After completing his undergrad, John Pearson became one of several students to be recruited by large companies. He found that his experiences while studying at BYU-Idaho helped prepare him to be a successful individual in the business world. Here’s what contributed to his success.
Immediately after Pearson graduated from BYU-Idaho, he was recruited by Walmart, one of the largest companies in the world. He was one of eighteen top candidates chosen from several universities such as University of Arkansas, the University of Florida, and the University of California.
Pearson expressed great appreciation for and attributed much of his success to the experience he gained while studying at BYU-Idaho. “I think that's one of the things I loved most; while not street smart, [we] were book smart. We were ready to add value right from day one, whether it was technical skills, presentation skills, or things that, early on in your career, allow you to add value right out the gate and subsequently get more opportunities to influence the company as you progress.”
Pearson also talked about the benefit of getting hands-on experience in his classes, one of which was an IBC business class. This class allowed the students to create and run their own businesses. This opportunity provided plenty of hands-on experience and real-life skills that were applicable to life in the business world.
The hands-on experience and the connections made in Pearson’s classes were all possible because of the small class sizes and the accessibility to the professors. According to Pearson, the teachers at BYU-Idaho put great value on teaching and helping their students to be successful in and out of the classroom.
“[The teachers] are dedicated to teaching rather than research. It allowed me to have intimate and personal relationships with my professors who came from the workforce…Those relationships helped me understand more of what I was stepping into and be able to add value right out the gate in my career at Walmart.”
Along with having great relationships with his professors, Pearson was able to create connections with his classmates as well. The emphasis on teamwork is something that is unique to BYU-Idaho. Pearson said, “… BYU-Idaho really encourages peer learning, and often. I think some universities encourage more of a competitive environment where it's individual-based. And the reality is, that's not how the workforce happens.”
Because BYU-Idaho fosters a sense of teamwork and camaraderie, students graduate having been already prepared to do well in a workforce environment. Pearson left school and was able to add value to his workplace immediately. His other colleagues were equally bright and qualified for the job, but they did lack some of the experience he was able to gain while still in school.
After eleven years, Pearson left Walmart. He is currently working as the Executive Vice President of Pet IQ, a publicly traded company that manufactures pet medications and runs vet clinics. The company has just surpassed a billion dollars.