Chad Jackson, director of risk management at FedEx Corp.,stumbled into finance, but he hasn't taken a wrong step since.After working as a Spanish language teacher after college, Jacksonwanted more control over his life and thought a coffee shop mightbe a fun way to provide for himself and his family.

So he enrolled in business school at Indiana University. It wasa new world, but one where he fit in well, he says. “I just had myeyes opened at that point to the world of business and to the fitthat I had in the business world,” he says. “I found I hadanalytical skills, good critical thinking, and a good strategicmindset.”

Five years working for insurance brokerage Marsh USA as a clientexecutive followed. Then in August 2008, Jackson took on hiscurrent role at $39 billion FedEx just in time for the financialcrisis. “I felt like I got about five years worth of experience in2008 and 2009,” he says.