The father behind the MBA
Chris Taylor (MBA ‘26) is more than a diligent student in the University of Florida Online MBA program, he is a dedicated husband and father to two sons. His journey as a father and student has been marked with perseverance, service and growth as he continues to balance each role with unwavering dedication.
Taylor spent 20 years as a senior leader in the United States Marine Corps before transitioning into his role as the Vice President of Operations for Mantis Security, a cybersecurity firm supporting national security and defense missions. However, he knew he wanted to build on his operational experience with a deeper understanding of business strategy, finance and branding.
The University of Florida MBA program was the perfect fit for him and his lifestyle.
Taylor has two children: a twenty-year-old studying global business at the University of South Florida and a sixteen-year-old sophomore in high school. The online format gave him the flexibility to stay engaged at work while remaining present with his family.
“It’s been a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience,” Taylor said. “The online format demands focus and discipline, but it also gives me the freedom to engage with coursework on my own schedule. I can be on calls and in meetings during the day, write a paper at night and still show up for my sons’ extracurricular activities.”
Despite the online format, Taylor found the virtual collaboration just as impactful as in-person experiences. His excellent professors and strong cohort relationships have pushed him to grow both personally and professionally.
As a father, the program’s flexibility has allowed Taylor to be fully present in the lives of his children. Moreover, it has set an example of what lifelong learning looks like, normalizing ambition and effort in a powerful way to his children. Yet as a father, his perspective and approach towards his MBA remains grounded with decisions filtered through the lens of long-term impact.
“I’m not just pursuing an MBA for myself,” Taylor said. “I’m doing it to build a future my sons can be proud of and to set an example of perseverance, growth and service-driven leadership.”
The degree has allowed Taylor to continue on his journey of life-long learning and growth for the past year. Professionally, the program has allowed him to sharpen his strategic thinking and leadership in complex environments.
As he continues to pursue this degree, Taylor hopes his children can see education is a lifelong pursuit and commitment to growth matters: Hard work, resilience and curiosity are qualities worth investing in and it’s important to challenge yourself, even when life is full.
“I’m grateful to the University of Florida for creating a program that supports working professionals and parents like me,” Taylor said. “This MBA is more than a degree. It’s an investment in my future, my family’s future and the teams I serve.”
