MBA Energy Club

21st Annual National Energy Finance Challenge – Finalist Team (November 2025)

In November 2025, UNC Kenan-Flagler advanced to the final round of the 21st Annual National Energy Finance Challenge, hosted by the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. The prestigious competition brings together top MBA programs from across the country to solve real-world energy finance cases and present recommendations to senior industry executives.

The UNC finalist team included second-year students Nikita Bendre (Class of 2026) and Trygve Rorvig (Class of 2026), along with first-year students Nick Gardner (Class of 2027), Suleiman Ibrahim (Class of 2027), and Sam Tolbert (Class of 2027). The team delivered a compelling financial and strategic analysis, demonstrating strong technical rigor, teamwork, and presentation skills.

Advancing to the final round highlighted the strength of Kenan-Flagler’s energy finance curriculum and showcased the Energy Club’s ability to prepare students for high-level problem-solving in the evolving energy sector.

Houston Trek 2025 (October 13–17, 2025)

From October 13–17, 2025, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Club traveled to Houston, Texas—the Energy Capital of the World—for an immersive, multi-day industry trek. Throughout the week, students engaged with leaders across the energy value chain, including representatives from Repsol Energy, Kinder Morgan, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Occidental (Oxy), Energy Transition Ventures, the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, and several emerging startups at Greentown Labs.

The trek began with discussions on renewable development and infrastructure challenges, including a session with Repsol Energy focused on the realities of building and maintaining high-quality wind assets. Students later met with senior leaders from Kinder Morgan to explore how large-scale midstream operators finance daily operations and adapt to shifting market conditions. The group also visited Chevron’s headquarters, where current and former members of the company’s MBA program shared insights into career pathways and commercial leadership roles.

Midweek programming featured policy- and innovation-focused discussions, including a roundtable at the Energy Workforce & Technology Council examining how recent federal initiatives are reshaping the energy workforce and supply chain. Students also visited Houston’s Ion innovation hub, where they heard from founders and venture leaders on building energy startups and advancing energy transition technologies. The day concluded with a visit to Greentown Labs, highlighting early-stage companies driving innovation across the sector.

Later in the week, the group attended the Global Energy Conference, where panels centered on the challenge of balancing decarbonization goals with surging electricity demand driven by AI and data center growth. The trek concluded with a visit to ExxonMobil’s headquarters, where Kenan-Flagler alumni hosted a facility tour and career-focused Q&A, showcasing the breadth of opportunities available within one of the world’s largest energy companies.

Overall, the Houston Trek provided students with firsthand exposure to the strategic, financial, and policy challenges shaping the modern energy industry. The experience strengthened industry relationships, deepened students’ understanding of the energy transition, and reinforced the Energy Club’s commitment to preparing future leaders for a rapidly evolving sector.

NextEra Energy Lunch & Learn (September 2025)

In September 2025, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Club hosted a Lunch & Learn with NextEra Energy, bringing together MBA students and UNC alumni for an engaging discussion with one of the nation’s leading renewable energy companies. The session was structured as an informal, moderated Q&A, encouraging open dialogue around clean energy trends, corporate strategy, and career development within the renewables space.

During the event, NextEra Energy representatives shared perspectives on the company’s forward-looking approach to energy innovation, as well as the evolving skill sets required for careers in clean energy and infrastructure development. Students and alumni alike benefited from candid insights into navigating the energy transition from both technical and commercial vantage points.

The Lunch & Learn strengthened connections between students, alumni and industry professionals while reinforcing the Energy Club’s mission to deliver inclusive, forward-thinking energy education at UNC Kenan-Flagler.

Cultivate Power

UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Club alumnus Noah Hyte met with students on Nov. 11 to discuss his current role as co-founder and managing director at Cultivate Power. Read the full story here.

Duke Energy Career Trek

On Nov. 3, 2023, the Energy Club visited Duke Energy’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station, Emerging Technology Office (ETO), and its new headquarters in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. Read the full story here.

Washington, D.C. Trek

On October 19-20, the Energy Club traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Cypress Creek Renewables, the American Clean Power Association, the Department of Energy Loan Program Office and the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). Read the full story here.

Energy Club Houston Career Trek October 2023

UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students from the Energy Club traveled to Houston, Texas, to engage with leaders from a diverse array of energy companies. Students interacted with experts and toured several energy companies. Read the full story here.

