How Jason Stafford Leveraged the Notre Dame MBA to Break Into Investment Banking

Exploring What Comes Next After the Army

Before arriving at Notre Dame, Jason Stafford was leading soldiers in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. 

Over four years of active duty, he served in multiple leadership roles, managing logistics, overseeing training operations, and supporting senior commanders. The experience strengthened his ability to lead under pressure, manage complex organizations, and take responsibility for outcomes — skills that would later prove critical in finance. 

But as he considered his long-term goals, Jason began thinking about the next chapter. “I started asking myself what opportunities might open up if I paired my military experience with an MBA from a great school,” he says.

Choosing Notre Dame — and Discovering Investment Banking

During his transition from active duty, Jason completed a corporate finance internship with Amazon, working in financial analytics supporting robotics operations. The role confirmed his interest in finance, but it also made him think bigger. “I thought, if this is what I can do now straight out of the Army, what could I do with an MBA?” 

Although he was initially focused on other programs, a visit to Notre Dame shifted his perspective. After attending a football game and connecting with MBA students and members of the Veterans Club, he quickly sensed a difference. “It didn’t feel like people were just there to get a degree,” Jason says. “There was a real sense of community and long-term commitment to each other.” 

That culture combined with the strength of the alumni network made his decision clear. “I fell in love with it very fast. The people, the mission, the foundation of the school, it just felt different.” At Mendoza, Jason discovered investment banking, a career path he hadn’t previously considered. Through the Finance Club, peer preparation, and faculty mentorship, he quickly built both technical capability and confidence. 

Professors like Rob Battalio, Walt Clemens, and industry leader Howard Lanser played a significant role in his development. “Professor Lanser would drive from Chicago to teach us and constantly reminded us he wanted to see us succeed,” Jason says. “He told us, ‘You have three calls to me at any time in your career for whatever you need, use them.’  That kind of commitment to the Notre Dame community sticks with you.”

Leveraging the Notre Dame Network

When it came time to recruit, the Notre Dame network proved instrumental. 

Through connections made in the Veterans Club, Jason was introduced to alumni at Deloitte Corporate Finance's dedicated investment banking group. The conversations felt different from other recruiting experiences. “Every call felt genuine,” he says. “We’d schedule 30 minutes and talk for an hour. The culture fit was clear.” He secured a summer internship in investment banking and earned a return offer. Today, Jason works full-time at Deloitte Corporate Finance advising clients on complex financial transactions. 

“The Army prepared me to lead and stay organized in high-pressure situations,” he says. “Notre Dame gave me the education and the network to translate that into a finance career.”

Paying It Forward

Now nearly two years into his role, Jason remains closely connected to Mendoza. Deloitte Corporate Finance has strengthened its recruiting presence at Notre Dame, and Jason plays an active role in maintaining that pipeline. 

“We’ve had such strong candidates from Notre Dame that it’s become a priority school for us,” he says. “There’s a reputation for hard work and integrity.” 

For Jason, the MBA delivered more than a career pivot, it created a lifelong professional community. 

“The Notre Dame name means something,” he says. “You carry it with you. There’s a responsibility to do well, not just for yourself, but for the people who come after you.”

Are you ready for your next step?

 

Learn more about Notre Dame’s MBA program.