Jon Astashinsky (MBA ‘25) has always embraced challenges, whether as a West Point graduate, an Army Logistics Officer, or an entrepreneur. After more than five years in the military, he pivoted to entrepreneurship and even authored a fantasy novel, The Nine Bishops. Now at Darden, he’s exploring post-MBA opportunities in big tech and self-funded acquisition entrepreneurship. In the fall of 2024, Jon took his studies to the other side of the world, spending a semester at Melbourne Business School in Australia. Now back at Darden, he shares his experiences abroad and the insights he gained along the way.
1) Jon, tell us about yourself and why you chose to study abroad in Australia!
When I was an undergrad, I studied abroad in Latvia and immediately gained a passion for exploring and living in new cultures. I was also fortunate to be stationed in Germany for three years when I was commissioned as an officer in the Army, so I continued my overseas journey and traveled to dozens of countries across Europe
One of my goals when I transitioned out of the military was to continue traveling and seeing more of the world. When I heard that Darden offered an exchange program, it was a no-brainer. Since I had already traveled around North America and Europe, I was excited to travel to the Asia Pacific region. Australia was an easy choice because it was going to be a great hub to travel to other countries in Asia.
2) How did the academic environment in Australia differ from your experiences at Darden, and what lessons did you take from those differences?
Overall, my academic experience was seamless. Compared to other potential exchange programs, I found Australia to be relatively similar to the U.S. with the western culture and expectations that I had grown accustomed to. It was still interesting to be in a classroom where many people spoke about the United States from an outside perspective, which helped me stay grounded in the fact that the U.S. is not the center of the universe. I will say, I did end up missing the case method and classroom experience at Darden.
3) What was the most surprising insight you gained from your time at Melbourne Business School, and how has it influenced your approach to business strategy?
I think the most interesting insight I learned is how much U.S. policy affects other nations. Every class had some tie–in with business strategy or current events in the U.S., which was unexpected. I was humbled that people knew so much about what was happening in the U.S., but I had no idea what was happening in their country. It made me realize that I need to have a global mindset when I think about business, and it’s easy to lose sight of that having lived in the U.S. for practically my whole life.
4) How do you plan to integrate the global perspectives you gained in Melbourne into your future work at Darden and beyond?
People live differently everywhere you go. Being aware of different cultures has shaped my worldview on what I find important in life. I think living in the United States really reinforces that we should work hard and be successful, but other cultures don’t really seem to care about that nearly as much. These global perspectives continue to shape how I approach decisions regarding where I live, how much I work, and how I want to lead.
5) What was your most memorable experience during the semester?
I got to do my semester exchange with my family (wife and three-year-old). Traveling and experiencing different places (Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Fiji, and New Zealand) was seriously the best time of my life. From going to Nintendo World in Japan to seeing the majestic views in New Zealand, I had so many amazing moments with the people I care most about. It makes me wish I could do it again.
6) What advice would you give to Darden students considering spending a semester abroad?
This is advice I received from my parents when I studied abroad in Latvia during undergrad, which at the time I did not listen to. I was a pretty frugal guy and thought more about saving money than having life experiences. My parents encouraged me to spend money and travel to new places, but I think I only went to one other country when I studied abroad in Latvia.
So, my advice is to echo their advice. Don’t be frugal — go have more life experiences. After starting a family, it’s becoming exceedingly more difficult to travel. Take every opportunity you can to travel because the moments I experienced in Latvia, Germany (when I was stationed there), and now Australia are some I will never forget ever.
