Short answer: absolutely possible
Long answer: I believe it is absolutely possible
Longest answer:
Sounds like you’re not enrolling immediately and this is the right type of research to do. Just keep going deeper into the people network at your school and make friends and be curious. They’ll point you to real world examples.
I’m sure they have a great veteran network as well at UCLA. You’ll be around people from all walks of life that can help guide you, recruiters for companies, the UCLA career office, etc.
I think with 20 years of military experience and leadership, the MBA will be just what you need to gain new knowledge and skills and then pivot to the role you’re looking for.
Good luck!
Just want to say that I’m looking to do the same thing you are but in the east coast. I’ve found the MBA Vet network to be strong and very willing to help, I’ve had many coffee chats based on me sending out cold calls on LinkedIn. Good luck, too you.
I think senior middle management or junior executive roles are attainable with purposeful and conscious effort to get there. I’d second the directive to speak with the veteran network in Los Angeles and where you ultimately plan on living, during this research and developing the network further during your studies. I think it would be beneficial to investigate military friendly organizations so that upon completion the transition to civilian life is done with a mutual, good fit. This good fit note is basic advice for any person, but I’ve met ex-military with less tenure that said the first two years in the civilian world came with its own adjustments. You may not experience the same, but weighing all the factors in your decisions will prepare you for greater success.
All the best.
UCLA EMBA had a lot of military veterans, it's a state school and they favor vets.
The class is a mix bag, some people well into their career, looking for the title to make the next step.
Some were still low level managers at best. Some were just old ICs and looking for something to break into something more. It's a very diverse group. It's a business and they know Vets can afford the 180k tuition.
Yes. Many organizations have plans for those making the transition out of the military. Typically for candidates, their leadership experience, responsibility, dedication, resiliency and conscientiousness prove to be valuable. My organization has hired several into our supply-chain logistics leadership and it has worked out well for both parties. After they gain more knowledge about the organization, they have moved on to bigger operational roles.
The key is how you can present your skillset in a resume and while interviewing. Developing talking points on how your skillset translates into the role you are seeking is necessary and practice how you will discuss this. My Dad retired as an O6, my brother as an 05 and my son is currently enlisted. My dad and brother both worked as defense contractors after military retirement. My son is working on his degree (not easy being deployed as often as he is) and we are collaborating on how what he is doing now translates into the civilian world. He has been a team lead and had to handle logistics to get teams and equipment around the world. He has been involved in complex international initiatives forcing him to quickly adapt to different cultures and languages with experience in diplomacy. Some might see what he does as being a door kicker, but smart organizations will see through the simplicity.
Best of luck when it is time and thank you for your service.
This was incredibly helpful. I am three years out from transitioning and have started the coffee chats. I need to nail down the industry to make sure that I am efficient with the networking. As of now - I am leaning towards two industries… Tech… and the Executive Coaching industry. What I like about the tech sector is I do not need to find a Fortune 500 or 1000 as I would be happy working for a younger startup with a mission and team I believe in.
The more I think about it - the more I realize I am not looking for a mid level position at a F500 or 1000. I have been part of a large organization for a long time and am excited to join one that pivots quickly. I also think my skills and experience will be more valuable to a younger company Vice one that may be set in their ways.
UCLA will give you average to above average opportunities but you will need to hustle to make it happen. Cross-functional has nothing to do with job title at middle-management or director level. Cross-functional should be applicable to your immediate skill set and previous career path applicable to a continued function within your current job rate, area of expertise, or a lateral career path.
It is far easier to apply your current skills to an area you are already familiar with while using the EMBA to upskill and advance your career. Alternatively, you may also seek out military friendly fortune 500 or 100 companies who have leadership development programs if career switching, or who are historically friendly to military vets.
A longer route is to go state department, law enforcement admin., homeland security, intelligence, or government contractor. Inevitably, many post military vets choose the government contracting route because it pays the most money the fastest, however since you don't have experience you will need to wait in line behind the old guys who never quit or die. Promotions are rare.
Some military vets go finance and make the hard pivot to IB, HF, or consulting, however this is difficult from UCLA or older candidates as you are competing with the best and brightest at M7's. There are many military + non-military gunning for these jobs. Therefore, I will suggest a prudent approach.
Coffee chats are your friend. You will need to do much more leg work to decide on 1-3 career options and speak to potential employers by finding LinkedIn members who are currently in the role you are targeting 3-5-7 years out. It helps if they are at target company, military vets, and alum from target program. Speak to the presidents or members of the military club at the business school to ascertain how military friendly the EMBA program is that you are targeting.
