As we honor and celebrate veterans this month, current NYU Stern MBA ’26 students Christopher Lynas and Shea Sara, Co-Presidents of Stern’s Military Veterans Club, share how they navigated the shift from the military to the MBA, and what they’ve learned along the way.
From Naval Flight Officer to Stern MBA: Owning Change and Paying It Forward
By Christopher Lynas, NYU Stern MBA ’26
I served as a naval flight officer for eight years after commissioning from the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit at Fordham University in the Bronx. As a naval aviator, I flew the P-8 Poseidon and led a crew of 10 sailors and officers on anti-submarine and maritime surveillance missions around the world. I concluded my time in the Navy at a test and evaluation squadron in Southern California.
About two years before the end of my final contract, I decided on graduate school as my next step, yet I underestimated how unprepared I was to set and go after my next goals. What made the journey manageable, and inspiring, was the culture of veterans helping veterans. Executing missions with a relatively small aircrew, I learned the importance of dependability, teamwork, and commitment to a common goal, and at the earliest stages of my transition, I saw that this was a valuable habit I wanted to continue.
Why Stern
I chose NYU Stern because of the Fertitta Veterans MBA Program. Beyond the scholarship benefit, the summer programming proved invaluable. Many veterans’ transitions to the civilian workforce are aptly described by the phrase, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” The Fertitta summer program provided early exposure, guidance, and mentorship that allowed me to begin developing and testing my career goals before stepping into the classroom.
This early experience reinforced a theme I loved so much about flying with my crew: I was never in it alone, and it continues to guide my journey at Stern. The resources, community, and support of the Military Veterans Club, whether through club involvement, mentoring MBA 1s, and offering advice to prospective student veterans, is all part of it. I owe a lot to the people who took time from their studies or internships to help me with applications, essays, or career advice. Their support made a lasting impact on me, and it’s what drives me to stay involved and give back.
Now, as I pursue a career in entrepreneurship, I can combine the autonomy and immediate impact I seek, which are enabled by the risk tolerance and determination I developed in the Navy. These traits first sparked my interest in entrepreneurial ventures, but it was the trust and guidance I received from my veteran classmates and the broader Stern veteran community that gave me confidence to pursue an early-stage company. Their candid advice empowered me to take the leap.
From Marine Corps Leadership to Stern MBA
By Shea Sara, NYU Stern MBA ’26
I served for eight years in the Marine Corps after graduating from the US Naval Academy in 2016. As a Communications Officer, I had the profound opportunity to lead Marines as a platoon commander, operations officer, and executive officer. Later, I had the privilege of serving as an instructor at the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course for four years.
The military taught me how to lead through uncertainty and accomplish missions with limited resources. Over time, though, I realized I wanted to apply those skills in an environment that remained challenging, but more predictable and sustainable. I had achieved what I set out to do in uniform, and it felt like the right moment to take on a new kind of challenge.
Why Stern
I knew I wanted to return home to New York to be closer to family, so I was fortunate to find the Fertitta Veterans MBA Program at NYU Stern. I started the program immediately after the military, and I can’t overstate its value. The early coursework, with professors who understood that many of us were starting without a business background, helped us build a solid foundation in the fundamentals. The corporate treks, meanwhile, gave us exposure to different industries and career paths, and helped us practice networking. Most importantly, the program is exclusive to veterans. It allowed us to maintain that same sense of camaraderie and community we had in the military while navigating the challenges of transition together—sharing resources, experiences, and asking questions when we ran into problems.
During the Fertitta treks, I discovered that management consulting aligned naturally with my problem-solving experience from the Marine Corps—working with small, mission-driven teams tackling complex challenges. With the support of multiple veteran mentors, I secured an internship with a global management consulting firm this past summer and will be returning full-time after graduation.
If I could go back and give myself advice when I was deciding to transition, I’d say this: your skill set is far more translatable than you think. The military offers a unique opportunity for leadership and impact, but you can find those same opportunities after the transition too. The biggest challenge to prepare for isn’t the work itself, it’s finding and keeping your community, learning to tell your story in non-military terms, and taking more initiative than ever before. At NYU Stern I’ve been fortunate to find challenges in the classroom, community among fellow veterans, and the opportunity to give back by helping others through their own transition.
