UVU MBA

Stepping outside the classroom—and into leadership.

Recently, UVU MBA students took on a hands-on team-building excursion led by Professor Ryan Schill. The challenge? Rappelling down a cliff face and working together to get every team member over a 15-foot wall—without ropes.

This experience pushed students beyond their comfort zones and into real-world leadership: trust, communication, problem-solving, and resilience.

Moments like these reinforce what leadership really means—showing up, supporting others, and accomplishing more together than alone.

At UVU, leadership isn’t just taught. It’s experienced.

Meet Jonathan Craner, an MBA candidate graduating in August 2026 who is turning curiosity into real-world impact.

Originally from Texas, Jonathan moved to Utah five years ago to pursue higher education and expand his career opportunities. He began his graduate journey with a clear goal in mind: to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a consultant. But through his coursework and collaboration with faculty, Jonathan discovered a passion for artificial intelligence, specifically its potential to transform education.

Today, he’s channeling that passion into action. Jonathan recently launched his startup, LearnAI, and is actively working alongside professors to explore how AI can enhance student learning. As part of this effort, he is contributing to a field study with the Nebo School District to better understand how AI tools, when used thoughtfully, can deepen understanding and improve outcomes for students.

Jonathan’s ability to balance a full-time workload, graduate studies, and entrepreneurial ventures reflects his strong drive and commitment to meaningful innovation.

And if that wasn’t impressive enough, he’s also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

As he looks ahead, Jonathan plans to continue growing LearnAI and expanding its impact, with a focus on helping students learn more effectively in an AI-driven world.

Learn more about Jonathan and connect with him here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-craner-a40733105/

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent MBASA Networking Event, an evening focused on connection, opportunity, and career growth.

We appreciate the participation of industry partners, including Northwestern Mutual, WCF Insurance, REDO, Intermountain Health, Avetta, BambooHR, Goosehead Insurance, Schuff Steel, and Goldman Sachs.

These conversations, ranging from structured interviews to informal networking, create real pathways for our MBA students to engage with employers and explore what’s next in their careers.

A special thank you to our MBASA leadership for organizing an event that continues to strengthen the bridge between classroom learning and professional outcomes.

Leading well starts with living well. Take a moment today to breathe, recharge, and find your calm.