Meet Arizona State’s MBA Class Of 2019

Jared Richards 

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  I use my blinker even when there are no other vehicles on the road.

Hometown: Apex, North Carolina

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a police officer and a captain in the Arizona Army National Guard.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Criminal Justice

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Police officer with the Raleigh Police Department in North Carolina and the Phoenix Police Department in Arizona.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I have risen to the rank of captain in the Army National Guard — a feat I would never have imagined growing up — which has blessed me with leadership opportunities that greatly expanded my professional skills in all aspects of my life. Simultaneously, I have succeeded as a police officer for four years in what has arguably been the hardest time for the profession.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Do not ever sell yourself short. The future of work needs diverse individuals who can provide a new approach to complex problems. There are always going to be applicants who will have vastly more experience and training than you have, but nothing can replace who you are as an individual and the ideas you can create. I came from a non-business background, and I feel that I fit in perfectly with everyone here, specifically because I bring my unique life experiences and point of view to the table. Business schools need big hearts and talented minds from all backgrounds to set the bar even higher for the future.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  My wife was going to ASU for her doctorate in nursing practice. Through her and others, I have heard about how impressive the Master of Business Administration program is at the W. P. Carey School. I decided to do more research and saw the unlimited potential in this program. The faculty has made an impact worldwide, and the leadership at ASU has continued to push the standard higher and higher. The Forward Focus MBA Scholarship is such an amazing value, investing in talent that otherwise would not be able to attend. I applied because I wanted to be a part of the journey and learn from this experience. Now, I am fortunate to work with talented individuals every day, and they continue to impress me more as time goes on.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? My success would come in the form of earning a career where I can bring my business analytics concentration to work in the real world. I want to be in a position where I can become a subject matter expert and build a reputation of leadership potential, quickly moving into a supervisory position. I am passionate about public safety and physical security, so I plan to target those industries where I can apply my previous experience in the military and law enforcement to provide a valued perspective on the product I represent. Success for me would be working in a position that can utilize both this passion and my advanced education from the W. P. Carey School of Business.