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A career path that many students at the Kennedy Center and in Liberal Arts might not immediately consider is venturing into the tech industry. Yet, prominent figures in tech—like the founders of SaltStack, WorkFront, and Canopy; senior leaders at Apple and LinkedIn; and even the CEO of Microsoft Japan—are all Kennedy Center graduates. This year, Fortune Media invited 20 students from BYU, including various majors across campus, to attend the 2024 Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference in Park City. This exclusive event gathers pioneering technologists, Fortune 500 leaders, savvy investors, notable entrepreneurs, and global influencers dedicated to tackling significant business issues and exploring technology's role in resolving them.
BYU students attended the conference for the second consecutive year. This opportunity allowed students to delve into careers in technology through the narratives and insights of industry leaders driving technological innovations, including artificial intelligence. Keynote speakers featured David Neeleman, founder, chairman, and CEO of Breeze Airways; Nathan Poon, co-founder and CEO of Avol Aerospace; Jennifer Fleiss, co-founder of Rent the Runway; and Aloe Blacc, singer and rapper, among others. These speakers are at the forefront of innovation in business and technology and connecting the world of business and technology in global spaces online.
Reflecting on the experience, BYU student Mauricio Morales says, “This year, we identified a group of students from diverse backgrounds and fields of study—social sciences, business, finance, math, and graduate studies. We believe that Fortune Tech is not just for some but for all who can benefit from it. That is why we always aim to bring a group of students who are critical thinkers and open to a world of opportunities.” He noted the fulfillment in seeing BYU students gaining exposure to fields vastly different from their usual experiences. “It pushes us to think outside the box and to think interdisciplinarity. At the end of the day, that is how the world works; we cannot succeed in isolation,” he added.
Ludwig Van Heinen, a sophomore majoring in Economics, shares his experience: “At the 2024 Fortune Brainstorm Tech Conference, you meet tech entrepreneurs involved in the fashion industry, the food industry, humanitarian, education, and even the arts.” Heinen reflects, “Attending this conference made me realize that you can study anything, work in any field, and convert to tech. All you need is a good idea. The tech industry is all about ideas and how to materialize them.”
The tech industry is often associated with STEM or business majors, but humanities students can also find their place. Ben Jensen, a senior in interdisciplinary humanities, found that the conference bridged the gap between technology and humanities for him. “The conference enabled me to interact with business leaders with whom I found common ground and shared principles over what I am developing here at BYU (such as information literacy, team leadership, clear communication, and more). Doing so helped me realize that I have a place within the tech industry if I choose it—even if I don't have explicit tech background skills,” he stated.
The KennedyTech initiative continues to guide liberal arts students toward careers as founders, senior leaders, product managers, marketers, and more. Launched by Chad Heinrich, a technology executive at DOMO and international relations alum, over a decade ago, the initiative is expanding. Anya Searle, a senior majoring in American Studies, remarked, “As a humanities major, I expected to feel out of my depth at a tech conference. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the skills acquired through my Kennedy Center courses and internships prepared me to feel comfortable networking with Fortune 500 tech executives. It felt like I belonged there!” This sentiment is precisely what the KennedyTech initiative aims to foster in the future.