What was your undergraduate university and major?
I received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University prior to completing my MBA.
Why did you decide to apply to HBS via the 2+2 deferred admissions process?
Education has always been very important to my family, and I believe it was the best ROI you can get. Thus, an MBA was already on the table for me while at Purdue. Applying while I was still in my undergraduate studies had two unique advantages: 1) I was already in the academic mindset to be competitive with the GMAT and my application, and 2) it provided clarity on my career planning for the next 4-5 years.
How long was your deferral (2,3, or 4 years)?
I chose to defer for three years. The flexibility of the 2+2 Program allowed me to take the extra year to complete an assignment and project in which I was working with ExxonMobil. The third year provided a stronger foundation to broaden my perspective with the case study method and the benefit at work of seeing a large capital project through a completion milestone.
Did 2+2 change your path or alter your post-undergraduate plans?
The 2+2 program didn’t alter my path but allowed me more freedom after Purdue. Having a guaranteed next step provided a safety net that enabled me to more freely choose work assignments that I knew weren’t permanent. At ExxonMobil, I traveled and worked on international projects in the Gulf States and Asia before working in Alaska for two years. I was liberated to be fully focused at work without the distraction of scoping or applying to graduate schools.
Where are you currently working? Can you describe your role?
I am currently working at Hilcorp Energy Company, a private US production company. I have held both operations and project roles. My current role is to identify, scope, and execute new oil and gas development opportunities.
What projects/roles/opportunities did you purse during or after the 2+2 Program?
I have a passion for energy – it is what fuels civilization and development. The HBS MBA enabled me to tease out the types of jobs and roles in which I will thrive within the energy industry. Through HBS, I learned what HBS Professor Kevin Sharer aptly stated are the three big zones of careers: operator, investor, or advisor. I leveraged the summer trying out the advisor role through a management consultant internship at McKinsey. In three short months, I learned that the coaching wasn’t my primary color. I get fulfillment being inside the operations and wearing the general management hat which caused me to go back into an operating company. Furthermore, HBS gave me a better appreciation for the investor and advisor and how those capacities facilitate success for individuals and companies.
What impact has HBS had on your career?
While HBS brought clarity to career planning, the biggest impact HBS had was the relationships it forged. It created deep relationships that intersects so many different aspects of my life – family, faith, careers, hobbies, and locations. I connect regularly with section mates and classmates to catch up on life, discuss hot topics, seek advice, and laugh or cry together. The beauty of HBS is that it puts you into the alumni network where there is never a cold call.
What is the most inspiring/exciting project you’ve worked on?
The summer prior to entering my RC year, my wife, Shannon, and I traveled into rural Nicaragua with Living Water International to engage with a community. We had a mission – love on the people of the small community and serve them by drilling a freshwater well to provide sustainable, safe water. After a long week and two unsuccessful dry holes, we secured a clean water source. As a result, we provided an essential, desperately needed resource, and I strengthened my personal faith with God along with seeing some of my engineering background in action. That is just one of the experiences I was afforded over the course of two years through the flexible schedule built into the HBS MBA program.
What advice do you have for prospects considering the 2+2 program?
Apply. If you are reading this post and considering the 2+2 Program, you already have an interest in pursuing an MBA from the top business school (I may be biased). The 2+2 Program provides an option that can have infinite value. Whether you decide to attend in 2 years or 4 years, the program provides optionality upon completion of your undergraduate degree. Chances are you will matriculate and embark on a life changing experience that you certainly won’t regret.
