Veteran experience at Wharton

Reflections from a Wharton Veteran

During the first week of class, I vividly remember how I felt like I just did not belong.  I wasn't mentally prepared to leave the service, and at many times, felt selfish for leaving the ranks to become a civilian.  To make matters worse, I did not feel comfortable in some of the classes such as corporate finance and financial accounting, where I could not contribute to the classroom discussion.  Needless to say, I was in a classroom full of ex-bankers, private equity associates, and consultants... basically, those guys had already seen the material, and professors were going through the curriculum at the pace of the students.  I was overcome with frustration and doubt, and I questioned myself whether I made the right decision to come to business school.  However, that feeling didn't last very long. 

One of the main reasons why I came to business school was to obtain fundamental business skills, and I realized that process to acquire those "hard skills" would take time.  I compare this to how I first felt when I went out to a firing range.  I recall having difficulty zeroing and qualifying with an M16 on my first attempt.  But with repetition, you just got the hang of it.  Though understanding finance and accounting took longer than getting familiarized with an M16, the same concept applies.  After practice and repetition, I began to gain the technical aptitude and knowledge to catch up to my classmates and was able to contribute frequently in group and classroom discussions.  More importantly, during the process, I learned how to approach and solve unstructured problems with limited data - and with confidence. 

Although in the military, we were used to working with unstructured problems and uncertainty, our decision making wasn't born out of quantitative rigor or analysis.  Rather, we were used to taking a bias for action based on our intuition or because 'it felt right.' One of the most challenging things I had to deal with at school, was feeling stupid about not being able to persuade people with data, even though I knew what the right answer was from intuition.  However, with practice, you gain the confidence to utilize some information, apply some assumptions, and forecast future data to justify your position.  Prior to business school, I was not familiar with this approach to solving unstructured problems .  The many cases you work with in group and classroom settings, help develop these skills, which I believe are critical for making future business decisions.

Another key "value add" from business school is that it fosters a collaborative environment that enriches your personal growth.  During my first year, I limited myself from dreaming "big."  I would tell myself that I didn't have enough quantitative skills or the business resume as some of my esteemed classmates to even apply for certain positions.  I made excuses that I was not capable of giving start-up a try.  However, through my daily interactions with classmates and professors, who encouraged brain storming sessions and challenged me to think different, I couldn't help but think 'why not.  Though it took long for me to gain that confidence, I am now armed with the belief that I am a lot more capable than I perceive myself.  It is this mindset that will propel me to take risks, to start a business, and jump across industries - with confidence, after business school.

In the military, we are taught to follow a certain career path.  In the Army, lieutenants serve as platoon leaders and are groomed to become effective XO's.  XO's are groomed to be Company Commanders. Company Commanders, after years of working in various staff assignments, are groomed to be Battalion Commanders.  And so forth.  These command positions serve as benchmarks for success, and there is a structured path to achieve those levels.  I am not saying that the business world does not have a structured path.  Rather, I can choose whether I want to follow this hierarchical course or not.  With the enriching experience at Wharton, where you're constantly challenged to think different and demand more from yourself, you can't help but think 'why not me' or 'why can't I.'  Business school has armed with a set of tools to succeed, and I am more confident in my abilities to take the business world's bull by the horn.  And if doesn't work out, I'll be okay.  It is this realization that I can do anything that has made my MBA journey all worthwhile.

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Reflections written by a Wharton Class of 2014 Veteran