At BYU-Idaho, the mission to build disciples of Jesus Christ is woven into the very fabric of both the academic and personal growth of students. In a recent podcast episode of Fulfilling the Mission, Shane Wasden, chair of the Department of Business Management, and Abby Seable, a senior business management major, shared their perspectives on discipleship, emphasizing how students are taught to lead with Christlike principles in their professional lives.
"They're just ordinary people finding extraordinary solutions," Wasden said.
Wasden, who has been with BYU-Idaho for almost a decade, shared his appreciation for the unique combination of business, student engagement and the gospel of Jesus Christ at BYU-Idaho. He shared how the faculty members teach students that the focus on discipleship in leadership roles allows students to integrate their faith into their careers, leading them to serve others and find innovative solutions.
"It's the best of all three worlds in my life. You get to be involved with business, you get to be involved with students and the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I love the mission and the purpose of building this up,” Wasden said.
For students like Abby Seable, this mission resonates deeply within her. She highlighted the community spirit at BYU-Idaho, and how the faculty and students strive to become more like Christ together. She believes that the university helps foster an environment where students can get the love and support they need from their peers and mentors, which builds them up and helps them grow spiritually.
"You can feel Christ-like love from both the faculty and the students around you, and you can just tell that everybody in this environment is doing the same thing. We're here to grow, and we're all here to learn and strive to become a little bit more like Christ,” she said.
Wasden shared how the Business Management Department places a strong emphasis on leadership and discipleship since it is almost written into their program. This approach aims to help students combine their faith and professional skills to serve others and lead with integrity in their prospective careers and personal lives.
Wasden wanted students to remember that discipleship is not confined to only some specific settings but can be applied in every area of life. He shared how the principles that students are learning about building relationships and interacting with others will bless them in more ways than they realize out of the classroom setting.
You can listen and watch the full interview with Shane Wasden and Abby Seable on YouTube or find it on Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts). You can also watch it below.