Jack Reagor

Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business

“Adaptable, fast-paced, and results-driven leader with a passion for mentorship and team-building.”

Hometown: Frisco, TX

Fun fact about yourself: I sang in a choir for 8 years growing up.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Texas A&M University, BS Mechanical Engineering

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Amazon, Technical Program Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Kearney, Dallas, TX

Where will you be working after graduation? Kearney, Associate

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Cox Distinguished Scholar (full tuition merit scholarship)
• President, Student Advisory Board
• VP of Case Interview Prep, Consulting Club
• Peer Career Coach, Cox Career Management Center
• Teaching Assistant, Cox Finance Department
• Cox Admissions Ambassador
• Peer Tutor

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? In my first semester, a few peers and I formed a team to compete in the National Energy Finance Challenge, a case competition hosted by McCombs. Over an intense weekend, we analyzed a complex industry problem, developed strategic recommendations, and presented our findings to a panel of industry experts. Despite most of our team having limited finance backgrounds, we outperformed 16 teams from top MBA programs across the US to win first place. At the time, I was actively recruiting for strategy consulting roles, and I felt this competition mirrored the challenges of a real consulting engagement— rapidly understanding an unfamiliar industry, conducting meaningful analysis, and delivering actionable insights. The experience not only reaffirmed my interest in consulting but also helped prepare me for my summer internship with Kearney.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? As a Technical Program Manager at Amazon, I was selected to lead a cross-functional initiative to accelerate the launch time of a new robotic product slated for widespread rollout across the company’s North American fulfillment centers. While the technology had the potential to improve delivery speed for customers, initial testing revealed a major challenge—each robot required two long weeks of complex calibrations and testing before becoming fully operational, making large-scale deployment unfeasible. Over three months, I spearheaded efforts to improve scalability by reducing the launch time. I began by leading a cross-functional team in a value stream mapping exercise to visualize the current process, then facilitated brainstorming sessions to generate ideas for improvement, quantify their impact, and prioritize tasks into workstreams. Finally, I drove implementation, coordinating across engineering, IT, and external vendors to develop automated tools and implement process improvements. By the end of the three months, we successfully reduced the launch time from two weeks per robot to just two days, dramatically improving scalability and paving the way for a successful rollout. This is my proudest moment because it was my first time leading a team at Amazon and I proved to myself that I was capable of leading a team to deliver impact.

Why did you choose this business school? The SMU Cox location was the key factor in my decision. My wife started a graduate program in nursing anesthesia a year before my MBA, so staying with her in Dallas was a priority. I also knew I wanted to build my post-MBA career in the city, and SMU’s strong network in Dallas made it a great fit.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was Private Equity & Venture Capital because it integrated both strategy and finance concepts, aligning with my own personal interests. The curriculum covered essential topics like fee structures as well as advanced subjects like LBO modeling and VC share math. A standout moment was a guest lecture by a venture capitalist who specialized in connecting Israeli startups to the U.S. market. His insights into how VCs can differentiate themselves by offering a unique value proposition to both investors and founders provided an interesting perspective on the industry. This course not only expanded my technical knowledge, but also sparked my interest in one day working in the PE/VC space.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Reflecting on my MBA experience, I have very few regrets. I visited six new countries, vastly grew my professional network, formed lifelong friendships, and successfully pivoted my career path. However, if I could change one thing, I wish I had tried exploring a startup. While I don’t plan to become a start-up founder soon, launching a venture during my MBA could have taught me valuable lessons about growing and operating a business in a relatively low-risk environment. Some of my classmates pursued entrepreneurial endeavors and gained highly valuable experiences in the process. If I had the chance to redo my MBA, I would make a more concerted effort to brainstorm business ideas and test one out. Even if it did not succeed, the experience could have been quite valuable.

What is the biggest myth about your school? (and how was it the same or different than what you experienced) A common misconception about Cox is one shared by many business schools – that it attracts students from affluent backgrounds seeking a two-year vacation from work. However, my experience has been quite different. My peers are from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, are highly motivated, and use the MBA program to advance their careers. Cox offers ample scholarships, making the program accessible to a broader range of students. Students come to Cox not for a vacation, but to learn and grow professionally, fostering an environment where group projects and class discussions are taken seriously. This culture encourages the exchange of knowledge and expertise among students, enriching the overall educational experience.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I love Dallas because it offers the perfect balance of vibrant city life and comfortable living. My wife and I have two large dogs and live in a three-bedroom Uptown apartment that we’ve been able to afford as two graduate students with no regular income. Still, we’re within a 10-minute Uber of hundreds of bars, restaurants, and activities. We also live right off the Katy Trail, an urban running/biking trail that allows us to stay active with the dogs. This combination of such a great social scene with spacious, affordable housing and accessible outdoor activities would be challenging to replicate in many other US cities.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? I recently read an HBR case about WeWork in class which led me to watch WeCrashed, an AppleTV series depicting the company’s rise and fall. The show illustrates how a leader’s ability to inspire a shared vision can unite employees, investors, and customers leading to rapid growth. However, it also highlights that neglecting strategic planning and business fundamentals (e.g. “community-adjusted EBITDA”) can lead to loss of public confidence and ultimately failure. While the show’s depiction of extravagant parties and eccentric characters doesn’t necessarily reflect the realities of business, this story taught me a very real lesson that business leaders must balance their vision and mission with sound business practices to be successful.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? Many professors at Cox are integrating AI into lectures and encouraging students to use it to accelerate and deepen learning. For example, in Dr. Helmuth Ludwig’s Technology Strategy course, AI is integrated in discussions, case studies, and guest speakers. He even encourages the use of genAI in writing our assigned case reports. Outside of the classroom, the Cox Career Center offers AI tools for recruitment, from resume generation to interview preparation. These resources have collectively accelerated my recruitment efforts and improved the caliber of my applications.

