Presentations and Seminars

“Expanding your Professional Reach with LinkedIn”

Koury Presentation – 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

 Gary Miller, Senior Assistant Dean for Academic Advising, UNC Chapel Hill

We all see and feel the impact that social networks have had on our daily lives. But, many of us have yet to figure out the best ways for these tools to impact our professional lives. While there are many platforms available to use professionally, LinkedIn has taken root as the largest, and in many ways the most helpful, of these tools. This session will focus on leveraging LinkedIn to further your professional goals through networking, business intelligence, recommendations and other “hidden gems” of the system that go beyond the basics. The session will also allow for Q&A, so bring your questions and concerns!

Gary Alan Miller is a higher education professional with 18 years of experience in registration, academic advising, curriculum planning, marketing, program management and career counseling. His areas of expertise include delivering dynamic presentations, utilizing technology, strategizing and implementing ideas. It is a treat for him to speak to groups to help them push through change, accelerate innovation or simply spark new thinking. Previously with University Career Services at UNC, he is currently Senior Assistant Dean for Academic Advising at Carolina.

"Reducing Income Taxes and Eliminating Estate Taxes"

Seminar – 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Janet Ramsey (BSBA 1979, MBA 1983)

No, this isn’t a campaign platform statement or a tax policy discussion. Income and estate taxes will continue to play a significant role in the American tax system, regardless of the political party in power. This session will focus on ways individuals can effectively reduce these taxes, even as Congress inevitably changes future brackets and exemption amounts. You will learn successful strategies to avoid double taxation on retirement savings, bypass capital gains taxes when selling investments, create additional income tax deductions using often overlooked assets, voluntarily opt out of taxes on your estate and more effectively shield your family wealth from lawsuits.

Janet Ramsey is a financial educator, author and speaker, working with clients, educational, nonprofit and professional groups for almost three decades. She is the founder and President of Premier Advisor Group LLC, in Durham, NC, a Certified Financial Planner Professional™ and Advisory Representative of Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation. She counsels clients and advisors how to plan for a secure lifetime lifestyle, increase effectiveness in working with professional advisors and experience more meaningful multi-generational family wealth transfer and preservation. She is a graduate of the MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and a founding member and former chair of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Alumni Council.

“Carolina Women in Business”

Seminar – 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Please join current female students and Kenan-Flagler alumnae to learn about Carolina Women in Business (CWIB) and the Women's Initiative at Kenan-Flagler. This new initiative is based on project work by MBA Dean's Fellows that aims to increase the number of female students at Kenan-Flagler, including an effort to have alumnae involved as ambassadors in helping recruit students in cities across the U.S. Please join us to learn about activities and resources available to current and former female students as well as ways you can get involved.

“Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace”

Seminar – 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

This session will be led by alumni and current students from the Kenan-Flagler chapter of the Alliance for Minority Business Students (AMBS) and KFBS Pride. It will include a discussion on the challenges of creating work environments that celebrate and encourage diversity. Attendees will share how their own companies rate in this regard, and what each of us can do to help improve the landscape.

Diversity Reception

Kenan Center Lounge – 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

We invite everyone to join members of CWIB, AMBS, KFBS Pride and other alumni and students to network and interact at our Diversity Reception in the Kenan Center Lounge prior to the Welcome Dinner at 6pm.

Service Project - Anysoldier.com

Kenan Dining Room, Kenan Center  – 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. 

Join fellow alumni, faculty, staff and students for what has become an Alumni Weekend tradition and favorite activity. We will assemble, package and mail care packages and letters for overseas troops in harm's way.  This activity will be led by Professor Bob Connolly and members of the Kenan-Flagler Military Veterans Club.

“Off the Beaten Path”

Hear from fellow Kenan-Flagler alumni following career paths that offer an alternative to life in the big corporation.

Seminar – 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. 

Ever wonder if there is life after the corporation?  Or if you’re the only business grad looking for something a bit different?  Then join us for this panel discussion to hear from fellow Kenan-Flagler alumni who have found their niche off the corporate path.  Led by Elizabeth Wallencheck, Director of Alumni Career Management, this session will explore our panel’s motivations, strategies for success, and lessons learned for carving out your own unique path to success!

“Kenan Flagler Update with Dean Jim Dean and Special Guest Speaker – UNC Head Football Coach Larry Fedora”

Koury Presentation – 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

For all Alumni – “Up Your Game:  A Leadership Challenge” Simulation

Seminar – 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Join our Leadership Initiative team to experience, first-hand, one of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s unique leadership training tools. The “Up Your Game:  A Leadership Challenge” Simulation provides you the opportunity, in the role of Associate Brand Manager in a consumer products company, to demonstrate your leadership to management.  The exercise simulates what is waiting for you, on a typical day, in your email inbox. You’ll be asked to respond and then discuss strategies and applications with other participants.  This opportunity will give you a flavor of how we create “real-life” learning opportunities for our students as well as give you exposure to a simulation you are free to use in your own firm.  The exercise does not require marketing expertise and is an effective learning tool for all types of business careers. This session will be led by Mindy Storrie (MBA 1997) and Peter Romanella of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Leadership Program.

For EMBA/OneMBA Alumni – “Return to Rizzo” – with Guest Speaker Professor Atul Nerkar

Seminar – 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Reception – 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

For recent EMBA and OneMBA graduates, this will be a nostalgic return to where many of you met and shared classes at the Rizzo Conference Center. For others, you will definitely enjoy this excursion to one of the best conference facilities anywhere. Professor Atul Nerkar, the new MBA for Executives Associate Dean, will provide remarks on the impact of social networking on today’s business climate, and provide an update on all MBA for Executives programs.

Following the presentation, we will host a networking reception from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. at the DuBose House, prior to everyone joining Casino Night.

Social Networks and Organizational Performance
The 21st century is being dominated by social media in every walk of life - personal, professional or business. That said the implications of social networking remain relatively unexplored. The intent of this session is to examine the concept of a social network from an individual, intra-organizational and inter-organizational perspective. Specifically, Professor Nerkar will examine the following questions:
- What constitutes a social network?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of structural positions in social networks and their influence on organizational performance?
- How can organizations leverage structural positions in social networks to improve performance?

The session will be interactive and build on the research work done by Professor Nerkar.