S2E1 - From Steering Submarines to Attending Tepper w/ Chris Szymanski

Humans of Tepper

Welcome to a new season of the Humans of Tepper Podcast with cohosts Ben Fontana and Kara Buggy. Ben and Kara are MBA class of 2022 students, and our guest is Chris Szymanski. Chris is a part-time MBA student at Tepper as well as on active duty in the Navy. Chris graduated from United States Naval Academy in 2015. His undergraduate degree is in engineering, but he couldn't see himself doing that for the rest of his life. He changed paths to learning about nuclear power before working on nuclear reactors worldwide during his deployment. After deployment, he decided to pursue his MBA.

What really stood out about Tepper to Chris was the part-time program being the same as the online program, which offered him flexibility. The staff and faculty are also very willing to work with students to meet their needs. Chris found the access weekends and camaraderie it opened with other students very surprising and not something he was expecting. The courses give a great base knowledge, despite how much work they can be. The courses are scheduled for different times at night, which allows for flexibility no matter where students are located. Faculty is very accommodating, whether it be for time changes or extensions for assignments.

Chris attributes his work in the military to giving him the ability to work with people from different backgrounds. It gives a unique ability to "speak another person's language" because many of these peers are international. Working in the Navy has also done wonders for Chris's time management. The more senior you get in the military, the more you become a teacher to those coming in.

The Tepper Veteran's Association provides a unique mix of veterans from different backgrounds. It's a great place to network, exploring new ideas, and overall creating camaraderie that is much needed after transitioning out of the military. They will help translate your military skills into business and civilians skills in your resume and interviews. Business school is a great way to transfer out of the military because it helps translate and build your leadership skills to a new environment. Business school also opens up so many doors later on. Chris invites anyone looking to transition to business school to reach out to them through their Tepper Veteran's Association website.

You Will Learn:

1. Chris Szymanski’s background in the military and how it led him to Tepper Business school
2. Why business school is a great option for people looking to transition out of the military
3. How Tepper offers flexibility and resources to part-time students