Welcome to our new Alumni Success Series, where we spotlight Cheetah Learning graduates who are making waves in their careers. First up: Dan Byrne, MBA, PMP®, whose story proves that the right preparation can make all the difference.
The Promotion That Changed Everything
Last summer, Dan Byrne made a decision that would transform his career trajectory. He enrolled in Cheetah Learning’s PMP® program. What happened next is what most career professionals dream of.
During the very week leading up to his PMP® exam, Dan received life-changing news from his leadership at KPMG. He was being promoted into the firm’s management group.
“Getting the PMP® was the gold star to pin on my resume,” Dan reflects.
Today, Dan serves as a Manager in Federal Advisory at KPMG US. A Johns Hopkins University alumnus with over 10 years of service as an Army Logistics Officer in the Maryland National Guard and experience managing over $90 million in federal R&D funding, Dan understands the weight that professional certifications carry in government contracting and program management.
For professionals in consulting, federal contracting, and project management, PMP® certification is widely recognized as the gold standard that demonstrates advanced expertise and commitment to the field. Dan’s story is living proof of this impact.
The Achilles Heel Nobody Talks About
Here’s what makes Dan’s success even more remarkable: standardized tests were his Achilles heel.
“You could give me a standardized test about myself and I would have failed it a few years ago,” Dan admits. Test-taking anxiety had held him back for years. It’s the silent struggle that affects countless professionals, the thing that makes extraordinary people doubt themselves, even when those around them know that they are on the road to success.
But something changed during his time with Cheetah Learning. Something fundamental.
The Meditative Edge
Dan discovered techniques at Cheetah that he still uses to this day. The meditative approaches introduced during his PMP® program weren’t just about passing one test. They became tools he could use for significant challenges in his professional life.
“Before I delve into a certification, I’ll still utilize those meditative and reflecting processes to get into the right frame of mind,” Dan explains.
Research backs up what Dan experienced firsthand. Studies have shown that mindfulness-based interventions are effective at reducing test anxiety, with increases in mindfulness associated with decreased reports of test anxiety among students.
The impact extends beyond exam day. Dan recently enrolled in Johns Hopkins (his alma mater) inaugural MS in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence program. The test-taking techniques and confidence he gained from Cheetah? He’s bringing them into this new chapter.
Fighting the “Crazy Roommate” Inside
One lesson stands out above all others for Dan. His instructor, Frances, instilled a powerful mindset: fight off the “crazy roommate” inside of you that sows self-doubt.
“I think it’s natural for people to second guess themselves,” Dan notes. “I think it’s natural to feel the doubt that the answer is correct or not.”
What’s not normal is having a proven strategy to overcome that doubt. This is exactly what research on mindfulness interventions suggests: they help process difficult emotions, promote calmness, and allow individuals to face challenges with less stress and more confidence. Dan learned this firsthand, and it’s a key tool in his toolbelt for tackling professional challenges.
Trust the Process (Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense)
Dan’s advice for anyone considering Cheetah Learning is refreshingly honest:
“Trust the process, trust what Cheetah Learning is trying to instill in you,” he says. “There were times I was going through the program that I didn’t understand the processes we were doing, but I trusted the process and it was beneficial.”
This isn’t blind faith. It’s the recognition that transformative learning sometimes feels uncomfortable in the moment. There’s a reason Cheetah Learning’s results stand apart from the pack: professional students are learning these approaches for the first time, and that requires some faith. Dan trusted the methodology, did the work, and the results speak for themselves. He still uses the techniques to this day.
The Career Impact: By the Numbers
Dan’s story mirrors broader industry trends. According to the Project Management Institute’s 13th Edition Salary Survey, PMP®-certified professionals in the United States report a median salary of $120,000, compared to $93,000 for those without certification. This represents approximately 29% higher earnings for certified professionals.
Beyond salary, the PMP® certification opens doors to senior management roles, program management positions, and leadership opportunities across industries, particularly in government contracting and federal program management where Dan now serves.
For Dan, the promotion to KPMG’s management group represents exactly this kind of career acceleration. His PMP® certification wasn’t just a credential. It was validation of his capabilities and commitment to excellence.
More Than a Certification
What makes Dan’s journey compelling isn’t just the promotion or the salary potential. It’s the adaptation of how he approaches challenges.
The test anxiety that once held him back? Now managed through meditative techniques he learned at Cheetah. The self-doubt that crept in during high-pressure situations? He has tools to fight it. The standardized tests that felt impossible? He passed his PMP® on the first try and continues using those strategies as he blazes trails in new advanced degrees.
Your Turn
Dan’s story started with a decision to invest in himself. He chose a program that addressed not just the content of the PMP® exam, but the identity barriers that prevent even the most seasoned professionals from succeeding.
The meditative approaches. The test-taking strategies. The mindset shifts. These weren’t extras. They were essential components of a comprehensive preparation program that recognizes a simple truth: technical knowledge is only part of the equation.
Cheetah Learning congratulates Dan on his career success and wishes him the best as he embarks on his new exciting Masters program.
If you’re considering your PMP® certification and test anxiety has been holding you back, Dan’s message is clear: trust the process. The techniques work. The confidence is real. And the career impact? That speaks for itself.
Ready to conquer test anxiety and fast-track your career? Enroll in a Cheetah PMP® Exam Prep Class today and become PMP® certified in just 4 days.