Do the hard thing. Take the leap. If you're sitting on an idea, wondering if you're good enough, the only way to find out is to try. You might just surprise yourself." — Ben Walcutt
Ben Walcutt's path to the Executive MBA program wasn't linear. From military service to ambulance work to leading teams in logistics tech, his path has been anything but traditional. Along the way, he kept running into the same challenge: being great at the technical side wasn’t always enough to make a real business impact. He recently completed his Executive MBA—even serving as the 2025 commencement speaker—and credits the program with giving him the business acumen to bridge the gap between technical excellence and meaningful results.
As an enterprise architect at US 1 Industries, Inc., he translates complex user needs into technical solutions. But it was a failed product launch that taught him his most valuable lesson: understanding the business side is just as crucial as mastering the code. We spoke with him during his final weeks before graduation about calculated risks, continuous learning, and why the Executive MBA has transformed not just his work, but his entire approach to problem-solving.
"I had a wake-up call at a previous role during a major project. I'd spent years leading development on a precision logistics project—we were trying to shift from a two-day delivery window to predicting delivery within 15 minutes. The technology was solid, but when I demoed it for users in Chicago, they flat-out said they didn't like it and wouldn't use it.
The company had invested millions, and we'd built exactly what was asked for from the top down, but we never really understood what the users needed. That disconnect between engineering and business hit me hard. I realized I could be the most technically proficient person in the room, but if I couldn't speak the language of business or understand user needs, I'd keep building solutions to the wrong problems."
"I started trying to teach myself—reading Bookkeeping for Dummies, learning accounting basics, trying to decode what the business side was really talking about. But there's only so much you can learn in isolation. I had a friend who'd done a similar executive program who told me it was the best decision he ever made.
When I talked to my wife about going back to school, the Executive MBA made the most sense for our life. I needed something that would let me immediately apply what I was learning while still advancing my career. Looking back, that practical application has been everything."
"From the very first weekend—our change management class—I was already implementing concepts at work. I went to my boss and said we needed to start thinking about change management in how we roll out new systems. He agreed immediately, and we started making changes right away.
Every single class has been applicable. I took an assignment on Shopify's AI strategy, turned it into a real memo, and sent it to my boss. The accounting knowledge helps me work with our CFO. Marketing taught me how to 'sell' new systems to users by telling a compelling story. It's been incredibly practical from day one."
"The role isn't familiar to most people, but essentially I work closely with users across departments—logistics, accounting, compliance—to understand their needs and translate those into technical solutions. The MBA has made me so much better at this.
Now I can sit in a meeting, listen to what someone needs, and design a solution in real time. That gets us to deployment faster. We've also started involving users early in the process, which has eliminated those surprise moments where we build something nobody wants. It's all about understanding the business context behind the technical requirements."
"Honestly, every class has added a different lens. Marketing taught me storytelling—how to present a technical solution in a way that resonates with users. Economics helped me understand the larger environment we're operating in. Finance gave me tools to have meaningful conversations with our CFO about project ROI.
Even the group projects, which I used to avoid, have been invaluable. Working with anesthesiologists, nurses, people in finance and sales—it's a complete melting pot. We all bring different perspectives to the same problem, and I've learned so much about how businesses really operate across different industries."
"The diversity of backgrounds has been incredible. These aren't just people with similar technical backgrounds—they're practicing professionals from completely different fields. When we tackle a case study, I might approach it from a systems perspective, while someone else brings a healthcare lens, and another person thinks about it from a sales angle.
That's taught me that the best solutions often come from combining different viewpoints. In my work now, I actively seek out those different perspectives before diving into technical solutions. It's made me a better listener and a better problem-solver."
"Stop overthinking it. If you're wondering whether you're qualified or whether it's worth it, those questions will never get answered until you actually do it. The Executive MBA format is designed for working professionals who want to immediately apply what they're learning.
Every weekend, I've come back to work with new tools, new perspectives, new ways of approaching problems. It's not just about getting a degree—it's about fundamentally changing how you think about business challenges. Take the leap. You might just surprise yourself with what you're capable of."
"Do the hard thing. Whatever that leap is for you—whether it's starting a business, changing careers, or going back to school—stop waiting for the perfect moment or for someone to tell you you're ready.
We're all graduating with this incredible foundation of knowledge and experience, but the real test is what we do with it. The willingness to take calculated risks and push beyond your comfort zone is what separates good professionals from transformational leaders. Trust yourself, bet on yourself, and don't be afraid to surprise yourself with what you can accomplish."¬