Profiles
This section will give
you some valuable "peer" perspective from former officers who have transitioned into business and also from officers who have chosen to remain in the military.
Meet John Frederick
Current Position: Assistant VP, Wachovia® Bank, N.A.
Education: MBA William and Mary 2003
As Relationship Manager for large corporate accounts with $15 million to $1 billion in annual revenues, John advises companies on managing loans and cash accounts.
Why I chose an MBA:
It was a good way to transition out of military service. As an Army Captain, I didn't think the jobs and experience I had were enough to give me what I needed when I got out. I felt the MBA would give me that next leg up.
Military and MBA skills used in my current position:
My time management and project leadership skills are used frequently, while strategic, long-term planning is probably the most important for managing clients and internal teams. Military service taught me to think about the future as well as what's around the corner, and helped me refine my multitasking skills, which has proved invaluable. The MBA gave me the financial analysis skills and business acumen I needed to succeed in a corporate environment.
How the MBA has met my expectations for career readiness:
The MBA definitely prepared me more for the corporate world. The robustness of the program and its coverage of the many different sides of financial management have been of great value and have helped me to stand out a little among management.
The advantages my military background has given me over other MBA job candidates:
The MBA opened many doors for me, and when it came to competing against other MBAs for the same position, my military service helped me close the deal. It provided the quantifiable real-world experience and leadership qualities companies were looking for, which gave me a leg up on everyone else. Time management and project planning skills have set me apart from my MBA counterparts. The ability to function well in pressure situations has also made me more competent and capable. I've interviewed with senior managers who don't have the comparable leadership experience I have or the daily management of large groups of people.
The greatest benefits my combined military and MBA skills bring to an organization:
My military experience and the MBA combined give me a well-rounded picture of situations and how to handle them.
What to look for in an MBA program:
I would look at quality of education for the price. Going to the most expensive school doesn't mean it will pay off in greater earnings later. There are a number of regional schools with excellent programs and I have found that my career opportunities and earnings have been just as good as my counterparts who went to the bigger schools.
Advice for officers considering an MBA:
Network inside the military channel and talk with others who went through an MBA program before you apply. It will help you identify schools who understand, recognize and value your military background and help you get in front of the right people when you interview for your MBA.
Meet Andy Rogers
Current Position: Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force, Chief, Enterprise Interoperability and Future Capabilities.
Currently deployed in Kuwait in support of troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa.
Education: BS Computer Science 1983, MBA 1992
Military and MBA skills used in my current position:
I frequently call upon my MBA skills for fiscal and marketing needs in order to justify budgets and "sell" the decision makers on the worthiness of projects for taxpayer funding. Everything from people management to production scheduling has an MBA reference above and beyond the technology aspects of my job, and my military training in time management and leadership are important as well.
How the MBA has met my expectations for career readiness:
The MBA has given me a more broad academic background to draw upon. The marketing concepts alone have been very useful for every major project and program change I've executed.
Traits the Air Force is looking for in an MBA:
The ability to discuss requirements with a better eye on fiscal reality, as well as the business practices to make large projects successful. MBAs are expected to present proposals for viable projects and deliver results above the standard military process.
The greatest benefits my combined military and MBA skills bring to an organization are:
The ability to see a bigger picture, from acquisition through program development, and how it applies to the national interest as well as the local organization's success metrics. Understanding business concepts helps justify decisions concerning procurement, maintenance, or elimination of major force programs.
What to look for in an MBA program:
A strong rating in the business world and adequate facilities to support the most up-to-date principles of production and service delivery.
Advice for officers considering an MBA:
The MBA is a huge commitment in time and work, but it is worth it in the long run if your goal is moving into leadership positions. Being successful is more than accomplishing the mission. In tight fiscal times, it requires a balance between mission and efficiency. Find a good program that focuses on both edges of that sword.
CEO Perspectives
Most corporate CEOs and chairmen say their military service played a huge role in their subsequent careers.
"It was an important part of my experience," says Joel W. Johnson, chairman and CEO of Hormel Foods. "At Hormel, we frequently see job candidates who have served their 20 years in the military. Now they're in the early to mid-40s and have time to start a second career. They come with a degree of maturity and experience that's far beyond what we find in the typical college classroom."
"I don't think a day goes by that I don't use some of the leadership skills I learned in the Navy," says Anthony Earley, CEO of DTE Energy. "One of the things any branch does is teach leadership the way no organization does." Speaking of the service, Earley says, "It's kind of our preferred supplier of talent because people are so well-educated, so well-trained."
"When you've been in the military and under the pressure you experience there - in many cases life and death pressures - it's a lot easier to face the pressures of the business world." says Gary L. Neale, president and CEO of NiSource.
