Meet The MBA Class of 2022: Vincent Shaw, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

Vincent Shaw

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

“A people-first, solutions-oriented leader committed to his work, family, and faith.”

Hometown: Forest Lake, Minnesota

Fun Fact About Yourself: My wife and I hiked four 14,000 ft. peaks and nearly 500 miles across various trails of the Rocky and Smokey Mountains.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy, History

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: U.S. Army, Infantry Officer, Company Commander

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Carlson uses experiential learning throughout its curriculum. This exposure to real business problems through practical experience is what I needed as an Army Officer and someone who will one day transition from the service. The variety of issues we face in the Carlson Consulting Enterprise will give me new perspectives to problem-solving that I will use in my military career.

At Carlson, you are part of one of the most dynamic business environments in the country. What has made the Twin Cities such a great place to live and learn for you? There are many opportunities to interact with business leaders from various industries headquartered within an hour of where I grew up. The mix of the business environment and close community and family ties is why the Twin Cities is a great place to get my degree.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why?  Team-oriented. I had no issue building strong bonds and work-ethic from any group I was on. Everyone gives their best work for the benefit of the team or mission.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Taking command of an infantry company was the greatest accomplishment, honor, and challenge of my career. I had a vision for my organization, and I worked tirelessly to ensure it fulfilled that vision. I prioritized daily operations, established training objectives, and organized leader development to optimize our performance during twenty combat-simulated scenarios and a deployment. The soldiers I led were great Americans and I was proud to be part of such a team.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? I was able to thrive in a completely new subject and environment. I made positive contributions to several successful group projects and led a business consulting team in my enterprise course.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I was fortunate to be selected to teach economics at the United States Military Academy as a rotating faculty member for my next assignment and the MBA will ensure I have the requisite knowledge to teach cadets. Afterward, I will serve in organizational leadership roles and be expected to plan operations in potentially hostile environments. The problems and challenges of combat need actionable solutions derived from critical and creative thinking, operation design, and teamwork. My education will instill new perspectives in management and allow me to lead future organizations in uncertain situations with confidence.

DON’T MISS: MEET MINNESOTA CARLSON’S MBA CLASS OF 2022

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