Jesse Johnson

Before joining the Ross family, I spent over a decade in the government sector, serving as an Army Special Forces weapons sergeant and later as a security program manager for the National Nuclear Security Administration. I am currently transitioning to consulting, aiming to leverage my extensive knowledge and skills to create value both locally and globally.

Why did I choose Ross?

I began exploring MBA programs 18 months before my anticipated start date, engaging in numerous coffee chats with students and alumni. It quickly became evident that Ross was a top-notch program, but what truly sold me was the people. The culture at Ross, combined with exceptional instruction, fosters an environment where students thrive through experiences of initial discomfort, varying degrees of failure, success, and ultimately mastery. The unwavering support from faculty and students is a constant. Overcoming imposter syndrome is a shared experience, addressed from the very beginning during orientation.

An MBA at any top 15 program is challenging, but at Ross, the community ethos is unique: “We are all in this together; my success depends on yours; we are a community.”

My driving force is the redistribution of equality within the immediate community and, eventually, on a global scale.

In addition to my professional pursuits, I am an ultramarathoner. My last 100-mile run ended with me in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis, having completed 90 out of 100 miles. I am also an avid outdoorsman and reached the final round of “Naked and Afraid” before work commitments interfered.

Most importantly, I cannot stress this enough: Do not self-select. You bring more value to the big picture than you realize. Regardless of your religious beliefs, ACT scores (I took mine four times to achieve a combined score of 21), or undergraduate GPA, put your name in the hat. You deserve the opportunity to thrive in a community that celebrates differentiation.

When you receive that call welcoming you to Michigan Ross, everything changes. I encourage all of you to reach out to me.