Why They Served: Profiles Of M7 MBA Veterans

Shelane Etchison, MBA ’22

Shelane Etchison, Harvard MBA ’22

Military service: Major, U.S. Army, 11 years

Why did you join the military? I was a sophomore in high school when September 11^th attacks happened.  I have always been a news junkie and was fascinated with following our Nation’s military response to the attacks.  I do not come from a military family, nor had I previously considered military service. However, as time went on it was clear –  I did not want to simply follow the war response in the news or on the sidelines. I wanted to be on the ground and as close to the effort as I could be.

I joined Army ROTC at the University of Central Florida and commissioned in 2008 as a Military Police Officer.  At the time women were banned from joining direct combat branches, such as infantry or armor (tanks).  This policy automatically eliminated the best opportunities for me to contribute to ground warfare.  However, given the asymmetrical nature of the war on terrorism and lack of clear front lines, many supporting branches such as military police were subjected to dangers common to direct combat units.

 My first three years I was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska and deployed to Ramadi, Iraq.  During this time, I was as a platoon leader and  company executive officer, which offered an early chance in my career to lead soldiers and cultivate leadership skills. Then in 2011, the US Special Operations Command created a pilot program selecting female soldiers to deploy with Army Rangers and Navy SEALs on combat missions in Afghanistan.  The mission was to gather critical intelligence from women on direct action raids against high value Taliban and Al Qaeda targets.

I was selected for the first cohort of women and deployed to Helmand, Afghanistan with 75^th Ranger Regiment.  This deployment was immensely challenging and rewarding and the success our female teams helped make a case for the until rescinding of women in combat ban.  The experience of my female teammates and I are profiled in Gayle Tzemach Lemmon’s (HBS ’06) New York Time’s Bestseller, Ashely’s War.

I was then selected to join a Special Missions Unit performing ground intelligence and reconnaissance. One of the most meaningful moments of my career was the opportunity to deploy to Syria and work with the all-female Syrian Democratic Forces fighting against ISIS.  These women suffered wanton abuse at the hands of ISIS and then took up arms to defeat their oppressors and liberate more.

Why an MBA? My parents were small business owners who sold and repaired coffee machines.  I grew up witnessing the positive power of entrepreneurship, from community employment to the personal satisfaction of growing a business.  I knew I wanted to work in the private sector after leaving the Army and an MBA would help fill my technical business knowledge gaps.  I also didn’t want to rush my career switch and pursuing an MBA offered me time to learn about opportunities, along with building a new professional and personal network.

Why Harvard? I had never met or known anyone who attended and Ivy League or elite university where I grew up.  Harvard Business School was a place of fantasy, and certainly not a place I ever thought I would pursue an education… it wasn’t even on my radar.  That all changed after my success in confronting and overcoming challenges in the military – it was then I realized we often impose unnecessary limitations on ourselves.  So, when I made the decision to get an MBA, I knew I was not going to impose limitations on myself and committed to applying to the best programs.

When I visited HBS for the first time as a perspective student, the energy, professionalism, and structure of the classroom blew me away.  The caliber and confidence of the students was intimidating, but I knew this was where I need to go for my MBA education.  I’ve learned from life and the military, growth happens when we challenge ourselves and are willing to get out of our comfort zones. It was clear to me HBS would provide the professional growth I was looking for in an MBA program.

Why do veterans make good business students? Veterans make good business students because of our experience having outsized responsibilities with high stakes consequences.  We are often confronted with decision-making and leadership responsibilities that test and hone “soft skills” like inter-personal and executive communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.

The HBS case method examines all aspects of the protagonist and business dilemmas, including the less technical aspects like moral, ethical, and leadership decisions.  Veterans lived experiences executing soft skills is an advantage to deciphering business problems in a holistic manner.

 What’s next? My post-MBA aspirations are to pursue entrepreneurship opportunities.  In my summer between RC and EC year, I co-founded a security consulting and services company called Sofina Network, where we strive to incorporate more women in the private security and intelligence industries.  This is made possible by joining HBS’s Rock Summer Fellows program.  The program provides support and funding for aspiring student entrepreneurs to work on their venture as their required summer internship.

