Taylor Carey, Engineer and Project Manager at Arcadis
As a fourth-generation member of the Wolfpack, there was no question of where mechanical engineer Taylor Carey would go to expand his business and leadership acumen other than the Jenkins MBA program.
Get to know Taylor
Program: Jenkins Online MBA
Start date: August 2021
Anticipated graduation date: December 2024
Current location: Cary, NC
Life before Jenkins
Work experience: 8 years
Industries: Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences
Roles: Mechanical Engineer, Project Engineer and Project Manager
Field: Engineering
Education: NC State University, B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Career goals
Taylor’s engineering background and love of leadership and people management have him poised to climb the corporate ladder. “I’m an Eagle Scout, so I’ve been committed to leadership since I was a boy – naturally, I want to use those skills in the business world, as well,” he says. After receiving his master’s in mechanical engineering from NC State, he was ready to continue his post-graduate education with an MBA degree. “I knew an MBA would help me expand my network while giving me additional exposure to finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship.”
“I knew an MBA would help me expand my network while giving me additional exposure to finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship.”
Why Jenkins?
To Taylor, the answer was clear. “I’m a fourth-generation Wolfpack graduate. My parents went to NC State, both my grandfathers went to NC State, and my great-grandfather went to NC State. I love this university, so getting my third degree from NC State was an easy choice.”
Daily life
Taylor works in the Triangle’s booming life sciences industry as an engineering project manager working to help design and build biotech facilities. A full-time job plus completing his online MBA full-time has kept him busy. “I work during the day and spend my evenings and weekends doing coursework. It was a big sacrifice for my wife, Mariah (yes – my wife’s name is now Mariah Carey), to keep things moving with our home life and family.” Taylor, who has been at NC State nonstop since 2012, is thankful for a reprieve from the classroom after he graduates in December. “Graduation timing works out well because we are expecting our first son in February.”
What makes it great
Taylor found the Jenkins MBA program to be equally challenging and rewarding. “All the core classes were excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the advanced finance, leadership, and negotiation classes.” As a self-proclaimed people-person, he also enjoyed getting to know fellow students, professors and program staff. “During my time with the program, I was able to network with students from diverse backgrounds working in unfamiliar industries. Seeing how professors and students use their business acumen in different settings has been career-broadening for me.”
“Seeing how professors and students use their business acumen in different settings has been career-broadening for me.”
Career impact
“I work for Arcadis, and a majority of our senior leaders have their MBA degrees, so these mentors were influential in my decision to pursue my business degree,” Taylor says. Since beginning the program, Taylor’s responsibilities and visibility within the company have been elevated, which he credits to the Jenkins MBA Program. “I’ve also gratefully had several opportunities presented to me throughout the program, but I’m currently happy with where I am in my career. I’m excited about the career growth opportunities to come.”
Final thoughts
As for his advice for someone considering the Jenkins MBA program, Taylor expresses the need to enter the program with a full battery. “Yes, there’s flexibility, especially with the online MBA program, but you will need to align the time commitment with your work and personal responsibilities. If you’re going to commit to it, commit to it! If you do, I think you’ll find the program incredibly rewarding.”
Get in touch
Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn.
Learn more
To learn more about the Jenkins MBA program, including tuition, curriculum, career opportunities and more, please submit the form below.
