University of Georgia: Andrea Parker
Andrea Parker went directly from high school into the US Coast Guard Academy and graduated in 2001 with a BS in Civil Engineering. She began her career patrolling the waters off of New England to enforce fishery laws, and served in New York Harbor on 9/11 and for several months following. In 2003, Andrea’s mission took her to the Gulf of Mexico, where she oversaw law enforcement for the Gulf region. She stood watch in support of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, participated in search and rescue missions, and worked on port reconstruction in the aftermath of both storms.
Andrea, who has also completed her master’s in engineering management, jumped at the opportunity to get her MBA because she felt it “would give me skills that would be beneficial – and not only in the Coast Guard but also definitely after my time here is done.” Currently, she teaches a course in organizational behavior and leadership to sophomores at the US Coast Guard Academy.
How do your MBA skills support your present job in the Coast Guard?
I could see how the principles I was learning in the classroom played out in my day-to-day work as an officer. I’m no longer just dealing with budgets from a management standpoint – making sure this number matches that one at the end of the month. I now understand budgets and budgeting from a broader perspective, and in relation to fiscal year cycles and continuing resolutions. And I can make the connections between academics and every-day work, and teach those connections to my students. And the MBA definitely opened up an opportunity for me to function at a more strategic level. Before the MBA, even if I sat at the tables where top-level decisions were made, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge or confidence to provide commentary or ask questions.
What surprised you about your MBA experience?
How beneficial team-based learning was, particularly for somebody like me, who had no background in business. And particularly during the first semester when you have economics, finance, marketing … all the different business disciplines coming at you. So it was good to have the opportunity to work with everybody in my group, and to piggyback off of everyone’s ideas.
Were there any other unexpected benefits?
Yes. I really learned a lot about what it means to ‘sell yourself’ to an outside organization, to negotiate a salary and benefits, the gamesmanship that goes with that. Obviously, I don’t have to use those skills right now but they’ll be a feather in my cap later.
Is there anything you wish you had known before applying to graduate business school?
What the student body would be like … the diversity of experience. We had everybody from folks whose organizations were sending them back to school and hoped to get promoted, to those who had left their jobs and wanted to change careers. The cross-section of students, their different needs and reasons for attending … If I had known more about that ahead of time, I would have understood and been able to benefit sooner from other people’s experience and expertise.
Of all the traits that have helped you succeed in the military, which ones have helped you most to succeed in the classroom?
Being organized, having a good work ethic, being hardworking … being unafraid to fail, to make mistakes, and to ask questions. As a junior officer, I’ve been humbled several times before I got to be expert on some things. And so when I started my MBA program, I had some concerns about what I didn’t know. But, I was never afraid that I couldn’t do it. I knew that I just had to make connections with the right people, ask the right questions, put in the right amount of effort, and I would be fine. That’s very similar to the experiences I’d had at new units.
What kind of edge do you believe the military-MBA combination gives you? Will it help you land your dream job in the future?
I’m very proud of the leadership experience, and of what I’ve been able to do as a military officer. I think that background translates well on a resume. And when you add my service to the educational background that I now have with my MBA, I think my credentials are taken care of. I don’t foresee many situations in the future where somebody can say, “Well, we need this, and she doesn’t have it.” So, I feel pretty confident that as long as the opportunity is something that I’m passionate about and a fit for – then I can do it! Now, it’s up to me.
What else would you like to say to others in the military who may be considering a graduate management degree?
Don’t underestimate your ability to do well. I think a lot of times we get caught up in thinking that what we do in the military is so specific that it won’t translate well. “I know I can do law enforcement boarding, but how many civilians will understand what that is and why it’s valuable?” Just take the time think about what you’ve done, the sacrifices you’ve made, and the work ethic you have to have to be successful in the military. Then you’ll see that a lot of the skills you’ve acquired in the military will serve you well in a graduate management program.