In the longer term, I aspire to serve in elected state or local level public office.  I believe the skills it takes to lead a successful business are transferable to providing reliable and efficient government services.

Yung Winata, Harvard MBA ’22

Military service: Captain, US Air Force, 2011-2020; Currently serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserves

Why did you join the military? Deciding to go to the Air Force Academy at the age of 17 was a difficult choice to convince my single mother because we did not come from a military family or had a clue of what it meant to be in the U.S. Military.  But being an immigrant, it was important for me to give back to a country that has given my family opportunities. I felt a sense of duty to ensure those freedoms continue for others.

But perhaps a more practical reason is that as a first-generation immigrant and the first in my family to attend college, I admittedly did not know how to pursue a path to a professional career or even the range of careers options. For me, the military provided a guaranteed job, a way to experience the world, and an opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Armed with more experience and knowledge today, I would make the same choice, to serve and to lead teams. The military is a great equalizer. It was my vehicle for a meaningful and impactful career, and during my service I’ve seen that it was the same for many others.

What did you do in the military? I was an Air Force Intelligence Officer and had the privilege of supporting U.S. and our allies’ defense missions on every continent. My experiences varied from providing reconnaissance, to assisting humanitarian missions, to directing operations, and assisting the president during diplomatic functions. The intelligence career field is incredibly dynamic. On a typical day, my work involved multiple countries and topic areas, supporting missions such as counterterrorism in the Middle East, missile defense in the Pacific, anti-piracy on the Horn of Africa, and drug interdiction in the Americas.

While these missions were particularly impactful, there is no doubt the highlight of my career is having opportunity to lead and work alongside an unbelievably diverse and dedicated group of people coming from every socio-economic, racial, and geographic background. Leading teams was also often the most challenging aspect of the military. We led people holistically, so that means not only supporting our teammates in their professional achievements or their contribution to the mission, but it’s even more about supporting them in every aspect of their lives. That means financial health, physical and mental health, even family life. It was an enormous responsibility, and this community taught me countless lessons in leadership, humility, and humanity.

Why an MBA? During the intelligence missions I was a part of, it was the human conditions on the ground that resonated with me the most and I often thought of the gaps in economic opportunities and institutional voids that led to those gaps, the gaps that my family experienced. I knew I wanted to continue serving out of the uniform. But like many transitioning veterans, I lacked business knowledge, and did not have the know-how of translating my experience. Although foregoing a career in the military seemed like an uncertain path, I believed an MBA would be an investment in my personal and professional growth. So far, not only has it provided a toolkit for me to discover solutions to those gaps, BUT the MBA experience has also broadened my perspectives on the world.

I would tell veterans who are thinking about an MBA to take a leap of faith and invest in yourself.

Why Harvard? In addition to the unparalleled access to industry, practitioners, and resources, Harvard Business School is a place that values positive societal impact of businesses. Our curriculum focuses on making us well rounded and credible business leaders, but we are constantly reminded of the need to do business for the benefit of society.

I appreciate the structured approach of learning at HBS. In the first year, or Required Curriculum (RC) year, every student studies the same cases on the same days in the same classroom sitting next to the same section mate. In a way, it is similar to the military in that it equalizes our experiences, and builds discipline, intellectual rigor, and a special kind of camaraderie among the RC class.

I can’t talk about HBS without mentioning the richness of learning from the case method. The case puts us in the shoes of a decision maker at a pivotal point of a company’s journey and replicates the complexity of decisions business leaders must make. I have greatly enjoyed learning from my classmates through energized classroom debates that continue outside of the classroom. We also get to hear firsthand from case protagonists who are CEOs, founders and industry titans on how they approached the problem.

Lastly, I learned the importance of having teammates in the military, and I believe HBS is a place to find teammates in life and to build a lifelong network. There is no shortage of people who are willing to help and lift you up, to celebrate successes and to lend a shoulder through challenges.

Why do veterans make good business students? While veteran students lack industry knowledge and background, so many of our skills translate. Veterans have the ability to perform under pressure, solve problems creatively, manage scare resources, and motivate people in challenging circumstances. We are great team players, and often naturally assume leadership roles on projects and around the school. Veterans bring a sense of integrity to the classroom and have honed time management which is critical to balancing the numerous demands of a busy MBA program. These intangibles are forged through years of adversity and perseverance, and are extremely applicable to being a good business leader.

