Air Force Veteran Uses WSU Online MBA to Build Business Supporting Veterans

When Autumn Olsen began his Master’s in Business Administration online through WSU Global Campus, he was searching for what he wanted to do with his life after leaving the military. By the time he graduated, he found his passion: owning a business that helps veterans like him. “If it weren’t for the online MBA from WSU, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Olsen. “So many of the skills that I use every day as an entrepreneur I acquired during my time at Global Campus. Joining the military was the beginning of my journey to finding my dream job. WSU Global Campus was the steppingstone that brought me the rest of the way, and I’m very grateful for that.”

From Air Force Veteran to Fully Online MBA Student

Following in the footsteps of his father, an Army veteran, Olsen joined the US Air Force in 2015. He would attend the Defense Language Institute to study Levantine Arabic and become a cryptologic linguist. “I was proud to serve in the Air Force, and I met a lot of good people while I was in,” he said. “But, ultimately, I decided that a career in the military wasn’t for me.”

He served as an airman for two years before exiting the military in 2017. After leaving the Air Force, Olsen had to decide what career path to take. “It was a real winding road,” he said. “I decided not to continue in linguistics, but instead to pursue my interest in psychology.” Olsen earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Montana. “I originally planned on pursuing clinical psychology and getting my doctorate, but life happened when the pandemic hit in 2020,” he said. “All of a sudden, getting my doctorate wasn’t as viable an option at the time, and I decided to look for other options.”

Being his own boss had always appealed to Olsen, though he wasn’t yet sure that that business might look like. “But I decided to take the leap anyway,” he said. “Global Campus was perfect for what I needed at the time. The MBA had a great reputation, and I could do it all from home. So, I decided to go for it and see where it led. I wasn’t disappointed,” he said.

How a WSU Global Campus Online MBA Inspired a Veteran-Owned Business

 “I learned so many vital business skills while I earned my MBA,” said Olsen. “Financial skills, planning, legal knowledge, business strategies, you name it. But most of all, my experience awakened my desire to help fellow veterans, starting with my experience of using Veterans benefits.”

To pay for his MBA at Global Campus, Olsen used his father’s disability benefits. “My dad was in the 82nd Airborne, earned his Ranger tab, deployed throughout Central and South America, and jumped into Panama as part of Operation Just Cause,” he said. “He’s always been a major source of inspiration for me.”

According to Olsen, he sometimes struggled to feel worthy of the veterans benefits he was entitled to as a veteran himself. “At first, I had a lot of imposter syndrome. I thought, ‘I didn’t serve in combat or get injured. How do I deserve this?” Olsen said. “I know a lot of other vets feel the same way sometimes.”

“Over time, though, I realized that if you made the decision to raise your right hand and serve your country honorably, you also made many sacrifices along the way,” he said. “As citizens, we’re grateful for those sacrifices in defense of our nation, no matter what or where they are. Once I realized that, it helped me to humbly accept the resources and benefits I’m entitled to for my service.”

With this recognition, Olsen embraced a new direction for his career. “I realized that I wanted to help veterans like myself, my father, and all the great people I’d served with in the Air Force. I decided that I wanted to make a business whose ultimate goal is to help men and women who serve their country thrive and achieve their own dreams and thrive after their service.” While earning his MBA, Olsen conceived Drakov Industries, a business with a unique, veteran-based business model.

Support for Veterans by Veterans

“The mission of Drakov Industries is to bridge the gap between veterans and the organizations that serve them,” he said. “We are not a Veteran’s Service Organization, but part of our mission is to connect veterans with the right VSO for them.” Launched in 2023, Drakov Industries offers three course services: personal development, corporate consultation, and keynote addresses.

Personal development, delivered through 1-on-1 work and online resource guides, helps veterans develop a winning attitude, create strategies, navigate resources, and land meaningful employment. Corporate consultations through Drakov Industries help businesses build veteran-friendly programs and cultures that go beyond lip service and make a real difference. Lastly, Olsen provides keynote addresses on topics ranging from veteran inclusion to leadership and everything in between, delivered with authenticity, lived experience, and practical insight.

“I’m very passionate about what I do,” said Olsen. “I get to build my own business while making a difference for a community that is important to me, and that means a lot.”

Advice for Veterans Pursuing Higher Education

Olsen graduated with his MBA in 2025. With his business thriving, Olsen provided words of encouragement for veterans and Cougs pursuing their own academic and career goals. “When you find out what makes you feel meaning in your career, don’t hesitate to pursue it,” he said. “And if you are a veteran, be sure to get the resources and support that you are entitled to. You earned it, and you won’t regret it. Lastly, knowledge is power. Keep pursuing your education and ask for help if you need it. Online learning is a great way to do it as a busy adult with a family and other obligations,” said Olsen. “I’m living proof of that.”

About the Author

Jeff Willadsen is the Digital Content and Communication Coordinator for WSU Global Campus. Before being hired at WSU in 2018, he worked as a photojournalist and public affairs specialist in the U.S. Navy. He earned his master’s in strategic communication online through WSU Global Campus while still serving on active duty in the Navy.