BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright and other BYUH faculty, staff, alumni and students were among those who presented or attended the two-day conference in April for the Asia Pacific region in Taiwan. The conference was organized in conjunction with the BYU Management Society.
Participants were offered “opportunities for society members to develop career skills, build lasting friendships, and create meaningful business relationships,” according to BYU Management’s website www.byumsasia.org.
The first day of the conference presented ways on “developing and strengthening regional management society chapters” and “inspiring improvement in local efforts,” according to the website.
The second day was filled with workshops aimed to gain insight into business and to provide discussion about entrepreneurship, career development, and aspiring leadership for those attending.
President Wheelwright spoke in a video shown at the conference and gave advice to those present. “Let me leave you with three simple reminders for how you might personally leave a legacy of leadership as you think about what the new face of leadership looks like.
"First will be personal integrity and a commitment to promises. ... We need to commit to live lives of integrity and honesty, at all times and in all places. Second will be daily service and kindness to others. We can be a bright beacon in someone’s life through simple acts of service…Third is a consistent air of optimism. Looking on the bright side will bring new life to almost any circumstance and opens the door to solutions that might otherwise be overshadowed by gloomy perspectives.”
Helena Hannonen, professor of leadership and business at BYUH, described the event by saying it was “fabulous” and a “huge success.” The conference was unique because it “was planned by the local people and then the committee in the region, and then when we needed help, we brought the people in from Marriott School. This was done for the local population,” said Hannonen. “The level of enthusiasm and professionalism was really outstanding.”
Rex Chiu, a senior from Taiwan studying business management, attended and shared some things he learned from the conference. “[The presenter] told us when we dream, we need to dream big. Don’t fear. Always think. Be patient and always be happy and work hard,” he said. “Sometimes we stray and we have to have somebody to remind you. I just feel like it was very inspiring to hear those things.”
Speakers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Hawaii, Utah, and more gave presentations. Presenters included were Ross Chiles, Annie Wong, Chet Harmer, Helena Hannonen, Mark Macdonald, Jake Hsu, Keilani Briones, Rixa Oman, Juan Jui Chang, Candy Lau, Jonathon Wood, and more.
Helena Hannonen shared some other thoughts on how the conference helped not only those attending, but the BYUH campus by going out and serving others. “When students see there are opportunities for them in their home regions, they can see great opportunities for them and their families. It is fabulous to see how all of a sudden they are fulfilling the mission of BYUH.”
That mission is at the entrance of BYUH campus, “Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.”