Nelson Engle

University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

“An authentic creative problem solver, bridging the gap between military leadership and business leadership.”

Hometown: Okinawa, Japan (My dad was in the US Air Force)

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an avid triathlete. I have raced several Ironman events and recently competed at the USA Triathlon National Championships.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Go Badgers!) B.S Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army, Basic Training Company Commander

Michigan Ross is best known for experiential learning programming like MAP, Living Business Leadership Experience, and the Leadership Crisis Challenge. What experiential program interests you the most? One of the main things that drew me to Ross was MAP. Coming from a non-traditional business background with the Army, I wanted to gain as much exposure to solving real life business problems as I could before going into my summer internship. MAP offers an incredibly unique opportunity to take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a project with real and meaningful impact.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Michigan Ross’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The Ross and Michigan Alumni network. This is something the drew me to Ross in the first place and has continued to have a positive impact on me even in these first few months of school. The first time I visited Ross was for the Military Preview Weekend the school hosts each fall. Not only was I able to interact with current students and the admissions team, but also quite a few alumni that took time out of their own schedules to come back and speak to us prospective students. Additionally, since coming to Ross, I have had several opportunities to interact with Ross alumni that have taken time out of their schedules to either have a coffee chat with me or just come back to speak with current students. The Ross and Michigan Alumni truly embody the pay-it-forward mentality and want to see everyone at Ross succeed.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Michigan Ross? The AFA (Armed Forces Association) and The Bus!

As I moved through the application process for Ross, the AFA provided a monumental amount of help. They reviewed my resume and essays and even did interview prep. Once I was admitted, they were the first people to reach out to me and warmly welcomed me and my family to Ross and Ann Arbor. I plan on continuing to support this during my time here at Ross, as I am already serving as one of the MBA1 prospective student directors for the AFA.

The Bus is something that I first heard about when I attended Go Blue Rendezvous after being admitted to Ross. For those who don’t know, The Bus is a tailgate that Ross students started back in the early 2000s (fun fact: an Army Veteran was one of the founding members of The Bus). It involves an old school bus that has been converted into a party bus with a rooftop dance floor.  As someone who went to the best Big Ten School for undergrad (sorry Michigan, but I love my Badgers), I knew I wanted to be involved with the best tailgate tradition at Michigan and have since joined The Bus management team.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized that the Ross School was the right MBA program for you? Why? Coming from the Army, my view of the civilian business world was very narrow. I knew that Ross was going to provide me opportunities that I didn’t even know were out there, so I came to Ross with an open mind and ready to learn. Since arriving, I have decided to pursue Leadership Development Programs so I can continue growing as a leader and can make a real impact at whatever company I end up at.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Why? This question stumped me a little bit, so I had to ask my wife. Paraphrasing her slightly: “You know how to cut through the BS.”

In today’s world, there are a lot of distractions and noise and being able to filter through all of that to see the right path forward is very valuable. I think this is something that I bring to the table and will help me contribute to dynamic teams during things such as MAP. I also make a really good smoked brisket.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far was definitely when my unit won the Armor and Cavalry Leadership Award. This award is given annually to the top-performing Armor or Cavalry Troop on a base. When my commander told my team and I we had won, I was honestly shocked since I didn’t even know we were in consideration for it. Being able to accept the award for my unit was a great honor. It was a testament to all the hard work my team had done over the two and a half years I was with them.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Michigan Ross’s MBA program? My advice mostly goes to all the military and veteran applicants, but also for anyone who comes from a non-traditional business background. Don’t sell yourself short and believe in yourself. There are countless Ross students and alumni that have been through what you’re going through and they are more than willing to help. Reach out to a student ambassador or alumni. Some of the most impressive people I have met since coming to Ross have come from non-traditional business backgrounds. And one last plug for the AFA, if you’re a military or veteran applicant, please reach out to me or any of the other amazing veterans!

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MICHIGAN ROSS MBA CLASS OF 2026