did when he lost a whole church group from Botswana in a foreign country, and how much he loves the mission of Angel Studios. In addition to all of this, Keith explains why he hated Windsor castle as kid.  With no further ado, let's start the show!

Today we talk with Paul Larsen. Paul is a Marketing Executive with the digital Marketing firm, Red Olive. In this episode Paul shares what his super powers are, whether you should attend a Sugar Ray concert, why he loves BYU, and which Avenger is the smartest avenger. Also, if you've ever been in class with him, you've seen that Paul just knows stuff. If you want to connect with Paul, he's on LinkedIn. Just tell him that CougarTales sent you. 

Today on the show, I talk with Davis Esplin. Davis is a fellow student in the EMBA class of 2025 and an Operations Strategy and Financial Analyst professional.    Davis most recently worked for Lendio as a Senior BizOps & Strategy Analyst and was unfortunately affected by recent layoffs at the company. If any of you out there have any connections looking for a strong organizational leader, especially within finance or operations, please reach out to Davis through LinkedIn.    In this episode, we get to know Davis. He shares why he loves rooms with white boards, what his experience was like being deported from the UK, and what it's like getting laid off. In addition to all of this, Davis tells us about the most haunted city in America.    If you want to connect with Davis, he's on LinkedIn. Just tell him that CougarTales sent you.   With no further ado, let's start the show!

In this episode we talk with Shelly Spencer. Shelly is the VP of Communications in the BYU EMBA class of 2025. She is also a Human Resources professional with the advertising firm R/GA. We learn about Shelly's background, talk music, discuss the BYU EMBA program, and Shelly even shares her most important health tip. You can connect with Shelly on LinkedIn, just tell her CougarTales sent you. 

Here is where we embark! In this episode I give a short background and introduce the podcast. Welcome to the show!