What insights did you gain from using AI? I’ve found that AI accelerates learning, boosts productivity, and sparks creative idea generation. However, I’ve found it less effective for quantitative analysis and applying strategic frameworks, suggesting the need for a balanced approach that combines AI’s strengths with human expertise. In my Technology Strategy class last spring, my professor brought in a BCG partner who provided some unique insights from a study on the impact of AI on employee performance. Interestingly, AI improved the performance of all employees, yet it had a much higher impact on low performers, thereby narrowing the performance gap. For me, this reinforced the importance of developing AI competencies to remain competitive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Will Murphy is one of the smartest and most charismatic people I know. He’s a high achiever with an ability to make even the most mundane group work fun. His strong background in finance and M&A has been invaluable to me. As someone with no finance background, I’ve learned more from him than I have in many of my classes. Will’s decision to start a search fund during business school is another reason I admire him; it’s a high-risk, high-reward venture that would see him lead the buyout of a company and take the reigns as CEO in his early 30s. It’s an exciting prospect and I look forward to continuing to learn from his experience as I hope to accomplish similar feats in the future.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

* Assume P&L Ownership of a Business: My number one goal is to earn P&L ownership of a business where “the buck stops with me.” Guiding the strategic direction of a team, mentoring and developing those around me, and working to achieve common goals are things that deeply excite me about being a leader. While I recognize there’s much for me to learn before reaching this goal, I’m committed to building my leadership experience and business knowledge at Kearney and beyond to make this aspiration a reality.

* Play a Key Role in the Acquisition of a Company: I’m excited about engaging in an acquisition process, either as part of the acquiring firm or as an advisor. M&A fascinates me because it sits at the crossroads of finance and strategy, offering dynamic challenges and fast-paced decision making that require both analytical and strategic thinking. To build relevant experience, I look forward to getting involved with the Private Equity and Principal Investors practice at Kearney, which will offer valuable exposure to this field.

What made Jack such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“I have had the privilege of witnessing Jack’s extraordinary leadership, intellectual curiosity, and genuine dedication to mentorship. Jack embodies the highest ideals of our MBA community. Jack is the kind of leader who not only achieves excellence but inspires it in others. He is not only a top scholar but also a devoted mentor who consistently inspires those around him. Jack’s achievements are as impressive as they are meaningful. A Cox Distinguished Scholar with a 3.97 GPA and a 750 GMAT score, Jack has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic aptitude – he achieved this while he was planning his wedding! His background in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M laid a strong analytical foundation, shaping his problem-solving mindset and technical expertise. Jack excelled on a comprehensive capstone Financial Valuations final exam, performing an exceptionally high-quality valuation analysis that demonstrated his very solid grasp of the material and his ability to independently think through a complex problem. His performance was so outstanding that his Professor, Michael Vetsuypens, Finance Professor at Cox, recommended him as a tutor for finance classes. Before his MBA program, he worked at Amazon, which proved to be a pivotal chapter in his journey. He not only managed complex projects, but also discovered a passion for leadership and strategic thinking.

At Amazon, Jack was inspired to transition into consulting. His desire to inspire and influence others made him a natural leader in the MBA program and at Kearney. Beyond his professional and academic accomplishments, Jack is known as a mentor and role model to his peers, particularly for incoming students navigating the challenges of a rigorous MBA program. He played a vital role in onboarding the new Two-Year MBA class, particularly those aspiring to enter the field of strategy consulting. Jack spent countless hours helping students prepare for the rigorous consulting interview process, offering one-on-one case prep sessions, sharing insights from his own experiences, and providing mentorship that went far beyond casing skills. His guidance not only built confidence in these rising consultants but also fostered a supportive community within the MBA cohort. Many students have attributed their success in securing consulting roles to Jack’s generosity with his time and his commitment to helping others. What truly sets Jack apart is his ability to translate ideas into real impact. His leadership as President of the Student Advisory Board and as a Cox Ambassador highlight his dedication to being a steward of the Cox family. I can think of no candidate more deserving of this recognition.”

Kerry Wright
Associate Director, Full-Time MBA Students
Office of Student Enrollment and Engagement
Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University

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