Matt McKenna, MS in Management, Strategy and Leadership
Last Updated October 24, 2024
With 14 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Matt McKenna knows firsthand the importance of critical thinking and strategic leadership in solving complex tactical challenges in the field. In a high-stakes situation, those strategies and methods must be immediately applicable.
That was “one of the things I loved most about the program,” McKenna says of earning his Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership. “I could learn about something on Monday, then take it to work and apply it later that week. I called it my ‘leadership laboratory!’”
We spoke with McKenna about his experience in MSU’s online degree program and how processes he implemented from his coursework “are still going strong.”
Q. Tell us about your background.
I am currently serving on active duty in the United States Air Force and have been in the service for 14 years. I grew up as a military brat and consider home to be Massachusetts, as that is where my dad retired. I’m married to the love of my life, Jamie, and we will celebrate our ninth anniversary this year. We have two boys, Noah and Michael, and our family lives in North Carolina. I could not have completed the program without Jamie’s support, as she enabled me to invest time in studying and completing assignments.
Q. What were the most important factors in your decision to choose MSU and this degree program?
There were several criteria that I considered when searching for the right program. I wanted a program that would challenge me and help grow my leadership capabilities, so I sought a degree that I could apply to both my military and post-military career. I also wanted to find a reputable program with an engaged faculty at a reasonable cost. I have to say I found all of that in MSU’s program— the instruction was phenomenal and a great value relative to the incredible instruction. I still feel like I was on the better end of the bargain!
Q. How will your MSU degree make a difference in your career?
I believe the program has already made a difference in my career. One of the things I loved most about the program was that I could learn about something on Monday, then take it to work and apply it later that week. I called it my “leadership laboratory!” I feel the program really opened my thought process to the problems that organizations face – when you can talk with your leaders about solutions to current strategic and tactical level problems, opportunities and new doors tend to open.
Q. Now that you have your degree, what’s next for your future plans or goals?
I plan on completing at least 20 years in the Air Force, and I will be looking towards my next rank in the coming year. I have a passion for formal learning and my next educational goal is to apply and be accepted to a top-tier MBA program prior to departing the service. I believe that, combined with my MS in Management, Strategy and Leadership, an MBA will provide the capability to understand and work with all aspects and levels of an organization.
Q. What surprised you most about taking an online program?
I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged many of my classmates were in online discussions, video chats and online lectures. There was really a wide variety of experience in our student body. We had hospital managers, an auto-industry executive, retail store managers, plant managers, and a few military folks. There was a lot of discussion about the wide variety of problems that we faced or had overcome, and how we did so. This was an incredible part of the course because cumulatively, we had hundreds of years leading and managing organizations. I learned so much from my classmates during this program.
Q. What was your favorite class and why?
MGT 801 – Analyzing Your Organization. This was the final project class where we had the opportunity to put together everything we had learned. The project provided an opportunity for me to engage with senior Air Force leaders. Months later, the information, databases, and processes that we put in place as a result of the project are still going strong. The class assignment really ended up helping my organization.
Q. What was your most valuable takeaway from the program?
The ability to think about and understand an organization on both a macro and micro level. Over the course of the program, when people would ask me what I’m learning about, I’d tell them an analogy about a fish. A fish can move so well through water because all its scales are pointed in the same direction. If we think about an organization, every single one of the programs, policies, decisions, goals, and strategies represent a single scale on that fish. If there isn’t alignment, the fish will not move through the water as efficiently as possible. This program teaches you to see the connection between the individual scales, determine if a scale is pointing the wrong direction and determine how to re-orientate those scales.
Q. What advice would you give other students who are considering enrolling in this program?
Do it! The Eli Broad College of Business’ MS in Management, Strategy and Leadership program is a true gem. There were so many instances where I would learn about a new concept one night and then be able to apply it within my organization the following day. I considered myself a critical thinker before the program, but it really helped me to think both big-picture and little-picture while seamlessly transitioning ideas from the classroom to the office.
Q. Who has been your support system throughout your student journey?
My wife Jamie’s encouragement and support along the way made all the difference. She provided me with the time to study on the weekends and helped me celebrate the completion of each class or after a big test. I was lucky to have her cheering me along.
Q. What was the most challenging part of your student journey?
I think the most challenging part of my MSU journey was finding a way to balance my assignment schedule with military training in the field. It took a little getting used to, but carefully planning out assignments, deadlines and occasionally working ahead helped keep me on track. On a rare occasion, there was a hard conflict, the professors were always willing to work with me.
Q. Who or what inspires you to succeed?
My good friend Kevin Flike served as the inspiration to take on the challenge of grad school. Kevin was a Green Beret who I had the pleasure of serving with on a 2011 deployment. A few weeks after I departed to head home, Kevin was severely wounded on the battlefield and was medically retired. His incredible journey of recovery and acceptance into a dual-degree MBA/MPA program served as my motivation to take the steps to apply to MSU.
Q. What is one fun fact about you?
I am a terrible golfer, but I really enjoy the game!
