Farson says the MBV program has deepened his understanding of entrepreneurship thanks to courses on launching and growing businesses. Whether it be accounting, microeconomics, or data analytics, he’s gaining new insights into each of his team’s day-to-day functions, which better enables him to communicate the company mission while supporting their growth.
Farson says his conviction and tenacity were learned over the course of his military career. While serving as a diesel mechanic, Farson had the opportunity to become a Navy search and rescue swimmer and was recruited shortly after to the Navy’s Underwater Construction Teams (UCT). While serving as an underwater welder, Farson told those around him what he truly desired — to join the Navy SEALs.
It was an ambitious goal, but Farson wasn’t afraid of dreaming too big. For him, there are those that talk about doing great things and those that actually do them, no matter how long the odds may be.
Composed of multiple training regimens widely considered the most intensive in the United States military, the SEAL program has an attrition rate around 80%. Farson wasn’t to be denied, and in 2011, he completed his training, became an official Navy SEAL, and, in the process, discovered a great deal about his own character and perseverance.
“I learned a lot about myself,” Farson said. “When you spend six days awake, you push yourself past the limits of what you thought was humanly possible … Once you stop putting limits on yourself, I think that’s when the real growth starts to happen.”
During his service, Farson also planned for life after the Navy, taking advantage of his military benefits by acquiring an online bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and a master’s degree in strategic leadership. In 2024, eager to start the next chapter in his life following retirement, he searched for opportunities to bring his leadership capabilities and mission-first approach to entrepreneurship and education.
That led Farson to USC Marshall, where he saw a new community for himself within the MBV program. According to Farson, the MBV program offers a unique chance for veterans to support veterans, bringing to the classroom the same philosophy and culture that made the military a special place for Farson.
“There’s a shared feeling of ‘everybody wins,’” Farson said. “Me winning equals you winning, and we win together. I feel that at USC, it’s a very real thing. It doesn’t feel like we’re all competing against each other to see who’s best.”
Farson especially appreciates the specialized support the MBV program offers to him and his classmates.
“[The MBV leaders] bring in a lot of other veteran entrepreneurs, either ones that have come through the cohort or just successful veteran entrepreneurs,” Farson said. “They are able to bring them in and make that connection for us.”
Farson’s educational journey is just beginning at USC. After his graduation from the MBV program, he hopes to pursue his EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership from the Rossier School of Education. The atmosphere of excellence, entrepreneurial resources, and the Trojan Network’s veteran community have given Farson a place he can truly belong.
“I look forward to being at USC for a long time and calling it home,” Farson said.
