Military Connected Online MBA Student: John Cottrell

UofL is proud to be recognized as a Military Friendly organization, proudly helping our military connected students to complete their education and advance their lives and careers, both in and out of uniform. One such student is Captain John Cottrell, who shared a bit about his experience with our 100% online MBA program. Read below to learn more about his experience!  

Please share your name, rank, where you're from, and more.  

I am John Cottrell. I'm currently a Captain serving in the U.S. Army with over 9 years of service and am part of the UofL Online MBA Spring 2025 Cohort. But long before any of that, I was raised in a family that understood sacrifice in a very real way. My mom came to this country from Cambodia and built a life from nothing. Although I was born over a decade after her escape, I was able to learn so much about the genocide she survived, which shaped my worldview. 

Growing up, my mom used to tell my two older brothers and I all the time to focus on our education, and that nobody could take that away from us. At the time, it felt like just another one of those things parents say. 

It wasn't until I got older that I understood what she meant. 

She had survived the Killing Fields in Cambodia, where being educated could get you killed. To her, education wasn't just important. It was power, freedom and something no one could take from you, no matter the circumstances. 

What felt like a simple lesson and repeated phrase turned out to be something much bigger. 

Why did you choose to pursue an online MBA? What was the specific moment you decided to jump in? 

I didn't grow up thinking I'd get an MBA.  

But over time throughout my Army career, I found myself in rooms where decisions were being made that affected thousands of people. I could follow the conversation, but didn't have the words or framework to shape it. That didn't sit right with me. I always hated feeling close to something, but still not equipped for it.  

So when I found myself in those rooms, I couldn't ignore it. I knew I owed it to my family's story to be more than just present. I needed to be prepared to advocate for the Soldiers and Families depending on me.  

What do you hope to accomplish with an MBA? 

At the surface level, I wanted to become more effective as both a leader and a person. I wanted to be better at thinking through complex problems, communicating clearly, and making decisions that hold up under pressure.  

But underneath that, it's about something much more personal. I'm not the starting point of this story. I'm the continuation of it. And I want to make sure that I'm building something worthy of everything that has come before me. 

Will this help you pursue career goals during/after your time in service? 

It already has.  

In the Army, you're trusted with responsibility early, especially as an officer. The MBA has helped me match that responsibility with academic and real-world perspectives on how to frame problems, how to communicate intent and how to operate not just tactically, but strategically. 

Long term, whether I stay in uniform or transition out, this gives me the ability to step into complex environments and lead with clarity and purpose. 

As a military-connected student, what did you look for when considering an MBA program? 

Flexibility mattered to me, but that wasn't enough. I was looking for a program that respected where I came from, but didn't let me stay there. One that would challenge how I think and my assumptions, rather than completing the program for the sake of a degree. The University of Louisville struck that balance. It fit into the life I'm living with long workdays, frequent travel and other obligations as a husband and father, but it also pushed me to grow beyond it in my personal and professional life. 

What has been your favorite part about the online MBA program so far? 

The People.  

Even in an online environment, you can feel when others are invested, and my cohort is. Throughout this journey, we have been there for each other, challenge each other and push each other to be better. 

I've also appreciated how real and applicable the program is. The things we are learning aren't just theoretical. I've been able to immediately apply the concepts covered in the courses to my job and elevate my work to the next level. I've taken concepts from class and used them in real conversations and problem sets within days.  

What would you tell others considering UofL's online MBA program?  

If you're looking for something easy, this isn't it. The program is intensive with high-level graduate concepts, and most classes last 5 weeks. It takes a lot of self-discipline to complete the asynchronous instruction, assignments, discussions and projects that this program requires. 

But if you're looking for something that will sharpen how you think, how you communicate and how you lead, while still fitting into a demanding life, this is a place that will meet you there. 

You just have to be willing to meet it halfway. 

Who are you completing this degree for? Yourself, your family, others?  

I used to think that I was doing this for myself. 

But the more I go through this program, the more I realize: I'm doing it for the people who made it possible for me to be here in the first place. For my family. 

For the sacrifices that they made long before I ever wore a uniform or logged into a class.  

Everything I have is because someone before me refused to quit. If I'm going to carry that forward, I owe it to them, and to the people that I lead now and in the future, to be ready.  

Do you have any closing reflections on the program? 

For me, this MBA is not just about what comes next. It is about being ready for what comes next. Ready to lead better. Ready to serve better. Ready to honor a story that started long before me. 

And hopefully, ready to build something worthy of it. 

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UofL’s 100% online MBA is a 45-credit hour program that can be completed in under 2 years from almost anywhere in the world. The program offers a discounted bundled military tuition rate of $22,500, and offers benefits designed to help you make the most of your degree like:  

• An international business trip 
• The resume-boosting Cardinal Choice Assignment 
• Exclusive access to the Ulmer Career Center 
• ...and more!  

Explore our 100% online MBA program!

Thank you to Captain Cottrell for sharing your story!  

The views expressed in this piece are the individual’s and do not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the U.S. Government.