What’s the one thing you expected from your MBA that you didn’t actually get? What’s the one thing you did learn that surprised you in its value to your career?

In the military you learn to have a bias for action. You learn how to put out fires and drive forward to complete your goal. That is a good thing, but if you don't have an idea what the big picture is then you can lead your team down the wrong direction. I expected my MBA to teach me how to balance between a bias for action and strategy. What I saw during my MBA program is that people are more focused on the strategy and or for some reason are unwilling to take action. So I saw myself trying to push for action because I felt that someone had too. We can sit around and debate the big picture, but if that is all we do then we don't go anywhere. So I feel I still haven't learned how to keep that balance.

My life had always revolved around the military until I started B-school. At 4 pm, I was still going 100% and worked until the job got done. I also expected that with the people I worked with. Surprisingly what my MBA taught me was how to let go of work and focus on my life. I am never going to make the serious decisions I made in the military, so it is okay if people aren't completely dedicated to their job. Now I am able to shut my brain off at the end of the day and focus on my life.

Branch: Navy

MBA: Darden (University of Virginia)

Year: 2011

Current Industry: Consumer Electronics