Tyler Szczecina, Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2028
Age: 32
Hometown: St. John, IN
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Norwich University, B.S. Business Administration
Pre-MBA Work Experience: U.S. Army Special Operations (Ranger) 8 years / Wealth Management, VP, Retirement Planner, 5 years / Pre MBA Internship Principal, Holding Company (Property Management), 6 months
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After spending 8 years in the Army, including multiple combat deployments, I came home and built a career in financial advising while completing my degree entirely online, often while still deployed and working full time. Somewhere in that process, I got curious about what else was out there. As the first person in my family to pursue higher education, this entire path was new to me, and I leaned heavily on former colleagues who had gone through top MBA programs to help me think it through. What became clear was that if I wanted to pivot into a new career, I needed real formal training in strategy and operations to back up the experience I already had.
Why now: the timing lined up both professionally and personally. Professionally, I’m ready to move into an industry that excites me and a function that will push me every day. Between my time in a Special Operations unit and my background in financial advising, I feel prepared to take the leap into the unknowns ahead. Personally, I have three kids, and while they’re young and resilient, this felt like the window where we could afford to make the jump.
Why did you choose Michigan Ross? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Ross for its proximity to Chicago, its strength in developing operations leaders, and, admittedly, the Big House. Ross is known for its culture, and the athletics program is a big part of that, bringing people together in a way that carries over into the classroom. The veteran outreach also stood out to me. The Armed Forces Association was proactive in reaching out and taking the time to talk with me, more so than any other school I spoke with, and that told me something about the community I’d be joining. But fundamentally, what drew me in was the sheer amount of team-based work built into the program. I’m especially excited about the Multidisciplinary Action Projects in the spring.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
My most valuable contribution is a combination of leadership under real, high stakes pressure while serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment across four combat deployments, paired with hands on experience being part of a private wealth management practice’s rapid growth, from 8 employees to roughly 40 in 18 months. Most people bring one or the other, either operational leadership or client facing expertise. I bring both, and I know how to translate lessons from one into the other. I am very self-aware and have made plenty of mistakes both as an employee and as a leader, and those experiences are part of who I am today. That combination shapes how I approach problems, how I lead teams, and how I show up for classmates when the stakes in a group project feel a lot lower than what I am accustomed to.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
Nearly a decade ago, during a stretch of specialized mountain training, I spent 8 weeks cross country skiing through the Sierra Nevada mountain range and became Level 1 avalanche certified in the process.
Post-MBA career interests:
Industrial Operations and Manufacturing Leadership / Operations Consulting
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I spent over a year researching, networking, and doing real self-reflection to figure out who I am and how an MBA from a place like Ross could help me get where I’m going professionally. I’d encourage anyone considering an MBA to do the same: take the time to understand who you are, why you actually want this degree, and where it’s meant to take you. I did not go on this journey alone and I can’t thank those who were part of it enough.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have prepared more for interviews. I felt strong about every other part of my application, but I didn’t leverage the network I had to run through mock interviews, and it showed. My confidence was high but my responses came out choppy, or what most people would call rambling.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
This might not be the response most would expect, but I wouldn’t skip any of it. Looking back at the entire process, it helped me develop more than I expected. I’ve never felt more prepared and confident to join an elite group of classmates, and that wouldn’t be the case if any part of the process had been removed. It’s something I genuinely appreciate and respect, and I enjoyed the challenge of getting here.
What is your initial impression of the Michigan Ross students/culture/community?
My initial impression of Michigan was during the application process and the bar was set high with those who welcomed me in and helped me as if I was already a Michigan Wolverine. Upon admittance, it became very clear to me that, everyone here is truly looking out for each other and celebrating the success of one another. To join Ross is great, but to be part of the University of Michigan and to walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest leaders before me is even more exciting.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
Naturally, I’ll be joining the Armed Forces Association to continue supporting veterans in pursuing higher education. I was an enlisted guy in the Army with no education, and I want to keep advocating for those who self-select out and don’t realize what they’re truly capable of achieving. I was that exact person two years ago, and I’ll always look for ways to give back. I also plan to join the Consulting Club and the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, along with a few others that tie into my career goals or genuinely interest me. There are more I’d like to join than I probably have time for, but I’m looking forward to narrowing that down over the next week or so.
What is one thing you have learned about Michigan Ross that has surprised you?
One thing that’s surprised me is just how active and integrated the veteran community is at Ross. Going in, I expected a small group of veterans quietly doing their own thing. What I found instead was a network that’s genuinely invested in each other’s success, from the outreach I got during the application process to the way current students and alumni continue to show up for incoming veterans. It’s clear this isn’t just a checkbox affinity group; it’s a real community.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
In my first year, I’m most excited about the networking opportunities and learning, not just from my professors, but from my classmates and company representatives on campus and beyond. That’s what it’s all about: learning in the classroom, compounding your network, and forging relationships that will last a lifetime, all starting right here in year one. And, of course, watching Michigan football, hockey, basketball and the rest of the Athletic Department dominate their opponents. I’m looking forward to that just as much.
