How a Self-Designed Major Led to a Thriving Career

For Kyle Mueller '11, the road to success was anything but linear. A graduate of Manchester High School West, he began his college career at UNH's main campus in Durham as a mechanical engineering student while balancing a demanding work schedule. But after two years, Kyle realized his routine wasn’t sustainable.

“I had heard great things about the Manchester campus in the Amoskeag Mills,” he says. “At the time, UNH Manchester didn’t offer a mechanical engineering program, but the self-designed concentration option in the business program caught my attention.”

Kyle was drawn to the flexibility of block scheduling—especially as he was working over 30 hours a week—as well as the benefits of a smaller, more engaged classroom setting. He transferred to UNH Manchester and never looked back.

Designing His Own Path in Business

While engineering was his starting point, Kyle found himself drawn to the analytical side of business. The self-designed concentration in Operations & Finance allowed him to customize his coursework, integrating math-heavy classes like statistics and spreadsheet modeling.

“With the self-designed concentration, I liked having the ability to hand-pick my core courses,” Kyle explains. “Coming from a math-heavy engineering program, I was able to design my major around courses that complemented my strengths and interests.”

His coursework prepared him for the realities of business operations, but it was an internship that truly shaped his career trajectory.

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

Kyle took a finance internship at a manufacturing company—an experience that gave him invaluable insight into the business world. But the biggest lesson? He quickly realized finance wasn’t his calling.

“That internship helped me in a few ways: I realized I did not want to pursue a career path in finance, I learned there are endless opportunities for process improvement in any business, and I made a lot of great contacts,” Kyle says. “All of which helped me secure my first professional job after graduation.”

Experiential learning at UNH Manchester provided him with the skills, connections and clarity needed to carve out his own path in business operations.

How UNH Manchester Prepared Kyle for Career Success

Kyle credits the smaller class sizes and tight-knit community at UNH Manchester for pushing him to become a better student.

“I’ll admit—I was not the best student. I was preoccupied with work, friends and other life distractions,” he says. “UNH Manchester whipped me into shape and prepared me for the real world.”

He appreciated how engaged his professors were, many of whom were business leaders and entrepreneurs themselves. Professors like Todd Bohan, Kelly Kilcrease and Bill Troy left a lasting impact on his education.

But the defining moment? Senior Seminar.

“Senior Seminar was the crux of it all. UNH Manchester was really a springboard for the start of my career.”

A Thriving Career in Business Operations

With connections from his internship, Kyle landed his first job at Osram Sylvania (now Ledvance) in Business Solutions, where he honed his skills in sales operations, supply chain management and account management.

After three years, he transitioned to Akamai Technologies, where he took on the challenge of developing headcount models for a 1,200+ employee organization. Over the past decade, he has grown within the company, taking on various roles across business units. Today, Kyle serves as the Director of Strategy & Operations, leading two teams of analysts that oversee business operations and data analytics for Akamai’s cybersecurity business unit.

He recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary with the company—a milestone that is rare in the fast-paced tech industry.

“I never imagined working for one company for so long, especially in tech where it’s common to frequently hop between companies,” Kyle says. “I would say I’m most proud and grateful to have built out an amazing team of analysts who have collectively helped to double the revenue ($1B to $2B) of our business unit in a span of 4 years.”

Advice for Future Wildcats

For current and prospective UNH Manchester students, Kyle offers a piece of advice:

“Take advantage of the small class sizes and get to know your professors. They’re more than educators—they’re industry professionals, mentors and an incredible resource as you navigate your career.”

His story is a testament to the power of flexibility, persistence and seizing opportunities—something UNH Manchester continues to provide for students ready to take their next step.