Montgomery Miller

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Hometown: Lubbock, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a licensed private pilot. I have logged hours on six different types of aircraft and am hoping to add to the list!

Undergraduate School and Major: Baylor University, Finance and Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Chicago Booth’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The greatest draw to Booth’s MBA program, for me, was its uniquely flexible curriculum and entrepreneurial focus. I spent hours talking to students from different programs when I was trying to decide which MBA would be the best fit for me. Through these conversations, it was obvious to me that Boothies seemed to have a greater ability to tailor their MBA curriculum towards their aspirations than did students at other schools. I knew the skills I wanted to develop in business school, and Booth is giving me the ability to shape my degree towards developing these skills. Moreover, I was drawn to the offerings of the Polsky Center which will allow me to work towards my goal of pursuing entrepreneurship at Booth!

The Booth MBA is also known for being highly data-driven. Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How have been able to leverage this approach in your career so far? In all my professional experiences, data fluency was critical in decision making and was something I tried to integrate in all my work projects. Whether it be building a financial model as a consultant or analyzing hundreds of pages of search warrant returns as an FBI Special Agent, I could not have done my job without a quant focused background. I dealt with decisions daily that could drastically affect the lives of investigative subjects and victims, and it was imperative that I was 100% certain that my analysis was correct and could hold up to scrutiny in Federal Court. My goal after Booth is to lead my own venture and I want to know that I have the quant skills to make the best possible decisions for employees and investors. With that in mind, I intend to take classes geared towards complex scenario analysis and entrepreneurial finance.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Chicago Booth? I was told by a friend that the hardest part of the MBA experience is choosing between the countless amazing options for where to spend your time. Booth provides numerous opportunities to plug into social and professional networks of common interest. I applied to MBA programs to pursue entrepreneurship, so I am most excited to plug into the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club and the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club. Both clubs help students connect with other founders and investors, leaving Booth with the skills and community needed to succeed in their careers. I am also excited to get plugged into the Run, Bike, and Swim club – I’ve already connected with members of the club and am thrilled to start exploring the Windy City via my road bike.

What has been your first impression of the Booth MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Booth story so far. My first impression of the Booth community was that it was a far more humble and welcoming group than I’d imagined! I was considering several schools when interviewing and, knowing Booth was one of my top choices, opted to attend my interview in-person to get a better feel for the university. After returning home and much to my surprise, I received 10+ texts and emails from students and other applicants all asking about my experience interviewing at Booth. I immediately felt welcomed into the Booth community.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? Growing up in a small town, I never expected one of the largest cities in the country to feel like home! Chicago offers everything my wife and I wanted in a metropolitan city during my time working towards an MBA – professional development, amazing food, outdoor recreation, and plenty of events – while still maintaining the welcoming culture for which the Midwest is known! We are excited to spend weekends cycling across the Lakefront Trail and exploring new restaurants. Being in the middle of the country, Chicago also offers flights to anywhere in the world, all while offering a significantly lower cost of living than other cities we considered for MBA. Whatever your interests may be, Chicago is worth a visit!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far. I assisted a well-known international non-profit organization in selecting and implementing a new software solution. The organization had evolved and, as a result, their existing solution was insufficient to meet the needs of the business. I worked closely with C-Suite leadership at the client and leadership from over 50 separate geographic regions to evaluate the organization’s needs, budget, and other constraints. The organization decided to execute our recommendation, and I was subsequently tasked with leading a program to manage the transition to the new software and to train employees. Throughout the project, I was able to see our work radically improving the way the organization was able to serve its constituents. Not only did the project help me grow as a professional, but it was also personally fulfilling!

Describe the best memory of your life. Why does that moment resonate with you? One of my best memories is also one of my earliest. It was attending my grandfather’s retirement party at a small community bank my grandfather ran for the previous 40 years. I still remember the party’s attendees, most of whom were customers who appreciated the way the bank – and my grandfather, had positively impacted their lives. My grandfather saw his business as a way to make a positive impact on his community and customers. Their appreciation was apparent at the retirement party. From an early age, this experience resonated with me. I knew I wanted to make a similar impact on my community through my career. It is why I joined the FBI and what I hope to accomplish as an entrepreneur after graduating from Booth.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Chicago Booth’s MBA program? As an applicant coming from a non-traditional recruiting background, I was initially concerned when I entered the MBA recruiting process. I had friends who had applied to business school in the past, but all had come from traditional paths, and I was not sure how I would be received coming from a non-traditional background. Talking to students and faculty made me realize these concerns were unfounded and I could not have been more wrong! Booth looks for applicants who come from all types of backgrounds and who can bring an interesting perspective to the classroom. Lean into the experiences that make you, and your background, unique!

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2026: THE ‘DO ANYTHING, BE ANYONE’ COHORT