I found a passion for management of people and projects while serving as a Marine Corps Logistics Officer. Once I made the decision to leave active duty, I decided to go to graduate school in order to maximize my competitiveness in the civilian sector. An MBA was the graduate education option that was most relevant to my natural skills and passions. I chose the Leeds MBA because of the great local economic climate, strong academic curriculum in real estate and renewable energy, and ideal geographic location.

How has your experience been as a veteran in the Leeds MBA program?

The leadership, interpersonal communication, and time management skills that I mastered during my time as an active duty officer have played a major role in my academic success in the MBA program. In addition, 15% of the MBA cohort are veterans. This gave me a strong community when I first started the program. I leveraged my military experience and local military network during my networking efforts with business professionals. My military experience was a critical factor in me getting a summer internship with a local commercial real estate development company.

During my time in the MBA program, I have continued to serve as a Marine Corps reservist. This has been rewarding since it has allowed me to continue my connection with the Marine Corps. However, it can also be very challenging to achieve a work/life balance with the combination of my military and MBA commitments.