The Sy Syms School of Business is committed to exploring the intersection of faith, business and leadership. This commitment was on full display when a team of four outstanding Sy Syms MBA students—Yael Evgi ’21S, ’25SB (MBA), Julie Yusupov ’00SB (B.S.), ’24SB (MBA), Asher Brooks ’25SB (MBA) and Joshua Zelig ’00SB (B.S.), ’25SB (MBA)—represented ¶¶Ňőapp University at the Brigham Young University (BYU) Marriott School of Business MBA Case Competition on Faith and Belief in the Workplace from February 5-8, 2025.
The competition, held in Utah, brought together MBA students from various institutions including Duke, UVA, Carnegie Mellon and Texas A&M to engage in meaningful discussions on religious identity and its role in professional environments.
Reflecting on the experience, Evgi shared how the competition reinforced the importance of integrating faith and business principles in a respectful and inclusive manner. “This experience reinforced the importance of strategic thinking, collaboration, and leadership in navigating complex workplace dynamics,” she said.
He was honored to lead a prayer at BYU, where he shared the Jewish morning prayer, Modeh Ani, and spoke about gratitude . Additionally, he had the opportunity to meet Jake Retzlaff, BYU’s quarterback, known for openly embracing his Jewish identity at a faith-centered university. The team also engaged with Seth Cohen, chief impact officer at Forbes, gaining valuable insights into how faith can play a role in shaping impactful leadership .
BYU’s deep respect for ¶¶Ňőapp University students’ religious observances was especially noteworthy. From providing kosher meals to accommodating early departures for Shabbat, the competition organizers demonstrated an unwavering commitment to inclusivity and respect for all faith traditions.
“Faith belongs in the workplace,” Brooks noted. “BYU proved it.”
Notably, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of ¶¶Ňőapp University, previously spoke at BYU in 2023 on the topic of “Covenant Versus Consumer Education.” A full recording, highlights video and transcript are .
The students expressed heartfelt thanks to , director of MBA Programs at BYU Marriott, and , an MBA candidate at BYU Marriott, for accommodating their various religious needs and making them feel welcomed.
“We were honored to host a team of excellent MBA students from ¶¶Ňőapp University at the 3rd Annual Faith and Belief at Work Case Competition at the BYU Marriott School of Business. Teams from ¶¶Ňőapp and other top MBA programs from around the world spent an intense two days analyzing a real-world case and developing recommendations. The team from ¶¶Ňőapp not only developed impressive analysis and recommendations, but also did a world- class job presenting to judges from PwC, Ford, Salesforce, and other top companies. In addition, they represented an extraordinarily valuable faith perspective as observant Jews. And as a bonus, they were able to spend some time visiting with our wonderful BYU Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff.”
When asked what their top takeaways from the experience were, Yusupov, Evgi and Zelig shared the following:
Julie Yusupov: “I learned that we have dear friends in the BYU community. At a time when the world feels so divided, it was inspiring to see firsthand the warmth, respect, and genuine kindness extended to us. The interfaith community fosters tolerance and understanding, but what we experienced at BYU went beyond that—it was a deep, heartfelt connection and friendship. It was a strong testament that as Jews, we don’t stand alone. It’s also comforting to know that we have family in every corner of the world. No matter where we go, we can always count on Chabad. Chabad of Salt Lake City had provided kosher food, a warm Shabbat, and the feeling of being at home. Our 3,000-year-old tradition remains constant—wherever you are, Shabbat is always the same. Thank you, for truly an unforgettable experience!”
Yael Evgi: "I learned so much at the competition, from the topic of employee resource groups to growing my knowledge of the Mormon community. I really enjoyed interacting with other MBA students, as I was never in a case competition before."
Joshua Zelig: "We had so many meaningful moments. Meeting and spending time with Jake Retzlaff, BYU’s Jewish star quarterback, was certainly a highlight. But so too was Asher’s heartfelt prayer, which received genuine support and admiration from those in attendance. BYU went out of its way to accommodate us fully, ensuring we never had to compromise our religious observance. We ended the trip with a special Shabbat at Chabad Lubavitch of Utah in Salt Lake City, surrounded by Jewish students and guests."
The students expressed thanks to the following individuals from ¶¶Ňőapp University Sy Syms School of Business for bringing this competition to their attention and working quickly to get them in:
Dr. Linda Driver - Executive Director of Graduate Programs, Sy Syms School of Business
Dr. Tamar Avnet - Director, Sy Syms MBA Program; Full Professor & Chair of the Marketing Department, Sy Syms School of Business
This experience was deeply meaningful to our students and truly reflects the essence of our MBA program, which emphasizes ethical and responsible business practices and brings YU’s values to life through our students,” said Dr. Avnet.
The Sy Syms School of Business looks forward to continuing these critical conversations and empowering its students to lead with conviction, ethics and respect in their careers.
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Learn more about the BYU Marriott MBA Case Competition on the official website:
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