Ed Prusiecki considered attending several other well-regarded MBA programs, but Illinois stood out for Ed: “It’s a great school, a great program, and the campus is beautiful.” And after serving five years in the U.S. Navy traveling throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and Japan, he was excited to come home to Illinois…at least for a little while.

So how does a former Navy officer become an MBA student with a concentration in information technology? “IT is a core competency for  businesses to improve their margins and productivity. This concentration will give me the tools I need to enter the competitive job market.”

Fortunately for Ed, he thrives in a competitive environment. An avid sports fan and Illlini football season ticket holder, he organized and captained the Illinois MBA intramural basketball team. Ed’s competitive drive has carried over into the MBA program also. In his first semester as an MBA student, he won the Graduate Finance Association’s stock competition. “It’s like fantasy football, but you play with stocks.”

But one of Ed’s most valuable experiences since joining the Illinois MBA was interning with GE Energy in Schenectady, NY. He worked in commercial operations for the wind division, focusing on process improvement. Most importantly, Ed actually assisted in implementing an IT system.

After graduation, Ed is looking forward to beginning his career and traveling again or working for an international company that will allow him to travel for work. Ideally, he’d like to work in the energy market, because of its tremendous growth potential.

“I wanted an IT background because it would open up more opportunities and make me more marketable,” shares Ed. “No matter where I go, I’m confident that the core business skills I’ve learned in the Illinois MBA will translate to any industry.”