Sailing into a new career
Veteran and UF MBA student Jordan Johnson shares how he was able to successfully transition from the U.S. Navy into a corporate role with Procter & Gamble.
For almost six years, Jordan Johnson’s (MBA ’24) engineering education helped power the U.S. Navy’s USS West Virginia as it traveled around the world’s oceans. The ballistic missile submarine, based in Kings Bay, Georgia, runs off nuclear power, and it was Johnson’s responsibility to operate and maintain its nuclear reactor.
The Nuclear Electrician’s Mate specialized in operating and maintaining the complex electrical machines around the reactor and submarine. At the time, Johnson felt like he was achieving a life-long dream.
“As cheesy as it sounds, I honestly always wanted to serve in the military since I was younger,” he recalled. “I wanted to do something with some type of higher purpose, and it was amazing to get the opportunity to do that by serving in the United States Navy that protects our country and many others over and under the water.”
Johnson credits his experience in the Navy with laying the foundation for his success and hoped to build upon those skills as he made the decision to transition into the world of business.
“[The Navy] made me into the man I am today, and I will always look at it as the reason I have been so successful so far after getting out,” he said. “It gave me the leadership skills, confidence and discipline to achieve that success but also introduced me to the best friends I will ever have in my life and a forever family with every other sailor that serves.”
Setting his sights on pivoting into business after his years of service, Johnson saw the UF MBA program as a great way for a non-business professional to gain the skills he’d need to make it in his new career path. He was drawn to the small class sizes of the Full-Time MBA program as well as the University of Florida Warrington College of Business’ highly-ranked career services.
During his time in the program, Johnson completed an internship with Procter & Gamble in the company’s Home Care Unit, working with brands like Dawn, Cascade, Swiffer, Febreze and Mr. Clean. Johnson’s efforts in his internship paid off, as he recently accepted an offer to return to P&G full-time next year as a Senior Finance Manager.
“I wanted to pivot into business without much prior business experience and the program has given me and taught me the most valuable skills/topics from each business function,” Johnson said. “It has allowed me to have the knowledge to be an effective leader in the business world. Because of this program, I am now about to work at one of the biggest, most successful consumer packaged goods companies in the world.”
Like his Navy experience, Johnson notes that beyond the in-class lessons, the people he’s met through the program have made his UF MBA experience a meaningful one for years to come.
“I have had the pleasure to go through the program with a lot of other amazing and talented people who will be important business leaders in other amazing companies,” he said. “They are great people but also amazing friends. I am lucky to be a Gator.”
