Diving headfirst into business

Intense, challenging and rewarding — these words describe not only what Jack Doyle ’26 MiM Program experiences in the pool, as a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I swimmer, but also how he's learned to stay afloat academically in the Master in Management (MiM) Program.

Balancing early-morning practices, late-night group projects and the fast pace of a 10-month graduate program is no small feat. Yet for Doyle, the MiM experience mirrors the discipline, adaptability and teamwork demanded by elite athletes.

Designed to help ambitious young professionals jump-start their career growth, the MiM Program brings together students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and 20 different countries — fostering strong cross-cultural collaboration and real-world problem solving from day one.

Here, Doyle shares how the MiM Program has helped him sharpen his perspective as both an athlete and an emerging business leader. 

You’ve balanced Division I swimming with the MiM program’s academic intensity. What skills from MiM have translated well into succeeding in other areas of your life? 

I’ve learned to see problems from multiple perspectives. One of the MiM Program’s strengths is that our cohort is made up of people from all over the world. The wide range of experiences has broadened my horizons, challenging me to think deeply and analyze problems from different angles. Business problems are multidimensional and rarely have a single solution.

The school’s commitment to collaboration through group projects helps simulate real-world business teams, teaching us to filter, assess problems and develop solutions in a setting that mimics professional environments.  

“After a few late-night projects and early morning practices, I realized I needed a more organized system. As a result of time management, I am better in the water and have avoided a lot of unnecessary stress.”

You’ve mentioned that you’ve built a more organized system since starting the MiM Program. What are a few of these time management tips that you’d like to pass along to fellow athletes starting this fall? 

The best way I stay organized is by working ahead. Falling behind creates unnecessary stress, lowers the quality of my work and leads to disorganization. I, along with my classmates, have learned throughout this year that you cannot save things for the last minute. I also maximize every spare moment. On bus rides, I take advantage of the time to read the next case study or work on a current project. 

One of the advantages MiM graduates receive is that they have a pathway to the school’s One-Year MBA Program. How do you see this program giving you a competitive advantage to the typical route athletes take after college? 

The MiM program is a bridge from college to the real world. Not only does MiM give you a strong business foundation, but the hands-on work gives you experience that translates directly to the real world. Classes are built around case studies that simulate real-world business problems.  

The program’s bridge to the One-Year MBA is one of the most valuable opportunities for MiM students. This program gives students business foundations to launch their careers and an opportunity to come back to Kellogg and complete their MBA in only one year. The MBA is my long-term goal, and MiM has helped me lay down the professional and academic groundwork I need to get there. 

You’re used to stepping into pressure — competitive swimming is a demanding sport! How has the program’s pace (group work, tight turnarounds, demanding classes, networking) pushed you to grow professionally and personally?   

The pace of the program has made me intentional with my time and energy while balancing multiple priorities. Juggling multiple projects is challenging, but it forces me to stay organized and communicate well with my teammates.  

For example, in our Strategy and Management Practicum, we worked with teams in a business simulation that mimics running a real company. We made decisions across marketing, finance, operations and research and development while competing against other teams in the class. As a team, we had to respond quickly and efficiently to changes within the simulation. 

At the end of the quarter, we presented our results and decision-making process to Kellogg alumni working in Chicago. Presenting to professionals made the project feel more real and gave a glimpse of what it's like to operate in a business setting. 

How has the MiM Program helped you bring previous experiences together or develop overall as a leader? 

Being on a team for the last 10+ years has shaped me to think like a teammate, not an individual. The program combines analytical and teamwork aspects, which have challenged and demanded high communication, teamwork and analytical skills.  

For example, in Business Negotiations, we work with a different team each week to prepare a negotiation against another team of students. Often, cases are not a zero-sum negotiation, which pushes us to think creatively about how to expand value for both sides rather than simply compete over it.  

Success depends on quickly aligning with new teammates, incorporating different perspectives, and communicating clearly under time pressure to reach an agreement with the other team. This is another way Kellogg bridges the gap between the classroom and a real-world business environment.  

What’s one thing that you would tell Jack who is waking up to start day one at Kellogg? 

Grab another coffee. The program is fast-paced and intense but make sure to enjoy it because it goes by quickly. 

Read next: Building careers with clarity and confidence 

 


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Kellogg School of Management or Northwestern University.