Meet John Frederick
Current Position: Assistant VP, Wachovia® Bank, N.A.
Education: MBA William and Mary 2003
As Relationship Manager for large corporate accounts with $15 million to $1 billion in annual revenues, John advises companies on managing loans and cash accounts.
Why I chose an MBA:
It was a good way to transition out of military service. As an Army Captain, I didn't think the jobs and experience I had were enough to give me what I needed when I got out. I felt the MBA would give me that next leg up.
Military and MBA skills used in my current position:
My time management and project leadership skills are used frequently, while strategic, long-term planning is probably the most important for managing clients and internal teams. Military service taught me to think about the future as well as what's around the corner, and helped me refine my multitasking skills, which has proved invaluable. The MBA gave me the financial analysis skills and business acumen I needed to succeed in a corporate environment.
How the MBA has met my expectations for career readiness:
The MBA definitely prepared me more for the corporate world. The robustness of the program and its coverage of the many different sides of financial management have been of great value and have helped me to stand out a little among management.
The advantages my military background has given me over other MBA job candidates:
The MBA opened many doors for me, and when it came to competing against other MBAs for the same position, my military service helped me close the deal. It provided the quantifiable real-world experience and leadership qualities companies were looking for, which gave me a leg up on everyone else. Time management and project planning skills have set me apart from my MBA counterparts. The ability to function well in pressure situations has also made me more competent and capable. I've interviewed with senior managers who don't have the comparable leadership experience I have or the daily management of large groups of people.
The greatest benefits my combined military and MBA skills bring to an organization:
My military experience and the MBA combined give me a well-rounded picture of situations and how to handle them.
What to look for in an MBA program:
I would look at quality of education for the price. Going to the most expensive school doesn't mean it will pay off in greater earnings later. There are a number of regional schools with excellent programs and I have found that my career opportunities and earnings have been just as good as my counterparts who went to the bigger schools.
Advice for officers considering an MBA:
Network inside the military channel and talk with others who went through an MBA program before you apply. It will help you identify schools who understand, recognize and value your military background and help you get in front of the right people when you interview for your MBA.
Meet Andy Rogers
Current Position: Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force, Chief, Enterprise Interoperability and Future Capabilities.
Currently deployed in Kuwait in support of troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa.
Education: BS Computer Science 1983, MBA 1992
Military and MBA skills used in my current position:
I frequently call upon my MBA skills for fiscal and marketing needs in order to justify budgets and "sell" the decision makers on the worthiness of projects for taxpayer funding. Everything from people management to production scheduling has an MBA reference above and beyond the technology aspects of my job, and my military training in time management and leadership are important as well.
How the MBA has met my expectations for career readiness:
The MBA has given me a more broad academic background to draw upon. The marketing concepts alone have been very useful for every major project and program change I've executed.
Traits the Air Force is looking for in an MBA:
The ability to discuss requirements with a better eye on fiscal reality, as well as the business practices to make large projects successful. MBAs are expected to present proposals for viable projects and deliver results above the standard military process.
The greatest benefits my combined military and MBA skills bring to an organization are:
The ability to see a bigger picture, from acquisition through program development, and how it applies to the national interest as well as the local organization's success metrics. Understanding business concepts helps justify decisions concerning procurement, maintenance, or elimination of major force programs.
What to look for in an MBA program:
A strong rating in the business world and adequate facilities to support the most up-to-date principles of production and service delivery.
Advice for officers considering an MBA:
The MBA is a huge commitment in time and work, but it is worth it in the long run if your goal is moving into leadership positions. Being successful is more than accomplishing the mission. In tight fiscal times, it requires a balance between mission and efficiency. Find a good program that focuses on both edges of that sword.
CEO Perspectives
Most corporate CEOs and chairmen say their military service played a huge role in their subsequent careers.
"It was an important part of my experience," says Joel W. Johnson, chairman and CEO of Hormel Foods. "At Hormel, we frequently see job candidates who have served their 20 years in the military. Now they're in the early to mid-40s and have time to start a second career. They come with a degree of maturity and experience that's far beyond what we find in the typical college classroom."
"I don't think a day goes by that I don't use some of the leadership skills I learned in the Navy," says Anthony Earley, CEO of DTE Energy. "One of the things any branch does is teach leadership the way no organization does." Speaking of the service, Earley says, "It's kind of our preferred supplier of talent because people are so well-educated, so well-trained."
"When you've been in the military and under the pressure you experience there - in many cases life and death pressures - it's a lot easier to face the pressures of the business world." says Gary L. Neale, president and CEO of NiSource.
All content Copyright © 2005, Military MBA - all rights reserved.