Four Pillars

Critical analytical thinking is the bedrock of decision making. At the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, analytical rigor is incorporated throughout the curriculum. From the use of data analytics and business intelligence tools to sophisticated financial and economic analysis to reading and analyzing business trends, our students are expected to develop mastery in communication and critical thinking skills.

The Huntsman School has made significant investments to help our students refine their analytical skills. One such investment is the Bloomberg Professional service, a desktop, real-time, massive data stream widely used by the largest financial services companies around the world. Students have the opportunity to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive job market by learning to use the same system that is relied upon by leading professionals every day.

Those who know how to find the right data, analyze it correctly and communicate that information to decision makers will prove valuable additions to any leadership team. That’s why analytical rigor is central to what we teach inside and outside the classroom at the Huntsman School. These skills give our students a competitive edge as they go out into a dynamic and global marketplace where leaders must have accurate information to make the kinds of effective, strategic decisions that will keep their companies one step ahead of the competition.

Regardless of whether you are starting a new business, working for a large corporation or building a nonprofit organization, innovation and initiative are necessary to success. At the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, we teach entrepreneurship as the new leadership model for the 21st century. Every organization can benefit from entrepreneurial leadership skills: innovative thinking, identifying opportunities, creating new products, acquiring critical resources, building strong teams, designing marketing strategies and managing growth and development.

We teach the skills of entrepreneurship through innovative curriculum, student-led initiatives and community-based programs. Our entrepreneurship minor, available to any USU student, is offered in-class and online, so that traditional and non-traditional students can take advantage of learning the skills of building their businesses and their careers. Our Small Enterprise Education and Development program (SEED) offers students an opportunity to apply what they are learning by helping entrepreneurs in developing countries. Another great source for entrepreneurs is the Entrepreneurship Club, a student-led organization that sponsors a number of competitions, workshops and conferences throughout the year.

The programs and activities offered by the Huntsman School of Business allow our students to bridge the gap between formal classroom education (knowing) and real-world experience (doing). We are not content to just discuss entrepreneurship; we put ideas into practice. It is all part of our mission to inspire students to “Dare Mighty Things.”

When you have “Jon M. Huntsman” as part of your name, ethical leadership better be one of your core values. Jon Huntsman’s name has long been synonymous with integrity and honesty, and our intention has been to see that legacy honored in the lives of our students.

Ethical leadership is more than just a catch phrase here at the Huntsman School of Business. Our students come to us with deeply held values, and we have a strong commitment to reinforce those values so that our students are prepared to lead lives of meaning in their professions and their communities. This desire is so ingrained in our culture that the late Dr. Stephen R. Covey wanted to join our school. Dr. Covey, a best-selling author and sought-after speaker, became the Jon M. Huntsman Professor of Leadership in February of 2010.

In the classroom, Huntsman students are exposed to examples of ethical dilemmas through the use of cutting-edge case analysis. Outside of the classroom, our students gain meaningful leadership experiences through participation in 19 different student clubs and access to regular visits from business and civic leaders.

Globalization has many dimensions. At a minimum, however, it means that irrespective of where we live or work, we interact with people and cultures from around the world. The ability to understand economic, social, cultural, and political trends, to apply that understanding, to analyze broad or specific challenges, and through that analysis identify opportunities, is the essence of global vision.

The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business demonstrates its commitment to developing leaders with a global mindset in a number of ways. Our International Business undergraduate degree program combines coursework in international business and the broader global context within which business and economic activity occurs, with applied international experience. The Global Learning Experiences combine instruction on the social and cultural context of countries with summer study in Latin America and Asia. These skills are also practiced in the spring break Global City Breaks in London and Paris.