Military-to-civilian transitions can be a daunting experience. But UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School student Landon Auld is clearing a pathway for others to follow. He shares his journey transitioning from the military to the Full-Time MBA.
Before starting his MBA at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Landon Auld was in a common situation for those leaving the military. Coming from a hyper-structured environment with a great sense of purpose and camaraderie, the transition is understandably difficult.
According to a study by Pew Research Center, 47% of veterans find readjusting to civilian life at least “somewhat difficult”. This figure rose from just 21% for pre-2011 veterans, making it an increasingly important issue.
A large part of the difficulty comes from learning the skills needed to successfully navigate civilian life in the US. However, the transition is easier for officers. The same Pew study points out that 78% of commissioned officers report that the military was “fairly” or “very useful” in giving them the skills needed for a civilian job.
With an undergraduate degree in finance and having served as an officer, Landon had skills well-suited for an MBA. He says, “I think the biggest skills are time management, organization, and the structure that comes from the military.” (01:31)
It was imperative for Landon to find an environment that acknowledged and nurtured the skills developed from his experiences. This need led him to consider various educational institutions with a keen eye for those that could offer both academic rigor and a supportive community for veterans. UNC Kenan-Flagler emerged as a perfect fit, particularly due to its MBA Veterans Association, which played a pivotal role in his transition.
With over 50 members across both years of the MBA program, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Veterans Association is a diverse club united by military background. The association makes transitioning from the military to an MBA easier for veterans.
Landon points to the Veterans Association as a great help as he went through the UNC Kenan-Flagler application. People were more than willing to answer his questions “I was able to really understand their process,” he says. “What they went through in the overall upbringing to get in the MBA.” (04:08)
Following those conversations, Landon saw UNC Kenan-Flagler as the ideal place. “For me, it was a combination of the overall environment. The school and the city of Chapel Hill. The curriculum, which was heavy in finance which I was looking for. And then I was also selected as a Vetters Dean’s Fellow.” (02:15)
The Steve and Debbie Vetter Dean’s Fellows Program is an esteemed initiative at UNC Kenan-Flagler that provides leadership development, networking, and community engagement opportunities.
Now a member of the Veterans Association himself, Landon is there to help others follow in his footsteps.
Transitioning from the military to a career is often difficult, but a military habit has helped Landon prepare. “Coming from the military, they always talk about having a five-year, ten-year plan,” he shares. (10:04)
One of Landon’s long-term goals is to become a CFO of a Fortune 500 company within the next ten years. To position himself for this ambitious goal, he diligently exploited the diverse academic paths offered by his MBA program.
Landon chose to specialize in Corporate Finance and Consulting. The Corporate Finance concentration matched perfectly with Landon’s finance career ambitions. However, Consulting was a choice he attributes more to fortuity than strategy.
With his sights on the summer consulting internship at PwC, Landon was committed to making the most of the opportunity. Landon says, “It was in my best interest to take some of the classes within the consulting focus to help me identify the weaknesses or strengths that I have, but also build new skills within consulting.” (04:58)
In preparation for the pace of the corporate world, Landon focuses on practical skills and learning from his peers at UNC Kenan-Flagler. Having never worked in consulting before, he knew he’d have to learn skills such as problem-solving, storytelling, and analysis.
One of the best ways for MBA students to prepare for a future career is to learn from others. MBA programs are a hotbed of positive career influences, from the dedicated career coaching to the faculty. Landon has made the most of both networks to prepare for interviews, talk to companies, and network.
But advice comes from many different sources.
“UNC alumni and other military veterans have companies I’m interested in. I’m able to talk with them, reach out to them, and they reach back without hesitation. They take the time to sit down and talk with me and tell me how it really is out in the real world,” Landon explains. (09:34)
As Landon gleaned insights from diverse sources and charted his path, he grew conscious of the empowering role his experience could play for others in his shoes. His journey reflects not only a personal triumph but also becomes a beacon of guidance for others attempting a similar transition.
Grounded in his experience, Landon recommends ex-military applicants reach out to other MBA veterans at the school. “They’re going to help you out no matter what,” he says. “They’re going to answer your questions, they’re not going to sugarcoat it. They’re going to be upfront with you, let you know how it is, and how you can best fit into that program.” (10:48)
The community of armed forces veterans is an excellent resource for those transitioning from the military to an MBA. With examples of success stories like Landon’s, the pathway to civilian life becomes clearer.
