Jarrod Snell

Georgia Institute of Technology, Scheller College of Business

“Energetic extravert, combat veteran, ambiguous problem-solver, and explorer who loves fitness and the outdoors.”

Hometown: Marietta, GA

Fun Fact About Yourself: Visited 23 countries and lived in 4.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Mississippi: History

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Army, Captain

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Scheller’s tight-knit community that provides a family type atmosphere was a key part for me. For the last seven years of my life, the Army had provided me with an inclusive and unwavering family community that provided a safety net for everyone involved. It was important for me to find a similar community coming out of the Army. Among the highly ranked MBA programs I pursued, the Scheller family uniquely embodies that same sense of community and support.

The Scheller MBA ranks among the best for instilling innovation and creativity according to alumni and students surveyed by Bloomberg Businessweek. How have seen this in the programming so far? Scheller’s seamless transition to virtual learning and networking during the Covid-19 pandemic clearly demonstrates the school’s ability to creatively adapt and innovate. Additionally, I’m participating in the school’s unique TI:GER (Technology Innovation: Generating Economic Results) program that is giving me the amazing real-world opportunity to help a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student bring her technology innovation to market.

At Scheller, you are literally across the street from Tech Square and living in one of the dynamic business environments in the world. What makes Atlanta such a great place to live and learn for you? Atlanta is the corporate capital of the South and you can directly network with any type of company or industry right there in the city. Tech Square is also quickly becoming a center for innovation and technology entrepreneurship that is directly correlated with the MBA program. The slew of new skyscrapers being built in Tech Square is a clear physical indication of this. For outdoorsy people like myself, Atlanta has spent millions of dollars over the last decade developing an extensive parks and recreation ecosystem throughout the city, including the famous Atlanta BeltLine.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? A big ball of diverse energy. This MBA class is slightly smaller than usual due to Covid-19, yet it provides enough energy to carry the weight of the entire Institute. No two people are exactly alike, and I learn something new from my class every day. I couldn’t be happier to learn from such a diverse, intelligent, and energetic group of individuals.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As a strategic level military advisor in Afghanistan, I was able to help my Afghan Army counterparts increase their mission success rate by 23% and therefor increase security and stability in the northern region of their country. This was accomplished by integrating new aircraft into the Afghan military and helping them develop efficient operating procedures.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Getting high grades in quantitative heavy classes! As someone from a non-traditional background and who had not been in school for over seven years, I feared some of the quant heavy courses that are required at the beginning of the program. However, Scheller’s professors, staff, and resources are among the best in the country and they will ensure that anyone who puts in the effort will have the opportunity to succeed.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I had accomplished my goals in the military and was ready to turn the chapter in my life. I had learned a lot about myself and determined that I wanted to work on strategic level business solutions. My goal was to pivot from influencing problems with national security implications to influencing problems with strategic business implications. To accomplish that goal, I needed to develop more traditional business acumen. A full-time MBA from Georgia Tech was the perfect solution.

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGIA TECH’S MBA CLASS OF 2022