What’s next for you? I will be joining Boston Consulting Group’s Washington D.C. office after graduation. Management consulting is a compelling choice for me because it offers the opportunity to learn quickly and broadly about a variety of industries. I also find value working hand in hand with client teams and solving problems together. Most importantly, it was the people and culture at BCG that solidified the decision for me.

I don’t have a clear sense of what lies beyond consulting yet. But I’m very interested in social impact and public sector practices. I separated from the military to continue serving in a global capacity and remove barriers to empower others, providing them with the opportunities in life I was lucky to have been given. So I hope to eventually work on international development issues that bridge public and private organizations to deliver sustainable socioeconomic solutions that improve lives.

Chris Ricks, Harvard MBA ’22

Military service: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy from 2012-2020

Why did you join the military? I joined the military with aspirations of being a part of something bigger than myself. I saw firsthand the value of selfless service through my grandfather, an Air Force veteran and leader within his community, who served as a mailman and police officer for over 30 years. I was compelled to follow in his footsteps by making a positive impact through a life of service. At age 18, I left Columbus, Ohio, for the U.S Naval Academy, with a deep desire to serve the country, to do my part just as the countless veterans, like my grandfather, who came before me.

I served as a Nuclear Submarine Officer, primarily working as a Technical Program Manager for Electrical & Microprocessor based equipment and an Operations Manager within the Engineering Department. The highlight of my time in service was being trusted to drive a billion-dollar submarine and serve as the Captain’s representative while conducting undersea operations.

Through these experiences, I realized that I operate at the highest version of myself when I can empower others to do the same. I came to see technology as a vehicle to accelerate personal growth in others by challenging my sailors to “master their craft,” and as a force multiplier for teams to accomplish the unthinkable. These experiences are the anchor point for the next chapter of my life as a business leader in Tech.

Why an MBA? I saw an MBA as a long-term investment in my professional career. When transitioning out of the military, in a sense, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Hence, an MBA is an opportunity to pause, reflect, explore new areas of interest, and make an intentional pivot into the next chapter of life armed with the necessary skill set.

I was fortunate enough to have several mentors who attended business school transitioning out of the military, which gave me a blueprint to follow and a better perspective on why an MBA can be valuable for veterans.

Why Harvard? HBS is an amazing place. There is an electric atmosphere about people from around the globe who aspire to make a difference coming together to learn. Initially, I thought the case method was intimidating, but I knew it would give me the broad exposure to business that I needed. In two years, students read over 500 cases requiring one to put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes, analyze a challenging problem with limited information, develop an action plan, and communicate a position in front of a class of 90 students.

Lastly, I was drawn to the section experience. At HBS, you have the best of both worlds. You get a small, tight-knit community (similar to the military) taking all of your first-year classes in a section of 70 students while still being connected to a class of 1,000 students. So, for career pivoters, access to a broad group of backgrounds is invaluable. There’s always at least one person who has insight into what you’re interested in and is willing to take time to share their experience.

Why do you believe veteran representation matters in MBA cohorts? Veterans make good business school students because they understand what it means to be a contributing member of a team. They can speak to what went well (and not so well) when forming teams, developing support, and tackling complex problems in a team-based, high-stress environment. These unique life experiences translate well in class when having discussions on the world’s most challenging issues.

What’s next for you? My passions lie at the intersection between technology and community-building. After graduation, I’ll be a Product Manager at Capital One. I am specifically interested in advancing social mobility by designing products and creating engagement models that do more to meet the needs of low- and volatile-income customers. Despite making up just 32% of the US population, Black and Latinx households represent 64% of the country’s unbanked and 47% of its underbanked households. Long term, I aspire to be the CEO of a fintech startup, developing cutting-edge financial platforms that bridge the gap for marginalized and underrepresented groups.

DON’T MISS: VETERAN’S DAY: MORE MBAS WITH MILITARY BACKGROUNDS FINDING THEIR PLACE AT STANFORD GSB