The Armed Forces Alumni Association (AFAA) is a student-led club on campus for service members and veterans from all military branches and nations. The AFAA mission is to help talented veterans transition out of the military to Harvard Business School, assist in the professional development and job search process of members, and raise awareness and support for the military among the members of the Harvard University community.
In honor of Memorial Day weekend, we checked in with seven AFAA students from the US military. Below are their reflections on transitioning to the MBA, bringing military experiences into the classroom, and applying to HBS.
Katie Brennan (MBA 2023)
Hometown: Miami, FL
Undergraduate university and major: Florida State University; Political Science/Criminology
Military experience: Active-Duty Military Intelligence Officer; future instructor at the United States Military Academy (USMA)
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA? I decided to pursue an MBA because I wanted to immerse myself in a challenging program that would further me personally and professionally. By taking a temporary step back from the fast-paced operational US Army, I felt I could better learn and grow as a person and a leader. I wanted to develop a new skill set and garner new insights to make me a more effective and diversified instructor for the cadets I will teach at USMA.
What do you think helped you stand out during the application process? I think my authenticity and ability to stay true to who I was helped me stand out during the application process. Often, we fixate on trying to be the complete package, however, some of the greatest lessons I have learned come from my weaknesses and failures. It is not if you fail but when you fail and how you respond that really matters.
How has your military experience set you apart from your non-military classmates? Being in the military makes you adaptable to any environment or challenges that you may face and helps put things into perspective. When you are accountable for the livelihood of your soldiers, you see how both large and small decisions can impact their lives for better or worse. These experiences help you better understand the responsibility you have toward the most important asset for any business: people.
Andy Franklin (MBA/MPP 2023)
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
Undergraduate university and major: United States Air Force Academy; History major
Military experience: US Air Force Intelligence Officer; current US Air Force Reserve Intelligence Officer
What do you think helped you stand out during the application process? As an Intelligence Officer, I had the opportunity to lead multinational teams all around the world and to work on some pretty challenging problems. I leaned on those experiences heavily throughout the application process– they helped me solidify what I thought I could bring to the HBS classroom and shape the impact I wanted to have after the earning my MBA.
What was the most challenging part about transitioning from the military to a full-time MBA program? It’s hard to replicate the sense of community that you feel being in the military, and every veteran has to make that transition. Having the Armed Forces Alumni Association, my section, and the larger HBS student body really allowed me to build a new community here at HBS.
What advice do you have for others in the military considering an MBA? Try to take your time applying to business schools. All of us in the military are used to putting our heads down to accomplish some task. Move through this one more slowly. For me, the application process was a chance to reflect on my life experiences up to that point and consider seriously what I wanted going forward.
Christy Talisse (MBA 2023)
Hometown: Visalia, CA
Undergraduate university and major: US Naval Academy; Quantitative Economics
Military experience: I spent 8 years in the US Navy as a Weapons Systems Officer flying in the backseat of F/A-18 Super Hornets
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA? I absolutely loved my time in the military and would do it all again in a heartbeat, but once my husband and I decided to start our family, we wanted more stability and time together and with our son. An MBA seemed like a natural transition to develop my business acumen and explore industries that interest me.
What advice do you have for others in the military considering an MBA? Don’t self-select out! Studying at Harvard had always been a dream of mine, but I never thought I’d be “worthy.” My husband encouraged me to apply and told me I owed it to myself to try. I hope you’ll do the same. Take your moonshot.
What has surprised you the most about your HBS experience? How many opportunities there are for community and meaningful relationships here! Between my section, the Armed Forces Alumni Association, and the MoMBA and Crimson Parents clubs, I’ve been able to connect with some of the kindest, most inspiring people who add color and meaning to the MBA experience.
Eric Deng (MBA 2023)
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Undergraduate university and major: University of Southern California; Political Science
Military experience: Aircraft Maintenance Officer, US Air Force
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA? Instead of pursuing an MBA directly after my service, I decided to join an edtech startup in San Francisco after leaving the Air Force because I thought that learning on the job would be the best way for me to learn about the key drivers of a business. And yet, after some time on the job, I started to see that there were several areas of the company that I couldn't quite contribute to, including marketing and growth challenges, overall company strategy and positioning, and corporate finance and fundraising. I also realized that in an academic setting, I could have additional time and resources to go deeper in certain subjects, especially if I wasn't busy putting out fires every day.
What advice do you have for others in the military considering an MBA? If you're considering an MBA, reach out to veterans for a chat through the Armed Forces Alumni Association (AFAA) here or even to veterans directly. We're always happy to help think through whether an MBA makes sense given your particular situation and career goals. If you've decided you want to pursue an MBA and you're considering whether you should apply to a school like HBS - apply. Experiences that might seem mundane and ordinary to you may contain real insights to others, and, perhaps particularly from an American perspective, not everyone will have had previous opportunities to interact with and learn from veterans. The case method certainly facilitates this, and you shouldn't count yourself out.
Ken Sullivan (MBA 2023)
Hometown: Evanston, IL
Undergraduate university and major: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Economics
Military experience: I worked in finance in Chicago for three years before joining the United States Marine Corps as an infantry and intelligence officer. I served for 8 years completing two overseas tours in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
What do you think helped you stand out during the application process? What helped me stand out during the application process was letting the admissions committee know who I was outside of being a Marine. They understand that we know how to lead, so I focused on portraying my personal side: my passion for reading, studying markets, and my family.
What has surprised you the most about your HBS experience? I was shocked at how friendly and approachable everyone is. We are all experiencing the same changes of starting at a new school, we just come from different backgrounds.
What advice do you have for others in the military considering an MBA? Reach out to vets at the schools you wish to attend. They have insight into how to approach the application process.
Kristin Wihera (MS/MBA Biotechnology 2023)
Hometown: Littleton, CO
Undergraduate university and major: Boston University; Human Physiology
Military experience: Navy Surface Warfare Officer, Nuclear
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA? Before I transitioned out of the military, I started to look at jobs I wanted in 5-10 years. I quickly realized that an MBA would help me get those. I then found the MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences program at HBS and instantly knew it was the perfect match for me.
What was the most challenging part about transitioning from the military to a full-time MBA program? There is some loss of identity in leaving the military and not much time to process that change in an intensely busy environment like HBS. Anyone leaving the military will be able to handle the stress of recruiting or academics, it's carving out time for reflection and planning that can be difficult.
What has surprised you the most about your HBS experience? I came expecting to only learn about business, but I have learned so much more. I truly feel like I understand the global context around me better, thanks to the curriculum and the amazingly diverse group of students. My classmates have taught me so much.
Orry McDonald (MBA 2023)
Hometown: Somerville, TN
Undergraduate university and major: University of Mississippi; Business
Military experience: Marine artillery officer
How has your military experience set you apart from your non-military classmates? I’m not sure there’s a quantifiable difference. As a veteran attending HBS, you generally have the ability to work hard, to be on time, and to do the work that is required of you. These skills will serve you well. You’re going to be fine.
What has surprised you the most about your HBS experience? How quickly we catch on. Showing up to HBS is analogous to showing up to OCS, The Basic School, MOS school, etc. There’s a brief moment in time where you’re lost in the sauce, and then a couple weeks later you’re walking the walk and talking the talk. Veterans learn fast, and it’s been fun to watch everyone reinvent themselves as business professionals.
What advice do you have for others in the military considering an MBA? Just do it! There are so many opportunities for veterans. You can have an impact and make a positive difference in the world after leaving the military. Take a bet on yourself and forge your own path.
Learn more about the HBS military community by visiting the Members of the Military page or watching a Conversation about the Military Community at HBS.