University of Kentucky MBA alum Thomas McCarthy is now a Customer Operations Manager at Convoy, Inc., a startup trucking company, in Seattle, Washington. In a recent Wall Street Article on Convoy, it says that truck drivers collectively cover more than 93 billion highway miles each year in the U.S., however approximately 40% of those trips are made with empty trailers. This disconnect between shippers and truckers is where Convoy sees big opportunity and has developed an on-demand technology platform that allows trucking companies and shippers to connect via an app instead of relying on a broker. As a result, Convoy is reinventing the supply chain with technology-backed, full-service trucking; and offering guaranteed capacity and innovative real-time GPS tracking via their connected carrier network. Earlier this year, Convoy was named #11 in the CNBC's Top 50 Disruptor List.
"It's a very exciting time to join Convoy, as we are disrupting an 800-billion trucking industry," says Thomas. "We are backed by this century's leading disruptors, including the founders and CEO's of Amazon, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Starbucks and others. At Convoy, our mission is to transport the world with endless capacity and zero waste. As one of the customer operations managers in our Seattle office, I lead a team to help develop, deploy, and deliver against Customer Operations KPI's required for our business to deliver on customer needs. One of the most exciting parts of my role is working cross-functionally with different teams throughout Convoy (Product, Engineering, Marketing, etc.) to help improve our processes and continue to deliver on our commitments to our customers."
After graduating with his degree in Psychology from the University of Kentucky, Thomas enrolled in Gatton's Professional MBA program which is designed for full-time working professionals. The Professional MBA program brings together a diverse network of working professionals and executives from various industries who are interested advancing in their current role; switching careers; pursuing managerial, technical and leadership roles; or entrepreneurship.
Thomas says, "Regarding the Professional MBA at Gatton, I enjoyed most the people connected to the program. The professors brought passion and energy to each class while challenging the way I thought and approached the subject matter. My classmates also challenged me to refine my skills, while also being supportive and collaborative if I needed help."
The current Professional MBA program is offered in either a two-year and three-year plans of study with dual degree options available for certain candidates. Candidates bring their daily work responsibilities into the classroom and then immediately can apply what they've learned in the workplace the following day. As a result, graduates and alumni are able to further equip themselves with the necessary tools to pursue various managerial, technical and leadership roles in their career trajectory.
"My MBA has helped me professionally in a variety of ways," says Thomas. "The MBA has helped me achieve the technical skills that I use daily, along with other programs to better analyze data and create meaningful presentations to my teams and customers. It has also helped refine my soft skills such as communication and teamwork, which are imperative in leading a team and helping scale Convoy in our current hyper-growth phase."
Regarding advice that Thomas would offer candidates considering a Professional MBA program, he says, "Originally I was concerned that I would struggle with the MBA since I did not come from a business background. However, everyone associated with the program are there to help support you and want you to be successful. Certainly, my experience in the UK MBA helped jump start my career and I will always be thankful for my experience at UK."
Starting in the Fall of 2019, the Professional MBA will offer candidates a new Real-Time, Online MBA option along with the ability to pick up a concentration in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation. Before applying into the University of Kentucky MBA program, please review the Admissions Requirements, MBA Preparatory Courses, GMAT/GRE Waiver Policy and FAQ's.
