Panelists

 Brigitte C. Madrian is the Dean and Marriott Distinguished Professor in the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business where she has a joint appointment in the Department of Finance and the George W. Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics. Before coming to BYU, she was on the faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School (2006-2018), the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School (2003-2006), the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business (1995-2003) and the Harvard University Economics Department (1993-1995). She is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and served as co-director of the NBER Household Finance working group from 2010-2018.

Dr. Madrian received her Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and studied economics as an undergraduate at Brigham Young University. She is a recipient of the Skandia Research Prize for outstanding research on “Long-Term Savings” with relevance for banking, insurance, and financial services (2019), the Retirement Income Industry Association Achievement in Applied Retirement Research Award (2015) and a three-time recipient of the TIAA Paul A. Samuelson Award for Scholarly Research on Lifelong Financial Security (2002, 2011 and 2017). 

Brandon D. Fugal is a prominent business leader, recognized as a market leader nationwide, previous EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Western Region and Chairman and co-owner of Colliers International in Utah.

Before merging and partnering with Colliers International, Brandon was co-founder and owner of Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors, where his leadership was critical to the firm being recognized for 14 years in a row as the number one operator internationally with 30 offices in 11 states, and where he was recognized as the #1 agent globally. Colliers International is the number one commercial real estate firm in the Intermountain West, and one of leading commercial real estate firms in the world. Brandon was recently named 2022 CCIM Utah Office Broker of the Year, for which he has been recognized for the majority of the past decade.

A  lifelong  resident of Pleasant Grove, Brandon both attended Utah Valley University (leadership scholarship recipient) and served for a decade on the Utah Valley University Foundation Board. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, formerly on the Governor’s Economic Council (GEC) and the board of Junior Achievement. Brandon has four children, and he and his wife Kristen are active philanthropists and serve in the community.

“An organization’s business potential is intimately tied to its humanity. I love working for a company that leads the world in creating workplaces that help people thrive.” Mindi works to connect people with purpose. Whether she is working with clients or internal teams, her goal is to help cultivate workplace cultures where people feel connected to the greater purpose and impact of their work. Mindi’s experience has taught her that it is this connection, this soul spark, that inspires people to seek personal and professional progress—and that ultimately kindles powerful business breakthroughs. Mindi has 25 years of experience in sales, marketing and as a human resource executive. In each of these roles, she has focused on practices that strengthen the workforce through culture. Named Chief People Officer of the Year by Silicon Slopes in 2023 and one of Utah’s 30 Women to Watch in 2022 Mindi is SPHR and SHRM–SCP certified. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and an MBA from the University of Utah.

 Since 2015 Jennifer A. Smith has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Zions Bancorporation. Smith is responsible for overseeing all technology and operations departments including Enterprise Information Security, Enterprise Data and Analytics, Information Technology, Deposit & Treasury Operations, Enterprise Loan Operations, and the Customer Care Center. Prior to joining Zions Bancorporation in 2006 as the Chief Audit Executive, Smith held senior management roles in technology and operations risk management and internal audit at Wells Fargo. In 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Smith was honored as one of American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking; was recognized by Utah Business as a CxO of the Year in 2019; received the Women Tech Council’s Technology Leadership award in 2018 and the Decade of Impact award in 2024; and received YWCA Utah’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Social and Business Innovation in 2023. Smith holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from the University of Utah.  She serves on The Children’s Center of Utah’s Board of Directors, the Women’s Leadership Institute’s Board of Advisors, and the University of Utah’s College of Social and Behavioral Science’s Advancement Board. She has previously served on the boards of YWCA of Utah, United Way of Greater Salt Lake, the Berkana Institute, and People Helping People, and as a mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Utah and Women Who Succeed