The Power of an MBA: Unlocking a World of Fulfilling Career Opportunities

Sydney Jones (’22, ’24) always hoped to attend a college where she could pursue her studies in Aerospace Engineering while also playing basketball at a competitive level. While researching top Aerospace Engineering schools in the country, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University soared to the top 10 rankings, proving it to be the best fit.

“Around my junior year of high school, I started being recruited by several NCAA Division I schools. However, none of them offered Aerospace Engineering, only Mechanical,” she said. “After visiting the Embry-Riddle campus, it truly felt like ‘home,’ and I believe it gave me the best opportunity to pursue the best of both worlds: earn a prestigious degree and play women’s basketball in one of the most competitive NCAA Division II conferences in the country.”

Campus Involvement

When Jones isn't in the classroom or on the basketball court, you can find her balancing roles in several different clubs and organizations on Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus, including the Student Government Association (SGA), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

In SGA, Jones served as the Director of Community Relations, where she aimed to bridge all groups on campus to make everyone feel welcome and valued in the Embry-Riddle community through outreach events, student activities, service projects and more.

Also, Jones has been a member of the NSBE since her first year on campus, leading her to seek professional and network opportunities.

“NSBE has provided mentorship, academic resources and a social community for me ever since I first stepped foot on campus,” she reflects. “Now that I’m one of the more senior members, I hope to give back and mentor to younger members so they can achieve their own dreams!”

Jones was awarded the Steve and Vicki Ridder scholarship through her commitment to academic achievement, campus and community involvement, personal holistic growth and a drive to excel in athletics.

Embracing New Opportunities

After completing her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle, Jones decided to return to her alma mater and is earning her MBA.

Pursuing a master's degree from Embry-Riddle was always on the agenda for Jones, but it was never intended to be an immediate post-graduation plan. The turning point in her journey was due to an unexpected injury during her junior year combined with the setbacks of COVID-19.

“I definitely wanted to end my collegiate basketball career on a high note, and I've always had an interest in project management. I felt that an MBA would be the perfect complement to my engineering degree," she continued. “The MBA program has already taught me valuable skills in finance, marketing, organizational behavior and operations research that are extremely relevant to being a successful project manager!”

Future Awaits

Since a young age, Jones has been mesmerized by the wonders and capabilities of an airplane and is motivated by the pursuit to make air travel more sustainable and environmentally friendly— hoping to one day see urban air mobility and aircraft powered by electric propulsion become a reality.

Having completed five internships during her time at Embry-Riddle with four different companies (GE Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, Textron Aviation and two with Lockheed Martin), Jones is one step closer to making her dreams come true.

In Jones’ most recent internship, she was an F-35 estimating intern at Lockheed Martin in Ft. Worth, Texas. Jones was an owner of about half a dozen F-35 proposals where she calculated potential savings of proposed cost reduction initiatives (CRI), totaling over $1 million in savings.

“It was the first time I had done work outside of an engineering or production operations team, so I was undoubtedly nervous,” she expressed. “However, everyone on the team was super friendly and helpful and always willing to give me assistance when I needed it.”

She added, “Estimating is a core skill for Program Managers at Lockheed Martin, so I am thankful to have learned some of those competencies over the summer. I also wanted to do something that aligned with my MBA, and this role did just that."

Finding Success

Thanks to her dedication, hard work and the unique hands-on experience she gained from Embry-Riddle, she has accepted a full-time offer to return to Lockheed Martin as a Stress Analysis Engineer in the world-famous Skunk Works Division.

“Skunk Works is Lockheed Martin’s ‘Classified Projects’ division, so I am ecstatic to work on a cutting-edge technology that only a handful of people know of!”

With a bright future ahead of her, Jones is leaving behind a piece of advice for future Eagles at Embry-Riddle.

“College is what you make it, so make it great! There are many opportunities out there for everyone, and sometimes all you need to do is ask. A person who takes the initiative is highly sought after, so don’t ever be afraid to ask for a challenge, an opportunity or to network with someone.”

Apply today to see how Embry‑Riddle can help you achieve career success!