My name is Nicholas Tiley and I am a proud native of Brookville, Ohio. I am a lieutenant in the United States Navy on active duty as a surface warfare officer currently on my shore tour. While at sea, my primary duties include the divisional oversight of sailors and all associated equipment, conducting multilateral exercises with our NATO allies, and safely navigating/defending the ship during major evolutions. Ashore, I work as the surface warfare instructor and assistant professor of naval science at Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) command in Ohio, where I mentor and develop future naval and marine officers.
As a leader and naval officer, I strive to bring out the best of my sailors and myself. I believe that their success is my success. In order for that to happen, a flexible mindset is needed; one where I can execute safely, effectively and confidently. I knew pursuing an MBA would provide me with an executive wealth of practical knowledge and interpersonal skills of which I could use to become a better leader for my crew and myself overall.
From day one, I was impressed with UK’s faculty and staff. I thoroughly enjoyed learning and conversing with every professor throughout my time in the program. Despite not having a business background and being completely remote, I always felt welcomed and engaged in every class lecture. My two favorite experiences while being a student were the Keeneland Race Track - Big Blue Day and the Grenoble, France study abroad program which took place over spring break. During these events, I was able to meet up with classmates and experience the spirit of UK and Kentucky outside of a classroom setting.
I found the remote option to be extremely rewarding. The professors and TA’s were very sympathetic to individuals like myself who traveled frequently during the semester. Every lecture was also recorded, which allowed for students to go back and revisit topics outside of class. This was very beneficial for me.
The interactions between the instructors and peers is really what set UK’s MBA program apart from others. Every professor provided invaluable knowledge and firsthand experiences in their perspective fields from lower, middle and even senior management positions. Nearly every class I enrolled in had executive-level guest speakers willing to illustrate and help conceptualize key concepts and topics taught throughout the semester. I found this extremely rewarding as a student because it identified deeper levels of application across numerous business models. In addition, the curriculum’s group work and team-building exercises helped connect me and my peers on a personal level, which helped localize ideas and build long-lasting networking relationships.
I’m a big proponent of the belief that “knowledge is power." The techniques I learned going through UK’s MBA program really helped identify areas of weaknesses within my own leadership which I was previously not aware of. These same classes also presented windows of opportunity for self empowerment and personal advancement, directly relating to challenges I face on a regular basis. This includes supply chain management, business policy and strategy, and negotiation and conflict resolution. It’s because of the curriculum’s focus on practicality that I am a stronger leader and naval officer.
I could not recommend this program enough to individuals looking to pursue a career in business or economics. The level of instruction and professionalism from the professors and faculty at UK rivals top-tier programs across the country. Their dedication and willingness to help you succeed is unlike other universities. Having attended the program as an out-of-state student, I felt welcomed and included with every lecture. Although my time at UK was short, I will forever be grateful for the wonderful instruction and mentorship I received as a wildcat. The program is a cordial manifestation of Kentucky’s state motto: “United we stand, divided we fall.”