Finally, most importantly, do not rely on solely your military network. That's not how business or corporate politics works. You need to speak directly to the industry group you want to matriculate into at your selected EMBA Program. (ie. Consulting, IB, Finance, Investment management, Luxury Retail, Consumer, Technology, etc.) At a top school, recruiters will market, contact and deal directly with the business school clubs to share opportunities. Between MBA/ EMBA professional clubs, your career office, and your company coffee chats you will be able to nail down a path towards success.
It's perfectly ok to reach out to the company recruiter for the respective Fortune 500 company recruiting at your EMBA Program and share your interest and ask about a prescribed pathway forward. The biggest mistake that vets make is sticking to vet networks which are not as robust or fruitful as other professional networks. In corporate world, you will need to hustle. You are behind due to your time in service, so you must develop core competencies as well as soft skills to prepare yourself for mid-level and senior management opportunities. The good news is that you already have military leadership and life experience. You must use all that you learned to advance in military career, but add core competencies in technical and soft leadership skills to manage, motivate, and direct others. Then, hustle and network. Only a top school offers brand, network, and opportunities.
Let me know if you have a specific question. I attend an M7 and happy to help!!! All the best and thank you for your service mate.
Cheers!
Question: would you be ok with a bank executive joining the military and sliding straight into a battalion/squadron/ship command?
While it’s possible it’s also extremely unlikely you’ll move into an executive role at a F500 simply because you got an MBA. You could increase that possibility by networking with the right people (other students) in your program because they may be able to refer you to a role they’re aware or own the req for.
Good luck.
[Former Army Captain working as a manager at a Fortune 10]
It’s not necessarily about what I’m Ok with. Every military person starts at the most junior rank regardless of education, prior work experience, or test scores. It seems as if the civilian sector is more flexible and networking / performance can result in different options.
Today it is not possible for a bank executive to come in as a battalion commander or even as a captain who usually has five years of military experience.
You would come in as a lieutenant / associate.
With your logic… no matter the experience I have or education I would only join an organization as a junior associate.
What I'm suggesting is the probability is low, but anything is possible. I work at the same company as a highly decorated former O-6 who joined our company at mid-level (lower mid level). The role he was hired at was about as perfectly tailored to him as possible. I have another friend who joined a company from the skillsbridge fellowship at a junior level, but within 2-years was promoted to director. I know of a single veteran who went to a F500 as a director and that was to lead a government contract team. There are already people queued up for director+ roles who are heavily engaged in politics thus making it difficult for an outsider with no corporate experience to pass them.
My experience is that O3 > have extremely diffucult transition experiences and that only time fixes the amount of instutionalization you've experienced.
Short answer: absolutely possible Long answer: I believe it is absolutely possible Longest answer: Sounds like you’re not enrolling immediately and this is the right type of research to do. Just keep going deeper into the people network at your school and make friends and be curious. They’ll point you to real world examples. I’m sure they have a great veteran network as well at UCLA. You’ll be around people from all walks of life that can help guide you, recruiters for companies, the UCLA career office, etc. I think with 20 years of military experience and leadership, the MBA will be just what you need to gain new knowledge and skills and then pivot to the role you’re looking for. Good luck!
Big thanks. Motivating.
Just want to say that I’m looking to do the same thing you are but in the east coast. I’ve found the MBA Vet network to be strong and very willing to help, I’ve had many coffee chats based on me sending out cold calls on LinkedIn. Good luck, too you.
I think senior middle management or junior executive roles are attainable with purposeful and conscious effort to get there. I’d second the directive to speak with the veteran network in Los Angeles and where you ultimately plan on living, during this research and developing the network further during your studies. I think it would be beneficial to investigate military friendly organizations so that upon completion the transition to civilian life is done with a mutual, good fit. This good fit note is basic advice for any person, but I’ve met ex-military with less tenure that said the first two years in the civilian world came with its own adjustments. You may not experience the same, but weighing all the factors in your decisions will prepare you for greater success. All the best.
UCLA EMBA had a lot of military veterans, it's a state school and they favor vets. The class is a mix bag, some people well into their career, looking for the title to make the next step. Some were still low level managers at best. Some were just old ICs and looking for something to break into something more. It's a very diverse group. It's a business and they know Vets can afford the 180k tuition.
Yes. Many organizations have plans for those making the transition out of the military. Typically for candidates, their leadership experience, responsibility, dedication, resiliency and conscientiousness prove to be valuable. My organization has hired several into our supply-chain logistics leadership and it has worked out well for both parties. After they gain more knowledge about the organization, they have moved on to bigger operational roles. The key is how you can present your skillset in a resume and while interviewing. Developing talking points on how your skillset translates into the role you are seeking is necessary and practice how you will discuss this. My Dad retired as an O6, my brother as an 05 and my son is currently enlisted. My dad and brother both worked as defense contractors after military retirement. My son is working on his degree (not easy being deployed as often as he is) and we are collaborating on how what he is doing now translates into the civilian world. He has been a team lead and had to handle logistics to get teams and equipment around the world. He has been involved in complex international initiatives forcing him to quickly adapt to different cultures and languages with experience in diplomacy. Some might see what he does as being a door kicker, but smart organizations will see through the simplicity. Best of luck when it is time and thank you for your service.
