Homegrown Leadership
by Justin Walker
Wesley Bryan
MBA ’16
Director of Business Development; Southwestern Health Resources
Waco, Texas
Wesley Bryan has never been one to shy away from complexity. Whether navigating the dynamics of a family board game or the challenges of healthcare, he’s always been drawn to environments at the intersection of thoughtful strategy and human connection.
Growing up, Bryan lived an active lifestyle, both physically and mentally. He enjoyed playing a variety of sports, including soccer – which sparked a passion for the Premier League and his favorite club, Chelsea F.C. He also liked playing board games with his family, building strategies and savoring victories.
“There are a lot of good memories of getting together throughout the years,” he said. “Thankfully, none of it ended up with us coming to blows over breaking the rules.”
As college rolled around, Bryan turned his attention to Baylor University. He was familiar with the culture, as his grandparents and parents attended Baylor, so he knew it would be a good fit for him.
“It was a logical next step in my education path,” Bryan said. “I’m not sure I questioned it much past that.”
Bryan entered Baylor as a Psychology major, spending a lot of time in the newly constructed Baylor Sciences Building. He appreciated the opportunity to work with and learn from great faculty who helped shape his time at Baylor. He initially chose the major as a path into medicine, and also saw during the program there was a lack of emphasis on mental health at the time.
Bryan realized he had a passion for the subject and pursued opportunities in the field. During his undergrad, he interned with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The experience was formative, he said, as he worked alongside inspiring clinicians trying to make a difference.
After earning his BS in Psychology in 2013, Bryan decided to pursue a master’s degree to better prepare himself for his career. Over the next year, he applied to and toured universities across the United States and was even accepted to several programs. But something kept pointing him back to Baylor.
“Baylor was and still is a well-respected program,” Bryan said. “But when I interviewed at Baylor, they spoke about teamwork. I can’t say that any other program talked about it. Having had exposure to the healthcare environment, teamwork is fundamental. It’s working with providers and nursing staff. It’s working with payers. It’s working with employers. It’s working with administrators and lobbyists and so many other folks from various walks of life.”
That distinction was enough for Bryan to choose Baylor’s Robbins Healthcare MBA Program, which he started in 2014. Housed within the Robbins Institute for Health Policy and Leadership at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business, the Robbins Healthcare MBA develops the analytical and interpersonal skills required for early-career executive positions in healthcare.
Bryan immediately experienced the benefits of the program, specifically through his interactions with faculty and program staff.
“I had a great experience working alongside great faculty who were driven toward our success,” he said. “They often talked about their faith and how that intersects into not just healthcare but into business, as well.”
It wasn’t just the faculty, Bryan said. The alumni were also incredible resources for students to learn from and network with. The program also exposed Bryan to a variety of different industry professionals through visits to local healthcare organizations and industry conferences, such as the American College of Healthcare Executives Annual Congress.
“That was one of the standout aspects of the program,” Bryan said. “It’s not just the book smarts that come with academia, but the ability to interact with folks of higher positions – those in the C-Suite – and how we can interact with them as students who want to contribute to the healthcare industry in a positive way.”
During his MBA program, Bryan interned with Ascension Providence Hospital in Waco, and joined full-time shortly after. In 2021, he joined Baylor Scott & White Health, working his way up from client manager to director of Strategic Growth and Employer Solutions.
Bryan’s focus at work is rooted in a desire to help others – to help healthcare change for the betterment of people. His faith plays a major role in that.
“There are many, many nonprofit companies that have faith-based roots,” he said. “For me personally, I am so close to the healing of others and the provision of healing. Many times, I think of what Jesus did as the true Healer on Earth. It should be us trying – even in the slightest way – to exemplify what He brought to earth and the way He loved and healed people.”
Bryan continues to look for sustainable solutions in healthcare administration – solutions that treat the whole person, not just their ailment. His passion for helping others has opened the door for new professional opportunities, as he entered a new role as the director of Business Development for Southwestern Health Resources in June 2025.
Outside of work, Bryan is an active member of Highland Baptist Church in Waco, where he met his wife, Erin, who is also a Baylor grad. They stay busy chasing their 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter, and enjoy traveling to Erin’s home state of Colorado when they can.
Bryan is thankful for the opportunities Baylor opened for him and his family.
“My career was jumpstarted by the Baylor MBA program,” Bryan said. “Sure, I probably could have made it in the world in different ways. But I wouldn’t be where I am today, and in many ways, my family wouldn’t be where it is today if it weren’t for the Robbins Healthcare MBA program. It didn’t just inspire me to be part of change in healthcare – it helped me grow as a servant leader with strength, character and conviction.”
