Jacob Theodor, OSU Fisher’s MBA Class of 2024
Age: 27
Hometown: Saint Paris, Ohio
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Cincinnati, Arabic Language and Culture
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years, US Army (DoD)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
In my previous career, I was an Army Ranger and Special Operations Intelligence Officer in the US Army. Although I loved my experience in the Army, my wife and I decided it was the right time for me to get out and transition to a more stable lifestyle where we could raise kids together without me having to deploy every year. I knew that I wanted to “career pivot” and transition to the business world, so now was the perfect time to attend business school to assist with my transition from the military to a career in business.
Why did you choose OSU Fisher? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
First and foremost, my wife and I grew up in Ohio and going to school here allows us the opportunity to stay close with and visit our family. With that considered, the decision to attend Fisher was easy! The intentionally small class size and extremely collaborative classroom culture were the two things that really made OSU Fisher stand out amongst other schools and made me feel confident in my decision to go to school here.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I believe my most valuable and differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024 is my unique background coming from the Special Operations and Intelligence Community environment. As a former Army Ranger, I was immersed within one of the world’s greatest organizational cultures throughout my time in the 75th Ranger Regiment. I believe this gives me a unique perspective when it comes to demonstrating leadership and soft skills, as well as understanding the characteristics found within extremely high-performing organizations. The great thing about OSU Fisher is that all of the students come from unique backgrounds and possess unique perspectives, which is why I try to share my experience whenever appropriate in order to benefit the class and aid in classroom discussion.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I am very family oriented and just celebrated my first wedding anniversary with my wife, Ellen, this September. We are also expecting our first child this coming March, so my spring semester is really going to test my managerial multi-tasking skills in such a great way! 🙂
Post-MBA career interests:
I am looking to build upon my Special Operations experience of synthesizing large datasets of intelligence by transitioning to the Data Analytics field. I would like to start a career in the Technology industry performing a managerial data analytics role where I can assist with my future company’s ability to make data-driven decisions.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process
I would ABSOLUTELY attend Fisher OSU’s Red Carpet Weekend again. In my opinion, there is simply no substitute for touring your prospective MBA program in person at a designated recruitment event. Fisher’s Red Carpet Weekend allowed me to get an in-person experience of the College’s culture and amazing resources and faculty. Not only that, but we go to meet 2nd year MBA students and speak with them candidly about their experience in the program. This was a great experience that totally solidified my decision to come to OSU Fisher.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would spend more time preparing myself for the Kira Talent recorded interview questions. Although this was a quick and easy step to the MBA application process, it can be very awkward answering questions without a human on the other end of the interview. Not to mention, you only have one attempt to answer the questions so that leaves little room for error. I would have practiced this step a bit more before completing the Kira interview if I had to go back and do things differently.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the live interview process just because I was definitely nervous for this portion despite preparing significantly. The best advice I can give for interview prep is to prepare significantly for any behavioral questions they may ask using the STAR format. The goal is to have great examples from your previous experience, and to be able to communicate these experiences to the interviewer to illustrate to them that you have the necessary skills and competencies that they are looking for. By utilizing your past experiences, it allows you to come across as more genuine and less scripted when being interviewed. Furthermore, the more you prepare, the more confident you will be during the interview, no matter how nervous you may be when it first kicks off.
What is your initial impression of the OSU Fisher students/culture/community?
I could not have a better first impression of the OSU Fisher community. The culture is extremely collaborative and promotes everyone’s best interests, which I really appreciate. I was also blown away by the level of support that OSU Fisher provides from not only our professors, but also our career management and academic advisor teams as well. It truly feels like everyone has invested interest in your success, which is very comforting during times when your academics and job search efforts can feel overwhelming.
What is one thing you have learned about OSU Fisher that has surprised you?
I was surprised to learn about OSU Fisher’s intentionally small class size of less than 60 MBA Students. Ohio State is a huge university with plenty to do and plenty of resources to take advantage of as a student. However, the intentionally small class size of the OSU Fisher MBA community is very beneficial in that it allows you to develop deeper connections with your classmates and faculty. I really love how OSU Fisher allows you to experience a small classroom environment, while also allowing access to the resources that come with a large university.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am most anxious about landing a good internship opportunity for this upcoming summer. With that said, I do feel more than prepared thanks to OSU Fisher’s Office of Career Management, which has done a phenomenal job getting us prepared for the internship search.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited about landing my internship for this upcoming summer. Although it is a source of anxiety for me now, I can’t wait to secure an internship and begin prepping for my future career.
