US Army Officer Swaps The Military For A Consulting Career After MBA

Getting to tell everyone your dad is in the Air Force is pretty cool when you’re a kid—but for Cade Ricker it also meant a childhood spent constantly on the move.

By the time he was 18, Cade had lived in 11 different towns across the US, which, for anyone counting, meant no more than two years in any one location. 

“It gave me a great worldview,” he says, “but I never really had anywhere that I called home.”

With the military a large part of his upbringing, Cade was set on his decision to follow in his dad’s footsteps and enlist. But he was keen not to limit his career options. 

He opted to get his undergrad degree in systems engineering at West Point, before being sent out on active duty in Fort Knox—one of the world’s most high-tech artillery compounds. There, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an operations manager and coordinating groups of up to 40 soldiers.

Fast forward to today, and Cade is now a graduate of the Emory University Goizueta Business School MBA, equally comfortable commanding a team of consultants as he is a group of soldiers. But how did he get there?

Why the Emory MBA? 

Joining the military was always a short-term plan for Cade. After deciding to transition out, he was overwhelmed by the variety of options open to him. 

“It gave me a great foundation in people skills, project management, and construction operations,” he explains. “But at the same time, I didn’t want to sell myself short.” 

Despite having a wealth of management and teambuilding skills, he was worried a lack of technical business knowhow would limit his career opportunities. 

Consulting friends for advice, they suggested he earn an MBA, arguing that studying a high-level business degree would allow him to catch up on the theory while also making the most of the soft skills he had picked up in the Army. 

Convinced of the value an MBA could bring to his career, Cade reviewed several MBA options—but Emory was the one that stood out.  

Not only was he eligible for Goizueta Business School's prestigious Woodruff scholarship, which awards free tuition and on-campus room and board to promising students dedicated to bringing about social change, he was also impressed by the school’s personalized approach to the student experience.

Given the school’s student-faculty ratio of five to one, each class member can avail of plenty of one-on-one support. 

“It’s very clear that Emory invests intentionally and a significant amount in each individual student,” he says. 

What skills did you learn?

Cade’s first week at business school ended up looking more like an army drill than he’d expected. 

Bussed down to Fort Moore, Georgia, in 100-degree heat, the Emory MBA class undertook an obstacle course under the stringent supervision of retired lieutenant general Ken Keene, who is the associate dean of leadership development at Goizueta. 

“It really helps bond those core teams that you're going to go through your first semester with,” Cade says. 

Teamwork is just one important skill the Emory MBA fosters. Lecturers also make sure individuals are learning to their full potential through deep classroom discussions, case studies, and group projects.

“It helps you get more comfortable being uncomfortable,” Cade says. 

In their second semester, students can choose from a range of more than 90 electives and over 20 concentrations, such as consulting, investment banking, and brand management, after which they have the opportunity to complete one summer-long work experience.

Securing an internship with EY Parthenon meant Cade was able to apply his newfound corporate strategy skills to a high-pressure consultancy role, an experience which ultimately inspired his next career move.  

How has the MBA helped your career now?

After interning at EY-P, Cade was certain he wanted to pursue a career in consulting. But, given the industry’s competitive nature, landing a job offer was not a certainty. 

“It was tough,” he admits. “But really leaning into Goizueta's Career Management Center was super beneficial.”

Goizueta's Graduate Career Management Center provides every MBA student with one-on-one coaching, covering everything from professional advice to interview prep. Cade’s military background meant he was also able to attend the MBA veterans conference, which provided him with strategic connections.  

This networking paid off when a friend he’d made during his internship contacted him about an exciting new role at a consultancy startup.   

Now a senior associate, he uses the core skills he learned in the Emory MBA program such as critical thinking, marketing, and data analysis to provide lasting solutions for clients. He’s excited about what a career in consulting might bring moving forward. 

“My skill set has increased significantly in being able to put structures around complex problems,” he says. 

While journeying from the barracks to b-school is perhaps a more unorthodox MBA path, Cade credits not just the classes, but the power of the connections he has made in expanding his entire career outlook. 

“Seeing the value of the Emory MBA come into full force through tapping into your own network has been invaluable,” he says.