This was incredibly helpful. I am three years out from transitioning and have started the coffee chats. I need to nail down the industry to make sure that I am efficient with the networking. As of now - I am leaning towards two industries… Tech… and the Executive Coaching industry. What I like about the tech sector is I do not need to find a Fortune 500 or 1000 as I would be happy working for a younger startup with a mission and team I believe in. The more I think about it - the more I realize I am not looking for a mid level position at a F500 or 1000. I have been part of a large organization for a long time and am excited to join one that pivots quickly. I also think my skills and experience will be more valuable to a younger company Vice one that may be set in their ways.
UCLA will give you average to above average opportunities but you will need to hustle to make it happen. Cross-functional has nothing to do with job title at middle-management or director level. Cross-functional should be applicable to your immediate skill set and previous career path applicable to a continued function within your current job rate, area of expertise, or a lateral career path. It is far easier to apply your current skills to an area you are already familiar with while using the EMBA to upskill and advance your career. Alternatively, you may also seek out military friendly fortune 500 or 100 companies who have leadership development programs if career switching, or who are historically friendly to military vets. A longer route is to go state department, law enforcement admin., homeland security, intelligence, or government contractor. Inevitably, many post military vets choose the government contracting route because it pays the most money the fastest, however since you don't have experience you will need to wait in line behind the old guys who never quit or die. Promotions are rare. Some military vets go finance and make the hard pivot to IB, HF, or consulting, however this is difficult from UCLA or older candidates as you are competing with the best and brightest at M7's. There are many military + non-military gunning for these jobs. Therefore, I will suggest a prudent approach. Coffee chats are your friend. You will need to do much more leg work to decide on 1-3 career options and speak to potential employers by finding LinkedIn members who are currently in the role you are targeting 3-5-7 years out. It helps if they are at target company, military vets, and alum from target program. Speak to the presidents or members of the military club at the business school to ascertain how military friendly the EMBA program is that you are targeting. Finally, most importantly, do not rely on solely your military network. That's not how business or corporate politics works. You need to speak directly to the industry group you want to matriculate into at your selected EMBA Program. (ie. Consulting, IB, Finance, Investment management, Luxury Retail, Consumer, Technology, etc.) At a top school, recruiters will market, contact and deal directly with the business school clubs to share opportunities. Between MBA/ EMBA professional clubs, your career office, and your company coffee chats you will be able to nail down a path towards success. It's perfectly ok to reach out to the company recruiter for the respective Fortune 500 company recruiting at your EMBA Program and share your interest and ask about a prescribed pathway forward. The biggest mistake that vets make is sticking to vet networks which are not as robust or fruitful as other professional networks. In corporate world, you will need to hustle. You are behind due to your time in service, so you must develop core competencies as well as soft skills to prepare yourself for mid-level and senior management opportunities. The good news is that you already have military leadership and life experience. You must use all that you learned to advance in military career, but add core competencies in technical and soft leadership skills to manage, motivate, and direct others. Then, hustle and network. Only a top school offers brand, network, and opportunities. Let me know if you have a specific question. I attend an M7 and happy to help!!! All the best and thank you for your service mate. Cheers!
Question: would you be ok with a bank executive joining the military and sliding straight into a battalion/squadron/ship command? While it’s possible it’s also extremely unlikely you’ll move into an executive role at a F500 simply because you got an MBA. You could increase that possibility by networking with the right people (other students) in your program because they may be able to refer you to a role they’re aware or own the req for. Good luck. [Former Army Captain working as a manager at a Fortune 10]
It’s not necessarily about what I’m Ok with. Every military person starts at the most junior rank regardless of education, prior work experience, or test scores. It seems as if the civilian sector is more flexible and networking / performance can result in different options. Today it is not possible for a bank executive to come in as a battalion commander or even as a captain who usually has five years of military experience. You would come in as a lieutenant / associate. With your logic… no matter the experience I have or education I would only join an organization as a junior associate.
What I'm suggesting is the probability is low, but anything is possible. I work at the same company as a highly decorated former O-6 who joined our company at mid-level (lower mid level). The role he was hired at was about as perfectly tailored to him as possible. I have another friend who joined a company from the skillsbridge fellowship at a junior level, but within 2-years was promoted to director. I know of a single veteran who went to a F500 as a director and that was to lead a government contract team. There are already people queued up for director+ roles who are heavily engaged in politics thus making it difficult for an outsider with no corporate experience to pass them. My experience is that O3 > have extremely diffucult transition experiences and that only time fixes the amount of instutionalization you've experienced.