Jay Peterson

“Rooted in Midwestern values—I enjoy bringing hard work, humility, and collaboration to fast-paced environments”

Hometown: Ely, MN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve climbed 12 fourteeners (peaks exceeding 14,000 feet) in Colorado

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy at West Point – Systems and Decision Sciences

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army – Field Artillery Officer

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

My favorite part of the Twin Cities is how well it supports both exploration and focus during an MBA. There are strong professional opportunities across a wide range of industries and roles, which was especially important for me transitioning from the Army. While I had a general direction in mind, I spent a lot of time connecting across the Twin Cities ecosystem and learning about different companies and industries. What stood out most was how consistently I encountered Midwestern values across organizations, which made it an energizing and supportive place to grow professionally.

Carlson MBAs spend a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites most about your Enterprise program?

I’m enrolled in the Funds Enterprise, which was one of the main reasons I chose Minnesota Carlson. I’ve been interested in investing from a young age, but I’m especially excited to deepen that knowledge by managing real capital in a team-based setting with professional oversight and guidance. Beyond the technical experience, the Funds Enterprise offers strong mentorship and direct exposure to the Twin Cities financial services community and beyond—a part of my network I’m extremely excited to continue building.

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

My favorite part of the Carlson MBA program has been working closely with the career coaches in the Carlson Business Career Center. Their mentorship has been invaluable during my transition from the Army. I began working with a career coach early in the summer to explore different roles and industries, and once I clarified my direction, we spent significant time focused on networking strategy and translating my military experience into clear, business-relevant language. That guidance has been instrumental in helping me navigate the career transition and interview process with confidence.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

In my final year in the Army, I served in a newly created role running operations for a medical recruiting organization responsible for sourcing medical professionals across the Upper Midwest into roles in the Army. Despite having no prior experience in Army medical or recruiting, I was asked to lead a 16-person team and quickly develop and execute a strategic plan to address recruiting shortfalls. Navigating a steep learning curve while leading a large organization with a time-sensitive, tangible objective made this one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far has been securing my summer internship. Entering the program as a transitioning Army officer, I was initially uncertain about how effectively I could translate my military experience into the hard skills required in financial services. Through countless hours of networking and interview preparation—working closely with classmates, Carlson alumni, and the Carlson Business Career Center—I was able to refine my story and technical foundation. I was fortunate to secure the first internship I interviewed for, and the experience reinforced how critical the Carlson community and support system have been in my MBA journey.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

My best memory so far has been the countless conversations I’ve had with classmates and industry professionals throughout the first semester. While much of the time has been spent recruiting and learning new skills, getting to know people from such diverse professional backgrounds has been especially meaningful as I pursue an entirely new career path. The openness and support from both my classmates and Carlson alumni across industries has been incredibly encouraging and has made the experience memorable.

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