HSB Hosts Second Annual Guiding Principles Event

Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business (HSB) recently welcomed MBA students and alumni for the second annual Guiding Principles: A Christian Perspective on Leadership and Ethics on Wednesday, July 30. The unique event is designed to foster conversation around the intersection of faith, ethics and business leadership. 

Hosted by Baylor's Graduate Business Programs, the event took place both in person and virtually, giving attendees a chance to connect with business leaders who model principled decision-making. The evening included a networking portion, followed by a Q&A session with Matt Quade, PhD, the Kimberly and Aaron P. Graft Professor in Christian Leadership in Business, and guest speaker Scott S. Smith, BBA ’89, MBA ’90, retired chief human resources officer of DirecTV and AT&T Communications, Inc. 

As a Baylor alum, Smith shared that ethical leadership begins with clarity of purpose. 

“I’ve found that when you’re grounded in something bigger than yourself, it becomes easier to navigate complexity,” he said. 

Smith reflected on his own time in the C-suite, noting that real leadership often involves tough decisions and the ability to stand firm even when it’s uncomfortable. Throughout the discussion, he encouraged students to view their faith as a compass – something that can guide them through challenges, keep their values intact and serve the people around them.

The conversation offered practical and relevant insights, with Smith’s experience providing real-world examples of how faith and ethics intersect with leadership challenges students will face in their careers.

This was the first Guiding Principles event for David M. Szymanski, PhD, the William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of HSB. He was encouraged by the discussion, reinforcing the purpose and impact of the evening’s activities.

“This is exactly the kind of event we need to be having,” Szymanski said. “It brings in people who are living out their faith, who have strong Christian values and who can serve as role models for our students. These alumni are not just successful. They’re committed to using their experience to help form the next generation of leaders.”

Szymanski emphasized that while coursework is critical, it is often experiences like Guiding Principles that shape a student’s memory of their time in the program. 

“What stays with you are the people you meet and the moments of connection you experience – hearing someone speak, asking questions and seeing how values are lived out,” he said. “That is what makes HSB unique. It is about community, about building a network and about advancing Baylor’s Christian mission in tangible ways.”

The vision for this event is rooted in giving students practical ways to integrate their faith with their professional ethics. 

“This event is designed to give MBA students an opportunity to reflect on how their Christian beliefs can shape their ethical approach to business,” Quade said. “It is something that is unique to Baylor. Not many business schools create this kind of space, especially for graduate students.”

Quade also emphasized the importance of featuring leaders like Scott Smith, who has decades of C-suite experience. 

“Scott will serve as our Christian Leadership in Ethics Executive-in-Residence this fall, and this event marked his first opportunity to engage with students,” Quade said. “With his previous leadership roles at AT&T and DirecTV, he brings tremendous insight into what it means to lead with integrity at the highest levels.”

As the Guiding Principles series continues to grow, it reflects Baylor’s distinct identity as a place where faith and leadership are not only discussed but lived out. For students navigating the complexities of modern business, the series offers something rare: real conversations about how to lead ethically, faithfully and with purpose.