Kegan Vosteen

Current Title:

Business Technology Leader, IBM

Pre-MBAxMS Title:

Cyberspace Operations Officer, US Marine Corps

Post-MBAxMS Goals:

Partner with organizations to unlock the full potential of AI through responsible and effective adoption.

CBS Activities or Clubs:

AI Club, Technology Club, Veterans Club

Favorite NYC Activities:

I love Broadway and all the museums around the city, especially Ellis Island.

Prior to starting, what were you expecting the program to be like? How was it different than your expectations?

I expected the program to be like a double undergraduate major, where I’d have a packed schedule filled with classes that covered independent, disparate subjects. I didn’t realize the extent to which the program directors had integrated the engineering and business classes to build a complementary curriculum.

Why did you choose Columbia and the MBAxMS program?

My fiancé at the time, now wife, was already in New York City, so geography was extremely important to me, and Columbia announced the MBAxMS program right as I started researching business schools. I was working to transition into a private sector technology leadership role after the Marine Corps, so the MBAxMS was the next step to set me up for success.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your class?

I think my exposure to a huge variety of experiences and leadership roles over 10 years in the Marine Corps gave me a unique perspective to share with my classmates, and if nothing else I hope they got a kick out of some of my funny stories.

What’s been the most valuable insight or skill you’ve gained from learning at both Columbia Engineering and Columbia Business School?

The ability to refine user needs and distill them into a technical solution was something that we practiced in classes on both campuses. Going back and forth between engineering and business classes also strengthened our communication skills and drove home how unique our positioning was between the two disciplines.

What have been some of the most valuable relationships or connections you’ve built through this dual-degree program?

All of my MBAxMS classmates were such bright, good people, and we really bonded over being the first class to go through the new program, so I’m very grateful for that. It also felt like we had a unique connection to our professors, who were very invested in the program’s success, so we were able to forge closer faculty ties than we might’ve had we been part of a standalone program at either school.

How has access to both Columbia Engineering and Columbia Business School’s resources and alumni networks shaped your professional opportunities or mentorship experiences?

I was truly starting from scratch, not having done any job searches since I’d graduated from undergrad 10 years prior, so both career centers were extremely helpful in giving me the skills I needed to pivot in my career. Both groups of alumni have also been extremely responsive to any outreach I’ve done, and they’re always willing to take the time to share what they’re working on and give advice. There are always events in the city as well, so between the Columbia Business School and Columbia Engineering alumni groups the networking and mentorship opportunities are endless.

What would you tell a prospective student about managing the fast-paced, 20-month structure of the MBAxMS program?

I’d say not to be intimidated. Balancing two degrees with all the recruiting and extra-curricular events got busy, but you just take the journey one step at a time. There were some challenging months, but it went by in a flash, I can’t believe I’m already finished with it, and I’m envious of the students that are just now starting and the experiences they’re about to have.

What has been the most rewarding part of your MBAxMS journey so far?

Presenting our final capstone projects to all the faculty that had mentored and guided us over the last two years, and walking around to see all the impressive things that our class had done was really surreal. Everyone had come so far in such a short amount of time, and I couldn’t help wishing that the two years hadn’t flown by so fast.

Post-MBAxMS career interests?

I’m working at IBM in Client Engineering, trying to help companies realize the full business value of AI, which is a subject that I think will keep everyone busy for some time. I’m also trying to stay involved in sustainability initiatives like Project Vanguard to help make sure that the clean energy revolution doesn’t die on the vine just as energy consumption by datacenters starts to skyrocket.