Meet The McCombs’ MBA Class of 2018

Micah Lockhart

The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Pre-MBA Location: Fort. Lewis, WA

Fun Fact About Yourself: One of my favorite hobbies is horseback riding. As a cadet at West Point, I was a member of the Army Mule Riding Team, a small club responsible for riding, grooming and showing the three mule mascots at sporting and special events.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy at West Point, Systems Engineering Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

• US Army (Fort Lewis, Washington)
• Troop Commander
• Squadron Planner
• Executive Officer
• Scout Platoon Leader
• Tank Platoon Leader

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2011, at the age of 24, I deployed and led 40 Soldiers in Iraq. My Scout Platoon was responsible for daily patrols to interact with the community, engaging with tribal elders, reacting quickly to mortar strikes, and personal security for our Battalion Commander and VIPs.  My biggest accomplishment has been returning home safely with all of my soldiers and completing two humanitarian projects, which included handing out school supplies to local Iraqi children in our area of responsibility.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf? Deadlines will always be fast approaching, and it is critical to create a method to track all of the tasks associated with the application process. When applying, I would ensure that you understand why you want to attend business school at that program in particular. Understanding the “why” will allow you to better articulate your passion.

When writing my essays, I would first focus on why the school is asking that particular question. I would then draft an essay that allows the reader to see not only my personality and experiences, but how my talents will contribute to the class as a whole. Lastly, I would allow someone that truly knows you to proofread your essay, not only for correctness, but to ensure that your essay allows the reader to see the true you. Asking recommenders to write letters can be stressful, as it one of the items that you have little control over. I would ask someone that knows you well and is willing to put their reputation on the line to accurately convey your potential to succeed in the desired program and beyond.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA?  There are many reasons I chose the Texas MBA, as it was nearly #1 in every value category I used to decide on where I “fit.” First and foremost was the Austin location. After spending over two years in Washington State, I was excited to get to a place of constant sunshine. I was also very excited about the small class size. I look forward to meeting and getting to know ALL of my classmates during the next two years. Third, is the unique opportunity the program provides to specialize in the first year of the program in preparation for your internship and the MBA + Program that allows you to work with corporate partners while in school. As a career switcher, the ability to specialize in courses that focus directly on the field of my internship as well as the opportunity to gain much needed business interactions was very appealing to me. Not to mention, that the career services are amazing. Lastly, my visit to McCombs confirmed every notion that this program was right for me.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? (Explain how it appeals to your ambitions and values: As a Troop Commander, my Lieutenants and I read organizational leadership books to increase our overall effectiveness and develop into better leaders. We read both Start with Why and Why Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. In the first book, they profiled Southwest Airlines and explained HOW the operation of the airlines is directly tied to WHY they exist. Their long track record of success and ability to inspire loyalty has made their company values clear to their employees and customers. After reading and learning more about their fun-loving culture and interacting with their employees, my dream job is to join the company in a corporate finance or operations role at their headquarters in Dallas, Texas. As a leader, I have always tried to maintain a fun-loving culture where people wanted to come to work, worked hard, and contributed to the overall well-being of the unit. Southwest’s culture, history and competitive industry seems like it would be a great fit for my leadership style and ambitions in finance and management.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I would like for my peers to say that I was passionate about every endeavor I pursued, professional in every interaction and fun-loving during social settings. I would also like them to say that I provided a unique perspective, and they learned positive things about the military as a result of our interactions.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? One of the biggest things I liked about McCombs, was its intimate class size. I look forward to having a conversation with EVERY person in my class and getting to know everyone through the many clubs and activities offered. At graduation, I look forward to knowing every face that walks across stage, along with having a meaningful connection with many of those faces.