Business Management
Macayla Mills '27
Why did you decide to study business management?
I chose to study business management because of the solid foundation it provides that allows me to explore other career paths including marketing. My interest sparked in high school when I started selling clothes online. I love the aspect of managing my own business operations including marketing, customer service, inventory and pricing. Selling clothes has definitely given me real-world experience in understanding how to manage a business and make decisions that directly impact its growth.
What classes have been your favorite so far?
Marketing and Principles of Management have been two of my favorite classes so far. In Principles of Management, I developed a strong understanding of how organizations operate, the fundamentals of effective management practices and how to effectively implement these strategies in the workplace. In my marketing class, I really enjoyed exploring the basics of marketing strategies and gaining insight into how your target audience can drive a company's overall goals.
Tell us about a unique experience you've had or a project you've worked on for your major.
As the PR coordinator for the business club, I've had many valuable opportunities outside of the classroom. It's been a great opportunity to network with professionals and gain valuable insight into the business industry, helping me build support for my career in the future. I've also enjoyed hearing about different professions every week during our club meetings as it has expanded my knowledge of various career paths.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in business management?
If you're thinking about majoring in business management, my advice is to take every opportunity as you never know what doors could open up. Always be open to learning new skills as the business world is ever-changing, and the more adaptable you are, the more opportunities will come your way.
What's your dream job?
Currently, my dream job is to either be a social media manager or start my own business. I've always had a passion for entrepreneurship and would love the opportunity to bring my creative ideas to life. I also enjoy coming up with ways to market your online presence and build a strong brand identity that resonates with your audience.
Who are three people who have made a difference for you at Whitworth?
My track coach, Brandon Howell, has had one of the biggest impacts in my life here at Whitworth. He has given me the opportunity to continue my athletic career at the collegiate level and has helped me become a more confident person on and off the track. His dedication and consistent support have motivated me to push past my limits and have taught me the value of hard work.
Sierra Bryceson (associate director, internships & external relations) has made a huge difference for me at Whitworth. She has been a great mentor in the business club I am a part of as she has many ideas to help our growth and success. Sierra has also taken the time to understand my career goals and connect me with valuable resources and internship opportunities.
Tara Lambert (assistant professor) is a great resource and mentor for me here at Whitworth. She consistently offers guidance and support on my academics and career planning. Tara always takes the time to listen to my questions and offers thoughtful advice to help me make informed decisions for my future as well.
Why did you choose to attend Whitworth?
I decided to attend Whitworth because it offered everything I was looking for. I love the small class sizes that allow me to build close relationships with my professors, the great business program they have to offer and the opportunity to continue running track.
Aaron Cox '26
Why did you decide to study business management?
One of the main reasons I decided to study business management was my experience in DECA. DECA was high school's version of business club that included competitions. DECA really made me realize how many avenues you can take with business and the many facets in which you can improve your character, community and find a company where you feel valued.
What classes have been your favorite so far?
Management Information Systems, Human Resource Management, and Biology of Genes, Cells & Evolution. The first two, obviously being focused on my major, really taught me a lot about management as a whole and ways to improve myself for future roles along the way, not to mention the wonderful professors. For the biology class, I have simply been really interested in biology since middle school, and being able to further my knowledge and have fun in the labs has been a rich experience.
Tell us about a unique experience or project you've worked on for your major.
A unique project that I worked on for my major is a recruiting paper for Human Resources Management. This paper required an in-depth process and complex thought into how a mock company is to grow its business into other storefronts and how the hiring process and onboarding process should be. This project helped me realize how important HR is when it comes to hiring and the many ways in which it can be done incorrectly.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in business management?
Some advice I would give is to try it all. Business management is broad for a reason. You dabble in marketing, human resources management, information technology, organizational behavior and more. You get to become someone who is good at a wide range of aspects that companies will be looking for, and if you really enjoy one of these classes that you are required to take, go more in-depth the next semester and learn more about the topic to really give yourself a career focus.
What is your dream job?
Currently, I am not so sure about a specific job title or position. But I know I want to be working in the healthcare industry either in administration or human resources. The reason I want to be in healthcare is because of the direct impact on people. Being able to aid in life-saving treatment as well as provide for those in need correlates with my own personal values and standards.
Who has made a difference for you at Whitworth?
Sierra Bryceson, the associate director of internships & external relations, continues to impact my life. She truly cares for the students here at Whitworth and wants us to succeed. She is knowledgeable, caring and kind. She is always there to answer any questions, help you find growth opportunities and more!
Zach Sun, my advisor and professor, is also very knowledgeable about his teachings and guidance for students. He not only has the best Blackboard course setup but is also very friendly and wants us to succeed. When it comes to his role as my advisor, he is open to hearing my ideas for classes and actions and to give his input to me and others.
Why did you choose to attend Whitworth?
I chose Whitworth for three main reasons – the small class sizes that allow for a more connected education environment; the differences that previous Whitworth alumni have made in my life through high school education; and the good financial package that was offered to me.
Kolby Goff '23
Why did you decide to study business management?
I decided to study business management because I want to eventually take over my family business, and I want to be able to manage it as well as possible.
What are some of your favorite classes so far?
So far, I have really enjoyed Principles of Management and Business Law the most because they have open discussions, which is great for collaboration and getting you to think outside of the box.
Tell us about a unique experience or project you've worked on for your major.
A unique project that I have worked on for my major was a marketing analysis on a company of my choosing. I did mine on Nissan Motor Company and found it very interesting because I was applying my education to a real-world company.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in business management?
Some advice that I would have for someone who is looking to major in business management is to try to join the leadership of a club or Whitworth organization to try and help improve on your leadership skills.
What's your dream job?
My dream job is to run my family's car dealership one day with my sister.
Who has been an important connection for you at Whitworth, and why?
An important connection for me at Whitworth has been Adeline Grow because she has helped me grow as a leader and she has made me more confident in my abilities. She is also the advisor for my club and has helped my club members and me with many different events and meetings.
How would you describe Whitworth?
I would say that it is a place that provides great opportunity. We are a very close community that is willing to help each other and the professors are willing to take extra time out of their days to sit down with students and help them improve. Whitworth also has an amazing career center that is great at helping set you up with internships to prepare you for your career.
Sergio Velasco Bono '22
Why did you decide to study business management?
I chose to study business management because I knew it would help me develop crucial skills such as human resource management and project management. It also continues to build on top of skills that I already have such as communication and time management.
What are some of your favorite classes so far?
My favorite classes have been Swimming for Fitness because it's nice to have a class devoted to yourself, and Interpersonal Communication because it helped me become more comfortable to speak publicly.
Tell us about a unique experience or project you've worked on for your major.
One unique project that I have worked on for my major is a GMMSO4 project that I did in my Principles of International Business class. We had to evaluate whether a U.S. company would be successful in other countries abroad and conducted detailed research to determine whether or not they should venture into that market.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in business management?
I would say that even if it's not your first choice it is a great program that teaches you skills that can be applied to other career paths.
What's your dream job?
My dream job is to be the chief operations officer (COO) of BMW. I love the car brand and becoming a COO is what I hope to achieve in the future.
Who has been an important connection for you at Whitworth, and why?
Someone who has been an important connection to me at Whitworth is Dr. Todd Friends because he's given me important pieces of advice from his professional experience that have guided me throughout my time at Whitworth.