Biography
After 23 years of serving in the U.S. Army, Phil Paquette was ready to ‘bridge the gap’ and chart a new path. “My wife and I had a discussion about what was next in life, and we decided that graduate education was a good option. It was an opportunity for us to bridge the gap from military life to the civilian and private sector.”
Throughout his career, Phil worked with the military and veteran communities at Emory and Goizueta multiple times, giving him an inside look at the MBA community. “[Goizueta] was first on my mind when I started to look at graduate schools, and we're looking to plant our roots here in Georgia. What better place to go to than the esteemed Emory business school?”
The Silver Star recipient joined the Master in Business for Veterans cohort, a program specifically designed to help those in the military pair their leadership experience with business skills to help them find a successful career in the corporate world. “I needed a program that could help me leverage my leadership, relationship-building, problem-solving and strategic planning skills into the private and corporate business sectors.”
During his time in the program, Phil enjoyed collaborating and networking with his community, including his professors. “What I like most about the Master in Business for Veterans program so far is the professors. They have done a great job taking a group of veterans who may not have been in school for 10 or more years, and they've adjusted their teaching style to create an environment where we are able to learn, collaborate amongst each other, and leverage our experience and leadership.”
As for the future, Phil looks forward to building a new career where he can apply his military leadership experience and graduate education to real-world business challenges. “The Master in Business for Veterans program’s focus on practical application and case studies will provide opportunities to do just that. I also look forward to collaborating with fellow veterans and learning from their diverse experiences.”