Carolyn Ballinger, Boston Carroll MBA Class of 2025
Age: 35
Hometown: Born in Fremont, CA; Now Resident of Fremont, NH
Undergraduate Institution and Major: United States Naval Academy, B.S. International Relations
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): 17 years active-duty, including 13 years as a Marine Corps officer, and most recently 5 years at Special Mission Units leading cyber teams conducting defensive and offensive operations in support of military special operations
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Transitioning from active-duty military service to the civilian workforce is uniquely challenging, and it is rare for individuals without personal experience in the matter to empathize with veterans in this regard. An MBA program provides the pathway to equitable opportunity for success in the business world by developing a common understanding of language, culture, and technical competence necessary to serve in positions of leadership across public and private industry.
Why did you choose Boston Carroll? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The Boston College Carroll School of Management has a proven track record of successful MBA graduates across multiple sectors. Beyond the quality of the academic education, the small cohort and class sizes appealed to me for the opportunity to develop personal relationships with my classmates. From the moment I interviewed, I felt the sense of community that Boston College offered, and my feelings were reaffirmed by staff and fellow students when I toured the campus. Additionally, the inclusion of data analytics as part of the core curriculum stood out as a salient differentiator in programs, given the ubiquity of data analysis in business today.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the BC Carroll School of Management Class of 2025?
The perspective I bring from serving in senior leadership positions in the conventional military and special operations community provides unique insight to leading in dynamic environments where lives and mission accomplishment, not profits, are the bottom line.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I sang on the David Letterman Show for the Fleet Week 2007 episode.
Post-MBA career interests:
Ultimately, I want to reach a position in life to serve philanthropic pursuits in support of veterans and their families. To get there, I am pursuing entrepreneurship. My husband and I are the Co-Owners and Co-Founders of Northern Pines Canines LLC. We breed and train working dogs for military special operations, law enforcement, and personal protection, service, and therapy dogs. We are in the nascent stages of working with veteran-focused non-profits. I may go on to become a serial entrepreneur, but the end goal is to pay forward goodwill to veterans and families who have given to our Nation.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Ask for and pursue scholarships. Every bit counts, especially when one is committing to a full-time program in place of full-time employment.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Whether or not the schools you are interested in require the GRE/GMAT, prepare for and take one of the exams so that you maximize your opportunity to qualify for scholarships. If you have 30 days or less before applications are due, just take a free practice exam to familiarize yourself with the test, then take it for score. Save yourself time and money from expensive study programs if you have a short timeline.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Given the short timeline I had for application deadlines, I would have skipped the 30-day self-paced GRE study prep as my scores were not vastly different in that short time spans. I got through the 30-day review session by carving out dedicated time in the morning before work and other competing tasks could interfere with my schedule.
What is your initial impression of the Boston Carroll students/culture/community?
Boston College Carroll School of Management exceeds my expectations across all categories. My classmates are approachable, team players, who are all genuinely eager to absorb the education that the MBA program offers. The culture at the Carroll School has a refreshingly practical perspective in that the end goal is to set its graduates up for success post-MBA and not academics for the sake of academics. While the academic program is rigorous, the tone and emphasis is truly learning vice rote memorization. The community is top-notch. There are a multitude of extra-curricular activities. As a member of the Student Veteran Association, the networking connections to key resources and immediate support is impressive (and unfortunately not the norm based on stories I have heard from fellow veterans at other universities).
What is one thing you have learned about Boston Carroll that has surprised you?
Prior to applying for the program, I had no idea that the full-time program orientation was packed full of such amazing professional development coursework. The Dale Carnegie public speaking crash course was a pleasant surprise, and I believe it was key in breaking down barriers to the typical hesitancy for students to speak up in class.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am most anxious about balancing the competing obligations I have on my plate in addition to the full-time MBA program. I am working through the time crunch by strictly prioritizing my limited time while maintaining perspective that the first semester is not the norm, given the quarter versus semester-long classes.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited about growing my network and expanding my perspective after serving in the military for nearly two decades. Having classmates from multiple generations and diverse backgrounds, both personally and professionally, will be a fantastic experience in getting reacquainted with the civilian fabric of America.
