How a WSU MBA Elevated Nick Hill’s Career
By Lauren Lesmeister
Before starting WSU’s online MBA program, Nick Hill (’20 MBA) was a veteran and security professional eager to expand his business expertise. He sought a program that offered flexibility and strong veteran support programs and found that WSU’s program was intentionally structured to empower working professionals and veterans, making it his first choice.
When Hill started the program, he brought extensive expertise in military operations management, and risk and intelligence analysis. However, he recognized a gap—he was not well versed in the language of business.
“Becoming fluent in a business language changes perspectives, problem-solving models, and creativity,” Hill says. “Having that business mindset at work brings me the most value personally and professionally.”
Pairing his security and military training with business acumen propelled Hill’s career, helping him transition from strictly physical security and intelligence roles to high-level strategy, innovation, and customer service roles in the same industry. He believes earning an MBA isn’t just about checking a box but rather developing a way of thinking, an entrepreneurial drive, and a shared language for engaging with leaders and stakeholders. Blending his expertise with MBA skills became his “special sauce.”
“An MBA may not always be a rocket out of the gate,” Hill says. “But I’ve gone further, faster in my career thanks to WSU’s MBA program.”
From coursework to career impact
For Hill, one of the biggest challenges was working full time in global threat management while earning his MBA. He recalls completing assignments and taking exams around the world, in South Africa, Slovakia, and even Disneyland. These experiences prepared him for the unpredictability of his current role.
“I try to build flexibility around my working hours and be comfortable with rapid change,” he says.
Hill says the capstone course was the highlight of the program. Applying everything he had learned toward a real-world business challenge solidified his education in a meaningful way. In this course, Hill worked with a group of peers to address single-use packaging for online retailers. Together, they built a prototype and business model around multi-use shipping containers for consumer online retail.
“Not only does the MBA program have significant coursework dedicated to enterprise change, innovation, and growth strategies,” he says. “the personal and professional resilience required to complete the program while working also serves as its own powerful skill builder.”
Adapting to change
Today, Hill is senior director of intelligence services at Crisis 24, a global company providing crisis and risk management solutions. In this role, he oversees client engagements, strategy, and innovation pertaining to global risk intelligence.
He works with a range of international organizations including online retail, technology, health care, and nonprofits to manage security risks and improve organizational resilience. Staying informed on global events and emerging threats is crucial to his role, and in this fast-paced environment, adaptability is key for himself and for his clients.
WSU’s MBA program prepares students for the pace of the work force by switching courses every five to seven weeks. This structure meant Hill was constantly adjusting to new coursework and collaborating with peers across different time zones.
As Hill continues helping organizations mitigate security risks and promote safety, his MBA training remains central to his work.
“Earning an MBA inspired me to make the world better,” he says. “It turned me into a change agent, always seeking to build solutions to real problems.”