If there’s anything being in the Army taught Andy Goehring (MBA ’17) it is that service to one’s country and others builds character and leads to success. Those lessons, combined with his experiences as a student at Fisher, have shaped his professional growth.

Now, as vice president of performance consulting at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and as an entrepreneur, Andy reflects on the global learning opportunities, leadership programming and strong networks at Ohio State that equipped him to always “choose the ‘harder right’ over the ‘easier wrong.’”

Graduating from Ohio State meant...

Connecting with my community and representing Columbus, The Ohio State University and Buckeye Nation every day, wherever I go.

Tell us about some of your recent accomplishments.

In the last three years, it has been a blast: I started and scaled a business here in Columbus; I invested in other elite, veteran-owned, operated and oriented early stage companies across the country; and I completed a second master's degree program in technology commercialization while working full-time and supporting my family.

How has Ohio State or Fisher equipped, prepared you or made a difference in your career?

Character matters. At Fisher, leadership development and business ethics are fully integrated in classrooms, workshops and engagement activities. I participated in the Fisher Leadership Initiative during its inaugural year and am proud that our college goes to great lengths to provide leader development opportunities for students, staff, and faculty at all levels across campus.

Principled leadership is in high demand. My experience at Fisher serves as a constant reminder to always choose the “harder right” over the “easier wrong” in business and in life.

Do you have a favorite business faculty member or mentor who helped shape who you are today?

There are too many to thank. Jeff Rodek, Dr. Anthony Rucci, Dr. Michael Camp, Dr. Walter Zinn, Dr. Aravind "AC" Chandrasekaran, Peg Pennington, Dr. Ben Campbell, Dr. Michael Leiblein, Dr. Tanya Menon, Daniel Oglevee, Steve DeNunzio, Michael Bills, Dr. James Hill, Dr. Jay Anand, Dr. Michael Knemeyer, Jamie Mathews-Mead, Michelle Petrel, Dr. Jay Dial, Dr. Gökçe Esenduran and David Freel, J.D.

I am grateful for time spent with each and am, in some way today, shaped by the accumulation of their invested mentorship and support. 

What is your favorite business school-related memory from Ohio State?

I really enjoyed partnering with The Ohio State University Brazil Gateway through the Office of International Affairs during my Fisher MBA experience. I completed an immersive banking transformation consulting internship with classmates, clients and alumni in Rio and São Paulo, Brazil. This was an incredible experience for me to integrate language capabilities and experience in a challenging and exciting international business environment. The immersive and experiential learning context allowed me to build lasting relationships with incredible people and teams while representing our university and community abroad.

Looking back, I appreciate the extent to which Fisher integrates and experiments with other offices and departments to build bridges that connect folks with meaningful opportunities.

What service opportunities did you participate in at Ohio State or Fisher?

I participated in the inaugural Fisher Leadership Initiative as a Leadership Fellow and served as a board advisor with the American Battlefield Trust during my MBA experience. I also supported the Meals-on-Wheels program in Columbus, Ohio, with several classmates, which is a great way to connect with and serve the community.

Recently, I completed a three-year term on the board of my West Point class in addition to the West Point Society of Central Ohio as the elected career services officer helping military veterans and alumni transition into the private sector. I currently volunteer as an INCubator entrepreneurship coach and mentor at Olentangy Berlin High School.

What advice would you give to a current student or recent Fisher graduate?

Be deliberate and stay connected. Look for opportunities to pay it forward. Have fun and enjoy the adventure!

Did you have a favorite spot on campus? Why was it special?

The Shoe! So many great memories with classmates and family watching games and tailgating right across the street from Fisher.