Army veteran Joe Allen 25MBV leveraged Goizueta’s Master of Business for Veterans program to prepare for civilian leadership—gaining the confidence, network, and business skills to launch a successful second career.
While serving as a commanding officer at Fort Benning, Georgia, Joe Allen 25MBV knew he wanted to position himself for long-term success beyond military service. With a growing family and the demands of Army leadership, he sought a program that would allow him to continue serving while preparing for the transition into the civilian workforce.
“I chose the Master of Business for Veterans program because I wanted to set myself up for success in the civilian world after completing my service in the Army,” Allen says. “Taking two years off to complete a full-time MBA program wasn’t feasible for me. The Master of Business for Veterans program provided the education I was seeking, aligned with my work schedule, and allowed me to be present for my wife and children.”
Because of the Master of Business for Veterans program, I was able to land a job as a business unit leader and P&L owner directly out of the Army. My salary exceeded expectations, and my professional network has grown tremendously.
Joe Allen 25MBV
Allen says the experience transformed both his confidence and career trajectory. The education, mentorship, and relationships he developed during the program prepared him to lead in highly technical and business-critical situations, and the impact was immediate following his transition from the Army. He credits the program with helping him secure a leadership role with significant operational responsibility within the commercial aerospace industry directly after military service.
“Because of the Master of Business for Veterans program, I was able to land a job as a business unit leader and P&L owner directly out of the Army,” he says. “My salary exceeded expectations, and my professional network has grown tremendously.”
An Immediate Return on Investment
Even while enrolled in the program, Allen found ways to immediately apply what he was learning in the classroom to his military leadership role.
“While I was in the program, I was the commanding officer of a basic training troop at Fort Benning,” he says.
“The skills I learned undoubtedly made me a better officer and leader. I leveraged what I learned in the classroom with my unit and all our performance metrics improved across the board.”
A Community That Endures
For Allen, one of the most lasting aspects of the experience has been the close-knit community formed within the cohort.
“I greatly appreciated the sense of community within the Master of Business for Veterans cohort,” he says. “It truly felt like a family. I stay in close communication with my classmates to this day. The culture of the program and Emory is truly special.”
He also points to the faculty and mentorship experience as a defining characteristic of the program.
“The faculty and professional mentors at Goizueta are among the best,” Allen says. “No other master’s program I looked into had the same commitment to student growth.”
Ready to build on your military leadership experience? Discover how Goizueta’s Master of Business for Veterans program prepares service members for successful careers beyond the military.
