Marcus Harmon 

Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business

“I’m always striving to make my actions speak louder than my words.”

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Fun Facts About Yourself: I was born during Hurricane Hugo, quite a few people who know me have said that makes a lot of sense.

• I spent 6 years in the military jumping out of planes, but I am afraid of roller coasters.
• I am incapable of turning down shrimp and grits. As a result, I’ve had over 100 varieties of the dish.
• There is a scar on my forehead just like Harry Potter, Gryffindor for life.
• That scar is a result of not listening to my mom to stop jumping on the couch.

• My mom is my hero. She raised me alone after serving 20 years in the military and 25 years working for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• I’m the second person in my entire family to graduate college, beaten only by my cousin who skipped a grade.
• I had 2 cousins play in the NFL.
• I refer to all dogs as “puppies” no matter what their actual size or age.
• I’m known as the “baby whisperer” by all my friends that have infant children.

• I was afraid of clowns as a child but that didn’t stop me from going to the circus every year as a child.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Dayton, Marketing; Management (minor)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Atlanta Hawks, Membership Associate; US Army (Army Ranger)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was able to serve my country in the Special Operations Community as a member of Bravo Company 3rd Ranger Battalion, familiar to most people because of the film “Black Hawk Down.” During my time there, I deployed to Afghanistan and the Pacific region where we were extremely effective against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and their affiliates. Later as a reconnaissance course Operations NCO, I was able to facilitate the training of service members and civilians from other government agencies in intelligence gathering operations, which allowed them to more effectively fulfill the requirements of their commanders once they deployed again.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Intentional. I have met some incredibly talented and diverse individuals who have already accomplished a great deal. However, each of my classmates exhibits a desire for growth and goes about it in a very purposeful manner. I feel privileged to be on this journey with them.

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 Jones MBA Career Center. I felt the personalized counsel from my advisor would be the best way to leverage my experience as a Ranger and work in the NBA, quite a non-traditional background, into the perfect job for my skillset.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Definitely the Veterans Club. The application process can be overwhelming at times and there were so many veterans who helped me navigate it. The veteran community has a lot to offer the private sector and I want to pay it forward so that we can maximize that contribution.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? What will you contribute to our community? My time as a collegiate athlete and in the military has made me very comfortable articulating my weaknesses, but it took me a little time before I had the same level of comfort expressing my strengths.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’m pursuing this degree to develop my business acumen to match the leadership skills I already possess.  I was medically retiring from the Army due to injuries I had suffered over various points in my career and thought an MBA would help me effectively pursue my long-term goals in the athletic industry. I confirmed this when I transitioned to a role with the Atlanta Hawks working for some absolute rock stars. I knew if I wanted to make the same impact they did, business school was the right choice.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Fuqua, Scheller, and Goizueta.

What made you select Scheller? The positioning of Scheller at “the intersection of business and technology” was the differentiator. It’s a phrase you’ll hear a lot around here, but it took me until I was on campus to really understand it’s meaning. The way business is conducted now vastly differs from the past and we can only imagine what it will look like in the future. I felt I would be best prepared by the program that has made understanding technology a core competency.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I spoke with veterans who were already students in the program and visited each campus. I felt the best way for me to get an accurate assessment would be to ask those who had been in a similar position and then visit campus to gather my own experience.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I don’t believe I have one defining moment. From being raised by a single mom who’s done incredible things to working at the highest level in sports, who I am is a collection of all those experiences.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? VP of Marketing for an NFL Franchise.