This first-person narrative is drawn from an in-depth conversation with Ryan Swann, age forty-five, who currently serves as Vanguard’s Chief Data Analytics Officer. As a new wave of law school applications has swept across the country, Swann reflected on the careful deliberations that once shaped his own academic and professional choices — choices that led him ultimately to pursue an MBA rather than a legal education. The account presented here has been thoughtfully edited to capture the essence of his insights while maintaining clarity and coherence.
Throughout his professional life, Swann has consistently demonstrated a willingness to step into challenging situations, guided by a philosophy of volunteering for the difficult or unfamiliar tasks that most might avoid. He has always been drawn to environments that push his capabilities beyond their comfort zone, even in instances when his proficiency or experience did not yet align perfectly with the demands of the role. During his undergraduate years, Swann simultaneously served in the United States Marine Corps. The events of September 11, 2001, fundamentally reshaped his military trajectory, leading him to complete a deployment in Iraq. Upon his return to civilian life, he transitioned into public service, joining the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2006. Only two years later, as the global financial crisis erupted, he once again volunteered to engage directly with the unfolding emergency by joining the Treasury’s specialized “Tiger Team.” Despite lacking a formal background in economics or finance, he took the opportunity as a challenge to learn, absorb, and contribute. That decision came to define the next stage of his development.
Even now, Swann credits the best professional guidance he has ever received to a simple but enduring principle: continuously seek growth, and remain an active learner throughout life. This mindset shaped every subsequent step in his trajectory. His years at the Treasury provided him with powerful exposure to the intricacies of global markets, complex financial systems, and the economic forces that drive policymaking — domains that had previously existed on the periphery of his understanding. That fascination eventually led him toward formal business education. In 2017, he completed an MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, followed two years later by a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University. Ironically, these accomplishments diverged significantly from his original educational vision.
When Swann reached his early thirties, his ambitions had initially centered on the legal profession. A lifelong advocate for continuous education, he believed that a law degree might allow him to craft data-driven policies capable of creating tangible societal benefits. He prepared accordingly, studying rigorously for the LSAT, achieving an impressive score, and preparing to enroll in the most competitive program available to him. At that juncture, he sought a recommendation from his mentor, a distinguished corporate attorney whose perspective on the profession he deeply respected. The conversation that followed became a turning point.
His mentor agreed to provide the recommendation but added a disarming observation — nothing about Swann’s profile or demeanor suggested a passionate affinity for the law itself. Instead of offering a simple endorsement, the mentor posed three deceptively straightforward questions that would ultimately redirect Swann’s entire trajectory. The first question probed his underlying purpose: “What precisely do you hope to accomplish?” The second demanded reflection on the mechanisms needed to achieve that goal: “In what specific way will studying law help you accomplish it?” The third looked ahead: “When you envision yourself in five or ten years, where do you imagine you’ll be?”
Those three questions forced a deeper level of introspection than Swann had expected. They compelled him to examine whether his planned path reflected genuine passion or merely momentum — whether he was pursuing a true calling or simply following a culturally accepted idea of success. Through this process of reflection, he recognized that business school, not law school, aligned more authentically with his skills, mindset, and broader aspirations. That self-inquiry enabled him to see that goals can often be reached through multiple, equally valid routes. Moreover, his exploration revealed that the law would not provide certain opportunities that fascinated him at the time, such as immersing himself in venture capital and emerging business innovation. By conversing extensively with seasoned lawyers and entrepreneurial executives, he realized there existed numerous ways to generate societal value beyond a courtroom or legal brief.
This self-discovery illuminated the dual nature of his professional identity: while deeply committed to the principles of public service, Swann also possesses the creative curiosity and forward-looking orientation characteristic of innovators and entrepreneurs. He came to appreciate how his background in technology and data analysis could serve as a bridge between these worlds. By applying advanced analytics and responsible use of data within business ecosystems, he found ways to drive significant impact across large corporations, agile startups, and nonprofit institutions alike. Today, in his position at Vanguard as Chief Data Analytics Officer, he translates these academic and experiential lessons into practice. His focus rests on designing and executing data strategies that promote ethical innovation, create measurable value, and deliver meaningful benefits to clients. In many respects, his role now represents the perfect intersection of purpose, technical rigor, and leadership.
Reflecting on his experiences, Swann encourages prospective graduate students or professionals contemplating further education to step back from the automatic assumption that additional degrees are always the key to advancement. Instead, he advises, individuals should undertake the same process of intentional questioning that once guided him. Ask yourself what particular challenge you intend to address, what personal outcome you hope to achieve, and how the path you are considering logically connects to those goals. He emphasizes the importance of engaging directly with people currently working in the roles you aspire to — gathering insight from their lived realities before committing years of study and considerable resources.
In Swann’s view, too many people reflexively assume that pursuing a master’s degree or an MBA constitutes the inevitable next step toward success. Yet he suggests pausing to confirm whether that assumption truly holds. Do you genuinely need the credential, or are there alternative forms of growth that could yield similar or even better results? He reminds us that education today is no longer confined to traditional full-time programs. Certificates, professional fellowships, and targeted leadership courses can all provide formidable learning experiences. Moreover, the vast expanse of modern technology — from generative AI systems to open online tutorials and curated video content — offers unprecedented access to knowledge that previously required years of classroom study.
Ultimately, Swann advocates for strategic reflection when deciding how to invest time, capital, and effort in personal development. Learning need not conform to a rigid institutional structure; what matters is disciplined curiosity and sustained growth. Whatever form education takes, he insists, one must never halt the pursuit of understanding. It is through consistent learning — amplified by the intelligent use of digital tools, collaboration with mentors, and engagement within innovative communities — that individuals evolve. And, as Swann concludes with candid optimism, every career journey will contain detours, shifts, and recalibrations. True success seldom unfolds in a straight line; it is, instead, the product of many purposeful zigzags that collectively shape a fulfilling and meaningful path.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/vanguard-executive-3-questions-changed-mind-law-school-2025-11
