In the United States Army, Amanda Devillier learned to bring order to complexity in situations where precision, accountability, and follow through were of utmost importance.
杏吧专区淚 worked in logistics and supply management, so I was responsible for ensuring millions of dollars in equipment were accounted for, deployable, and operational,杏吧专区 she recalls. 杏吧专区淲hen we deployed, I helped plan the movement of that equipment, from packing and shipping to managing all the documentation and customs processes that went with it.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚f a vehicle was destroyed, a weapon needed repair, or a piece of equipment failed overseas, I had to properly document it and initiate replacement. That sounds simple, but it is much more complex when you are in a combat environment.杏吧专区
After medically retiring from the Army, Devillier earned her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree and completed a graduate certificate in professional writing, marking the beginning of her civilian career.
However, she faced a challenge: what she had in experience, she lacked in formal business knowledge.
杏吧专区淥nce I finished my bachelor杏吧专区檚 and started working, I knew how to do a lot,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 just didn杏吧专区檛 entirely know how those skills and experiences translated from the military to my career.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭he terminology used in business was completely different from what we used in the military.杏吧专区
Through UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 MBA program online, Devillier found a way to supplement her operational experience with the business education she needed to propel her career forward.
From Military to MBA
When Devillier reentered the civilian workforce, it didn杏吧专区檛 take long for her to find her niche.
She consistently brought structure and efficiency to complex environments across aviation, legal operations, and nonprofit health care.
But advancing was another matter.
杏吧专区淎t one company, I remember approaching a senior leader I respected about a job opportunity,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 knew I杏吧专区檇 be good at it, but they told me, 杏吧专区業 mean, yeah, you could do that job if you had your MBA.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
杏吧专区淚 had already started my MBA application at UL Lafayette, and that was my motivation to enroll.杏吧专区
Mission Planning in Action
As Devillier began her MBA coursework, she found it mirrored the mission planning she'd practiced in the military.
杏吧专区淚n the military, if we had a deadline, we杏吧专区檇 start there and work backwards, listing all the things we needed to do with just pen and paper,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 learned in the MBA coursework that we could call that a Gantt chart, and I learned about different tools for creating one.杏吧专区
Her favorite class was IBUS 540: International Business, which she took through the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Study Abroad Program.
She spent 10 days in Costa Rica with MBA classmates from both the online and on-campus programs, visiting businesses to see firsthand how they operate in today杏吧专区檚 global economy. The experience helped Devillier connect real world operations with global strategy, financial decision making, and organizational leadership.
杏吧专区淢ost of us came from different corners of Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and more, but we left feeling like family,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲e learned about sustainable business models, saw the impact of local entrepreneurship, and experienced what it truly means to be a global citizen.杏吧专区
Marching in Lockstep
Devillier杏吧专区檚 time in the military also helped her balance online coursework with a full-time job while raising her two daughters as a single mother.
For several semesters, her MBA assignments and daughters杏吧专区 homework lived side by side on her kitchen table.
杏吧专区淢y military background in logistics prepared me well for completing my degree,杏吧专区 she says.
At the start of each semester, Devillier reviewed her syllabi and personal calendar, blocking off time each week for assignments.
To keep her household duties in order, she used a whiteboard on her refrigerator door.
杏吧专区淢y daughters knew that if they needed something from me, they needed to write it on the whiteboard,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hat way it would be there for all of us to see. Like I always tell them, a failure to plan is a plan to fail.杏吧专区
Be All You Can Be
As Devillier looks ahead, she杏吧专区檚 eager to continue creating clarity, stability, and systems that will serve organizations for decades to come.
Her work now centers on operations leadership 杏吧专区 strengthening systems, improving efficiency, and supporting organizations through growth and change.
杏吧专区淭hat杏吧专区檚 been the path of my career,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淔ixing things and making whatever I touch better and more efficient.杏吧专区
She is currently in discussions regarding her next operations role, using the confidence she gained through the MBA program.
杏吧专区淭he MBA helped me connect those dots between my time in the military and my time as a civilian and learn all that business terminology I need to know,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 given me the confidence to stop minimizing myself in my career.杏吧专区
Take the next step in your career by earning your MBA online from UL Lafayette.