The Acton Blog highlights the experiences of alumni who transitioned from the US armed forces to the Acton MBA program. Featuring four distinguished graduates from different military branches, the blog explores how their military training enhanced their leadership, decision-making, and operational skills in the classroom and beyond. These veterans bring a unique perspective to entrepreneurship and business management, leveraging their disciplined backgrounds to excel in Acton’s intensive, hands-on learning environment. The alumni share their journeys, the impact of their military experience on their academic and professional lives, and offer valuable advice to fellow servicemen and women considering an MBA or entrepreneurial path at Acton.

At Acton, our alumni pursue businesses in a wide variety of industries—including technology, energy, fitness, and manufacturing—utilizing many different business models and structures well suited to each respective industry. However, a number of our alumni have found particular success with the franchise model, which can be applied across many business categories. Operating as independent franchisees of nationally branded businesses, they are able to create and steer their own businesses, while drawing from established branding, practices, and reputations.

“I chose Acton because it offered a ‘no fluff’ education in entrepreneurship. Acton focuses on teaching the fundamentals of planning, launching, growing, and ultimately selling a business.”

We recently caught up with three of our alumni, each having entered this critical industry in a different capacity. They shared their own unique perspectives on oil and gas, the larger energy industry, and how Acton has shaped their respective careers.

This blog post discusses the unique advantages that military members and veterans bring to MBA programs, highlighting their leadership, decision-making skills, and ability to handle high-pressure situations. It argues that an MBA can greatly benefit military personnel transitioning to the corporate world, reservists with business aspirations, and those seeking to further their military careers. The post emphasizes the value of a hands-on, action-oriented education for these students and outlines financial aid options, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help offset tuition costs. The piece concludes by encouraging interested military members to consider MBA programs that align with their goals and values, like Acton.

Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey is challenging not only for you but also for your spouse and family. It demands a significant investment of resources—both monetary and time.

At Acton, we often emphasize the importance of starting with the end in mind. Understanding the ultimate goal makes the entire process more bearable for everyone involved, especially if the rewards justify the risks and sacrifices that are necessary.

While enrolled at Acton, our students are run through the trenches, stepping into the shoes of real entrepreneurs as they dissect, decide, and debate hundreds of real-life business cases. But no matter how many great lessons you can take from a good case discussion, it’s always most exciting to check in with our alumni and learn about the real businesses, jobs, and value that they’ve created since graduating from Acton.

We recently caught up with Scott Donnell (’09) who founded Apex Fun Run about eighteen months after graduating from Acton. He related his company’s successes, some surprises, and talked about how the firm is the realization of both market needs and his pursuit of his own passion and calling.