11/12/2025
Our MBA Duke of the Day is Zach Turner, PMP, an Accounting Manager with Cognite. Zach decided to pursue his MBA because he wanted to challenge himself intellectually and professionally, and become immersed in business leadership.
Zach was born in Virginia and has always gravitated towards the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, a career choice took him to Arizona, and the demands of work and maintaining a fixer upper made education at a Virginia school seem unlikely to him. Nevertheless, he said that “with support from my friends, family, and organization, I was able to choose a program like JMU that fit my needs.”
Zach says his experience at the JMU MBA Program has exceeded his expectations so far: “I’ve had the immeasurable experience of engaging and collaborating with top minds across industries to not only build my network, but to make some long-lasting friends along the way. Furthermore, this program has given me the guidance to find new opportunities, leveraging my skills to find a new position as a manager for a start-up AI tech firm. I am excited to practice what I am learning in the real world.”
Zach lives in Arizona with his wife and their dog, Salem. He enjoys golf, spending time with his family, and exploring all of the hidden gems Arizona has to offer.
Thank you for your insight, Zach! We are proud to have you as a member of the JMU MBA family.