Jennifer (Jenny) Perkins 

University of Washington’s Foster School of Business

“Passion driven blend of planner and doer, and motivated foodie/fitness enthusiast.”

Hometown: Ruston, Washington

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was a DAWG during my undergrad and now at graduate school, just on opposite sides of the country!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Georgia; BA International Affairs

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: US Army; Logistics Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was deployed to Afghanistan for nine months on a Female Engagement Team. The experience was unique for me as a leader, having to integrate a team of females into an all-male combat unit and complete the required pre-deployment training which included learning Pashtu. Being able to use our training in-country while working to build relationships with the locals was incredibly rewarding in seeing the result of working towards a common goal.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The classmates I’ve met so far seem very driven and ready to take on new challenges. They seem like people who will challenge and push their teammates to do their best work.

What makes Seattle such a great place to earn an MBA? The proximity to so many large corporate offices and start-up culture gives a wide variety of experiences and opportunities to learn from.

Aside from your classmates and location, 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 collaborative culture of the program and the focus on hands-on learning. Collaborative culture and teamwork is something I have worked in being in the Army and I know it is what makes teams succeed, so I found that very appealing that I will not have to adapt too much to a new culture that is totally new to me!

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Women in Business and the various campus activities that provide camaraderie and community. Also, sail-gating!!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Describe a time that you implemented a new change or process to your team that did not go well.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Approaching a mid-point in my career (I’ve been in the Army for 10 years), I feel like I’ve gotten a great amount of life experience and am looking to supplement the experiences with institutional learning. I think my experiences are something valuable to share with my peers but am also very interested in learning about processes and influences from civilian peers to bring back into the military.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? N/A

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I didn’t apply to other schools.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was commissioning into the Army. I did ROTC and planned to commission just to help pay for school initially, but really had not planned to stay past my initial commitment and didn’t know for sure what I was getting into. After starting active duty, I found that it really fit with my personality. I really enjoy leading soldiers and taking on new challenges every 12-18 months that take me out of my comfort zone constantly. It has shaped me into the balanced, motivated, adaptable leader that I am today.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself finishing Battalion Command of a support unit in the Army; having successfully led 400 Soldiers in training and caring for their morale and welfare, leading and mentoring the young officers and future of the Army and helping them discover their leadership abilities.