Mike Finocchio - From Army Aviation to Harvard Business
Tell us about yourself, Mike!
Hometown: Winter Springs, FL
What is your anticipated school and intended major? Business at Harvard Business School, Class of 2025
Fun Fact About Yourself: I feel most at peace when diving below the ocean's surface.
What did you do in the military? As an Army Aviation officer, I held various roles including aviation maintenance company commander, Black Hawk helicopter pilot-in-command, and task force intelligence officer.
What was your proudest accomplishment in the military? My proudest accomplishment in the Army involved serving as an intelligence officer while deployed to Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot and presenting the risk assessments to senior leadership that facilitated zero loss of aviation assets.
What was the biggest benefit to using Service to School throughout the application process? Service to School provided the means to connect with not just a personalized ambassador, but also a wider pool of veterans that wanted nothing more than for me to succeed. Service to School essentially set the stage for building a team of support that proved absolutely invaluable throughout my entire application process.
Why did you decide to pursue this education path? In order to effectively transition from an Army Aviation career to a career in sustainable business, I knew I needed to pursue a degree program with transformative capability. An MBA program with environmental initiative seemed like the perfect solution.
How has the transition from military to civilian life been? My transition from military to civilian life is still ongoing. Thus far, the process has been exceptionally smooth because of the connections I made with fellow veterans throughout the MBA application process.
What are you most excited about in regards to starting school? I'm most excited about getting to know and learning from incredible classmates from all walks of life. My favorite part about Harvard Business School is undoubtedly the case method. The case method demands engaged conversation from every student, bringing to light fascinating discussions that would normally remain hidden in a traditional classroom.
What are your goals post-graduation? Following graduation, I hope to work in management consulting and gravitate towards climate/sustainability projects. After I accrue substantial industry experience, I hope to then transition into an executive leadership role at a climate-focused organization.
Mike's advice for veterans who are applying to college:
Your experiences in the military harbor truly fascinating stories. Through the process of deliberate self-reflection, you will find the most effective means to tell those stories. Peer-to-peer mentorship was without a doubt the single most effective way to navigate the graduate school application process.
Peer-to-peer mentorship facilitates the genuine, frank conversations one needs to truly understand their position in the applicant pool. I could not recommend peer-to-peer mentorship highly enough.
Congrats again Mike on your acceptance to Harvard Business School!
