When Carlos Chiu straps into the cockpit of his Navy helicopter in Norfolk, Va., he’s executing skills honed through years of rigorous training. But when he logs into his William & Mary Online MBA classes, he’s navigating unfamiliar territory—and that’s exactly the point.
“Coming from a military family background, I wasn’t really exposed to the civilian world as much growing up,” Chiu explained. “So this is my first step in achieving that goal.”
Learn more about how Chiu, who is on track to graduate with his MBA in 2027, is discovering how business works beyond the military sphere through the Online MBA program.
A Journey That Started at the Naval Academy
Chiu’s path has been decidedly military from the start. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 2019, he was commissioned immediately. He spent two years in flight school before landing in Norfolk, where he’s been based for the past four years as a helicopter pilot. It’s the only professional world he’s ever known—but he’s intentionally working to change that.
His goal with the MBA isn’t just about earning credentials. “My main goal is to take lessons learned from everybody in the cohort in order to take their skills, apply them to my current workplace and then also broaden my perspective on how the civilian world works,” he said.
For someone embedded in military operations, seeking out civilian business perspectives takes both self-awareness and courage. Chiu recognized a gap in his knowledge and decided to fill it—even while maintaining his demanding role as a Navy pilot.
Overcoming Past Challenges to Reach New Heights
But there’s another dimension to Chiu’s MBA journey, one that makes his accomplishment even more meaningful. The decision to pursue graduate education wasn’t just about career planning—it was personal.
“I wasn’t always the strongest in the classroom,” Chiu admitted candidly. “So it was partly that desire to challenge myself to see if I can make a big step from where I was in undergrad to now.”
It’s a refreshingly honest acknowledgment that many prospective students can relate to. Not everyone arrives at graduate school with a 4.0 and complete confidence in their academic abilities. Sometimes the most meaningful educational journeys begin with a desire to prove—to yourself, most of all—that you’re capable of more than you once thought possible.
For Chiu, the transformation began during his military training. "Going through the military, going through some of the courses that were required to go through to further our career, really made me gain an appreciation for education and that pursuit of pushing myself in order to benefit other people,” he reflected. “And I see that solution being through education.”
The military taught him discipline and teamwork, but it also taught him something equally valuable: a love of learning and the understanding that education isn’t just about personal achievement—it’s about becoming better equipped to serve and lead others.
Finding the Right Fit for a Military Schedule
Of course, wanting to pursue an MBA and actually being able to fit it into a Navy helicopter pilot’s schedule are two very different things. Chiu needed a program that could flex around unpredictable military demands, and he found reassurance from an unexpected source.
“I first met one of my flight instructors in 2021. She had just recently finished a course at William & Mary,” Chiu recalled. “And I saw her social media posts about the program, and I started to ask her about how it fit with the military schedule. And it was the perfect fit, which allowed for the flexibility and for me to still have my everyday job while also pursuing my personal goal of obtaining the MBA.”
That combination of peer recommendation, family connection (his cousin also graduated from William & Mary) and program flexibility made William & Mary the clear choice. But what sealed the deal was the support he received from the beginning.
“The application process was actually very straightforward and it was easy to figure out,” Chiu said. “And along the way, admissions outreach advisors were there to help and provided multiple opportunities for video conferences for any questions that we had. And compared to other schools that I have looked at, William & Mary has been the most helpful. And that’s what ultimately sold me on the school.”
From Design Thinking to Daily Operations
Now in his first semester, Chiu has already begun seeing the program’s value. His typical day involves waking up, going to work on the Navy base and then tackling his coursework in the afternoon—readings, modules and learning checks. But the highlight comes on Sunday evenings, when his group convenes remotely to collaborate on projects.
“The best part comes as the week goes on. And ultimately, at least for my group, we all met on Sunday afternoon or evening and we completed our group projects together,” he explained. “And that’s been the really awesome part.”
His first major group project introduced him to design thinking through a “wicked problem”—developing a solution for aging in place for elderly people. His team ultimately conceived an application that could help elderly citizens request cleaning services or household assistance. It was Chiu’s first exposure to this framework, and it’s already expanding how he thinks about problem-solving.
“It’s all about working in teams and taking that big step in getting people together, outlining a goal and achieving those goals,” Chiu noted, drawing a natural parallel between his military experience and his MBA work. “And with this program, it’s awesome working with other veterans because we all just seem to naturally meld together with the like-minded processes that we’ve all learned in our respective careers.”
But he’s not just learning from fellow veterans. One of the aspects he’s enjoyed most is “working with people around the U.S., but then also all the way across the world, having classmates all the way in Japan, having classmates in Chicago, et cetera. It’s awesome to be able to all come together through the remote environment and achieve whatever assignments we have in front of us.”
Advice for Those Considering the Leap
For other military professionals—or anyone—considering whether to take the leap into an MBA program, Chiu’s advice is simple and direct:
“If you have the desire to pursue the goal, pursue the goal. Everybody here is willing to help you out. Everyone here wants you to succeed. It’s just a matter of you taking that step into this program to start achieving your goals.”
It’s advice from someone who took that step himself, deciding to challenge himself in an academic environment despite not always being “the strongest in the classroom.” Someone who recognized a gap in his knowledge about the civilian business world and decided to fill it. Someone who balanced the demands of flying Navy helicopters with the rigors of graduate business education.
Carlos Chiu is still navigating both worlds—the military and the civilian, the flight deck and the classroom. But he’s doing it with intention, humility and a clear vision of where he wants to go.
Chart Your Own Course to Career Success at William & Mary
Ready to start your own educational journey? Learn more about William & Mary’s Online MBA program and discover how it can help you achieve your goals while balancing your current career.
Gain valuable skills that can lead to expanded job opportunities and career advancement. The comprehensive curriculum develops hard and soft skills essential for success in the business world, preparing you to address complex business challenges across various industries. Choose from nine cutting-edge specializations that let you craft an educational journey as distinctive as your professional goals.
To learn more about William & Mary’s Online MBA program, explore the admissions information or schedule a call with one of our helpful admissions outreach advisors.