Raymond T. Wagner III

Washington University, Olin Business School

“Dynamic, agile and passionate leader who is wrapped around his daughter’s finger.”

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was the captain of the U21 Luxembourg National Rugby team.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy at West Point; BS in Economics, Minor in Electrical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army, Company Commander

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment of my career was commanding an infantry company of 150 US soldiers. This entailed being responsible for the training, well-being, and morale of all 150 soldiers and their families, as well as being financially accountable for over $40 million worth of equipment. However, the “personal responsibility” was not the biggest accomplishment of my time as a commander. On a day-to-day basis, I witnessed young men and women from diverse backgrounds come together as a team. I saw them accomplish feats together that were seemingly impossible for an individual. I watched them mourn the loss of friends and rally around each other like family to honor the legacy of their fallen comrades. I witnessed them assemble around a common purpose to accomplish any mission on behalf of the United States of America. I had the tremendous honor of leading America’s sons and daughters and will forever cherish that memory as one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring accomplishments of not just my career, but my life.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The most prevalent quality that best describes my MBA classmates is: diverse. The class is made up of roughly 95 students from all different backgrounds. From the American who taught English in China to the financial advisor from Ghana, I am so impressed with the different perspectives my classmates bring to the classroom. It is truly exciting to be in a cohort where we can learn so much from each other, challenge each other, and make each other better business leaders going forward.

Aside from your classmates, 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? The global nature of Olin Business School’s curriculum is what led me to choose it for my full-time MBA program. I think it is important to have a global perspective in the dynamic and fast-paced world of business. When I heard about the unique global immersion experience that Olin Business School was pioneering, I knew I wanted to be a part of the inaugural class.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school?  The Olin Veterans Association, Center for Experiential Learning (CEL), Consulting Club

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? “What are your top five most influential social media posts and why?”

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After eight years of active duty service in the US Army, I was ready to pursue new opportunities and challenges in the civilian sector. I look forward to using the unique skill set I learned in the US Army to make a positive impact in the business world.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of Chicago, Booth; Harvard Business School; The Wharton School

How did you determine your fit at various schools? When applying for an MBA program, there were numerous factors I took into account. First and foremost, I have a family—a beautiful wife and baby daughter—who were always in consideration during my MBA search. I also looked at top-tier programs in the country. I knew I wanted to go to program that was competitive and would attract the best students from across the globe. Lastly, I wanted a unique experience; something that was going to push me to live outside my comfort zone and challenge me—not just as a student, but as a person.

I evaluated schools by reading publications such as Poets & Quants, Forbes and US News and World Report. I looked at class profiles and the curriculum each school offered. I also tried to determine what was different about each school I was applying to, then decided which would best fit my personal goals. After I made my target list of schools, I began to talk to current students, professors, and alumni.

After a lot of reflection and conversations with my wife, family and friends, I knew Olin Business School was the perfect fit for me. First and foremost, it was going to bring my wife, daughter and me home to our family. Second, WashU Olin prides itself on “knowing your name and your story,” and this was important to me. I did not want to be just another number in a large class. From day one, every member of the staff and faculty have known me by name and made it a truly welcoming experience. Located in the heart of the country, Olin Business School has that “Midwestern feel” that is welcoming and friendly.  Third, it is a top-tier program and their new global MBA program was unique. It was going to challenge me. I knew after four years at West Point and eight years in the US Army, I was going to face a “culture-shock” during my transition out of the military; and that excited me. WashU Olin was going to push me even further through their truly global program and this was very important to me. I know it will make me a better and more well-rounded business leader in the end.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I believe life has many defining moments.  However, one that sticks out in my mind was when I had the distinct honor of escorting a fallen soldier home to his final resting place.

I received a call from a grieving father. “Raymond?” Jim’s voice cracked and nose sniffled, “Steve has died. Will you escort him home?” My mind surged with memories of Steve, whom I had mentored throughout West Point. “Of course, Mr. Dolan, it would be my honor. I am so sorry,” I responded as chills gripped me.

A day later, I found myself flying across the country, escorting a fallen soldier—my friend, Steve Dolan—home to his final resting place. Wearing my military dress uniform, I was quickly spotted by the pilot and ushered onto the tarmac. The runway operations halted. I rendered a solemn salute as Steve’s flag-draped casket was loaded into that Southwest Airlines plane. I couldn’t believe he was gone. When we landed in St. Louis, I saw the lights of police escorts and Steve’s family on the tarmac. The pilot asked everyone to remain seated while I disembarked. Tears rolled down many faces of those on board. As I appeared from around the nose of the plane, Steve’s mother fell into my arms overwhelmed with grief, “Thank you. Thank you for bringing my boy home.”

Escorting Steve home was particularly difficult. I felt a level of responsibility after encouraging him to attend West Point and join the Army. From that day, I vowed to live life to the fullest; to honor those who have gone before me; and to seize every opportunity because life, simply put, is a gift that is not guaranteed.

(Note: names were changed in this vignette for privacy reasons)

Where do you see yourself in ten years? It is hard to predict the future, but in 10 years I see myself making a positive impact in my local community and creatively solving problems for clients in the consulting industry with a major firm. I am confident Olin Business School will give me the tools over the next two years to open up a world of opportunities in the future.