Josh Nysenbaum, OMBA '26
Josh Nysenbaum, OMBA ’26 is a current Online MBA student at the Ross School of Business. His academic pathway is similar to other students attaining their degree, excluding one small detail: he maintains his education while serving on active Marine Corps duty.
Originally from Binghamton, New York, Josh studied at the Rochester School of Technology and attained a degree in criminal justice. He has been commissioned in the military since 2015 and currently serves on a fleet replacement squadron, teaching young pilots how to fly the aircraft he deploys. His bustling lifestyle consistently delineates flying instruction from studying Excel sheets and statistics. Despite his varied pursuits, Josh plans on accelerating the OMBA program to its full-time potential and attaining his degree by 2026.
The Desire for Ross
Josh wanted to go to business school in order to “round out” his abilities and explore different career pathways. He says that he was drawn to Ross not only because of the program’s stellar rankings and financial accommodations for military members but also because of the flexibility offered by the OMBA Program and the exciting Go Blue pride that the University of Michigan is known for.
“Someone asks you where [you went] to school, and you say, oh, I went to Ross School of Business at Michigan. And they're like, oh, weren't you guys national champions last year…[it’s] a huge bonus to have when you are able to talk about more than just the academic program,” Nysenbaum says.
Josh describes his military experience as immensely helpful and integral to his experience at Michigan Ross, as it has primarily helped him work with a wide range of people.
“The biggest thing that's been helpful, coming from a military background, is understanding how to work with people of different backgrounds and people who think in different ways and being able to figure out where I can fit myself in this group to be the most advantageous,” said Josh. “The Marine Corps brings in people from all different races, backgrounds, and creeds. Being an officer, you must learn how to lead those people and work with them, and I think that's been hugely beneficial,”
Combining Flying and Business Education
In addition to the curriculum and environment Josh has been exposed to at Michigan Ross, he also comments on the Ross program’s ability to present knowledge that applies to real life. He denotes a particular instance where he could apply his newfound abilities to his time in the Marine Corps. “Somebody came up and was like, hey, I'm trying to figure out how to do this thing in Excel. You're doing an MBA. Right? And I just knocked it out for them….made this great Excel worksheet that helped some Marines figure out how much they need to invest if they want to buy a car or put a down payment on a house…..It felt like a sense of accomplishment to work hard in a course but then have something to take away from it,” he said.
Josh’s military background has primarily assisted him in being able to work with a wide range of people. He feels that has been very beneficial to his experience in the OMBA Program. “Being an officer you have to learn how to lead those people and how to work with them, regardless of what their….beliefs are or [any other differences]. And I think that's been hugely beneficial,” Nysenbaum said.
The OMBA’s Impact
Josh has been largely enjoying his time with the OMBA and the wide range of new skill sets and experiences that are available to him. He enjoys operations and considers project management as a potential career path. He plans to begin his recruitment process when he is out of the Marine Corps and has an MBA under his belt.
To those who may be considering an Online MBA at Ross, Josh offers the following advice:
“Definitely come if you get accepted…Just put your best foot forward because you don't want to ever self-select yourself out of the opportunity to go to a great school,” Nysenbaum said. “When you get here, just be excited and ready to learn. Take the opportunity to learn from the people around you, not just the professors, soak it in, and try to share your perspective with people. Because that sharing of perspectives back and forth is half of the degree that you get from an MBA”