A New Perspective on Business

A Dordt University graduate with a bachelor's degree in plant science, Jessup Leakey currently serves as a sales agronomist and Western Region team lead for CFE Air—the drone application division of Cooperative Farmers Elevator (CFE) in northwest Iowa. His work focuses on helping farmers improve crop production while leading a growing team of drone pilots serving thousands of acres annually.

While his background differs from that of many traditional MBA students, Leakey discovered that Dordt's MBA program offered tools and perspectives that directly strengthened his work.

Answering the Call to Continue Learning

Jessup's graduate education began somewhat unexpectedly.

After playing defensive line for Dordt’s football team, he returned as a graduate assistant coach. The position required him to continue his education, and he initially enrolled in Dordt’s Master of Education program. When Dordt announced its MBA program, however, he quickly recognized a better fit.

"I wasn’t interested in education after my career at Dordt and felt that the MBA would fit better toward my career path," says Leakey.

Although no longer required to continue his studies after leaving his role at Dordt, Leakey felt called to finish what he started, knowing an advanced degree would open doors in his career in the agriculture industry.

A Program for Working Professionals

One of the biggest concerns prospective graduate students have is whether a master's degree can realistically fit into an already demanding career and lifestyle.

According to Leakey, Dordt’s MBA program is designed to accommodate working professionals.

For much of the year, his role requires 60 to 70-hour workweeks during busy agricultural seasons. Yet because the program provides flexibility without sacrificing rigor, Leakey maintained top academic performance while balancing work responsibilities and life outside the classroom.

"I will tell you firsthand that if I can do it, anyone can do it," Leakey says.

He credits the structure and intentionality of Dordt's MBA program for making that balance possible. Rather than focusing on exams and memorization, the program emphasizes meaningful projects, discussion, and practical application. "The work is tough; however, it is not busy work. Every assignment is intentional," he explains.

Additionally, the faculty's understanding of the realities facing working professionals made a difference. "We have to balance a job, class, and life, and professors understand that,” Leakey says. 

Putting Learning to Work

For Leakey, one of the clearest strengths of Dordt’s MBA program was how quickly classroom learning translated into practical application. He frequently found that the lessons from the program offered immediate application in his daily work. "As I completed a module or submitted an assignment, the lessons learned were translated directly into my work," he says.

Additionally, faculty mentorship played an important role helping students recognize how the program fit into their daily lives. "The MBA professors are extremely professional and challenge your work every day, but they are also very personable. They care about your work, your academics, and your life,” Leakey says.

Specifically, Tim Klein, professor of business, offered guidance that helped Leakey navigate the challenges of his capstone project. "There were many aspects of my capstone project that I felt were impossible tasks,” says Leakey. “However, Professor Klein eased the burden through consistent conversation."

Real-World Results

For Leakey, the clearest example of the program's practical application came through that capstone project.

His research examined operational efficiency within CFE Air, which operates 19 agricultural spray drones covering more than 70,000 acres annually.

To conduct the study, Leakey trained an AI agent to process and analyze large volumes of operational data, including more than 800 flight logs, weather information, drone performance metrics, and application records.

The analysis revealed surprising findings. "It was our understanding that the faster you fly, the more efficient you are,” Leakey explains. “However, acres covered per load, landing windows, and payload are the greatest contributors to inefficiency."

The project also included pilot surveys, which confirmed that employee perspectives aligned closely with the quantitative findings.

Most importantly, the recommendations resulted in real-world application. "We are taking steps to increase efficiency based on the data presented, and it is working," Leakey says.

So far, the project has helped improve operational procedures and move CFE closer to its efficiency goals.

A Renewed Perspective on Business

Before entering the program, Leakey admits to having viewed business through a skeptical lens. "I went in believing that businessmen are there to make commission, and that is it."

The program challenged that assumption and helped him see business as an opportunity for stewardship, service, and leadership.

"Now I know that I can be a leader in making a change in an environment where I feel a need for change," he says.

That perspective aligns with his work in agriculture, where stewardship of land, resources, and communities is central. "CFE is an environment where I have the opportunity to make sales not only for my own gain but for the gain of local communities and farmers."

For Leakey, Dordt's MBA has provided more than business knowledge. It has equipped him to think differently about leadership, service, and his role in God's world. "This degree has given me tools to take the first steps in the right direction," he says.

With a career in agriculture, drone technology, and conservation, Leakey's story demonstrates that graduate business education is for more than corporate boardrooms. Through flexible coursework, intentional learning experiences, practical application, and a Biblical vision for servant-leaders, Dordt's MBA is equipping professionals across industries to make meaningful impact wherever God has called them.