LanzaTech – Lunch and Learn  October 2023

On Oct. 4, 2023, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Club hosted alumnus Omar El-Sharkawy for a lunch and learn to discuss his role at LanzaTech. He shared about being the VP of corporate development and his areas of responsibility within the business. Students asked a variety of questions, and El-Sharkawy explained how LanzaTech’s business model works across the world.

LanzaTech Global Inc. (Nasdaq: LNZA) is the carbon recycling company transforming waste carbon into sustainable raw materials for everyday products. Using its biorecycling technology, LanzaTech captures carbon-rich gases generated by energy-intensive industries at the source, preventing them from being emitted into the air. LanzaTech then gives that captured carbon a new life as a sustainable replacement for virgin fossil carbon in everything from household cleaners and clothing fibers to packaging and fuels.

Kellogg Energy and Sustainability Case Competition – third place!, April 2022

On April 16, a group of five UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students placed third overall in the Kellogg Northwestern Energy and Sustainability Case Competition. The team consisted of one second-year and four first-year MBA students: John MacAree, Rachel Michos, Parker Bly, Chris Goodman and Fawzi Ali. Congratulations to the UNC Energy team! Click here to read more about the case and the team’s success.

NAPE/TCU Energy Case Competition – 3rd place!, February 2022

On Feb. 9, a group of UNC Kenan-Flagler students placed third in the Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business’s Energy Case Competition. The team consisted of three second-year MBAs and one first-year MBA: Josh Haswell, John MacAree, Jon Nichols, and Rachel Michos.  Congratulations to the UNC Energy team!
Click here to read more about the case and the team’s success.

Women’s Energy Network Panel, December 2021

The Energy Club and Net Impact Club hosted a panel and networking reception featuring the Women’s Energy Network. “The Women’s Energy Network (WEN) is an international organization of professionals who work across the energy value chain [whose] mission is to provide networking opportunities and foster the career and leadership development of women who work in the energy industries.” Panelists included women leaders in energy that provided insight into their careers and the energy sector in North Carolina. They discussed their paths to get to their current positions, some of the hurdles they faced and trends in their respective energy markets. Club members learned about current industry trends and solutions while expanding their professional networks at a reception after the panel.

Nuclear Energy and Climate Strategies Conference, November 2021

The UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center held a Nuclear and Climate Strategy Conference in November. CEOs, executives, scientists, and policymakers from leading utilities, start-ups, NGOs, think tanks and government agencies gathered in the Rizzo Center to discuss the role, opportunities, and challenges facing new nuclear energy in the energy transition. The Conference once again demonstrated the Energy Center’s role in thought leadership and its ability to bring together a variety of key stakeholders to discuss the energy sector’s most pressing issues.

Energy Club Career Trek, October 2021

The Energy Club’s fall career trek was organized by club leadership. Members were able to visit ExxonMobil, Phillips 66 and Calpine’s campuses in Houston. Energy Cub members were given tours at the individual locations, met leadership within the Leadership development teams, and networked with MBAs currently in the programs. The Energy club also held a happy hour with local  UNC Kenan-Flagler alumni, bringing in a few other companies that they were unable to visit due to Covid restrictions.

100 Women: How Women Lead in Energy, October 2021

Energy Club members were invited to attend this energy-focused event hosted by the 100 Women movement. The panel was moderated by Energy Center Advisory Board member Tina Jeffress. 100 Women is a women-led movement focused on encouraging and empowering future women business leaders. At its core, 100 Women seeks to grow the number of women pursuing an MBA and support their journey, from mentoring prospective UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students to providing guidance and advice throughout their career after graduation. A recording of the 100 Women event can be viewed here.

Energy students win UCLA Challenges in Energy Case Competition, February 2021

On Feb. 25, a group of UNC Kenan-Flagler students placed first in the UCLA Challenges in Energy Case Competition for a second straight year. The team consisted of one second-year MBA and four first-year MBAs: Anthony Miner, Josh Haswell, John MacAree, Eric Schwartz, and Rose Telus. 

The case, sponsored by Southern California Edison, prompted students to develop a business plan for a ventures division of an incumbent energy player to create a new business line that is profitable and addresses social and environmental justice, focusing on the triple bottom line. Unlike years past the team was unable to travel to Los Angeles, so they presented via Zoom throughout the day-long competition. During round one, UNC Kenan-Flagler’s team competed against 10 other teams, representing the top energy MBA programs throughout the U.S. At lunch, they were selected alongside teams from the University of Virginia Darden Business School, Duke Fuqua Business School, and Dartmouth Tuck School of Business to move to the finals. However, before the final round, the team was given a “twist” in the case and had only a few hours to adjust their presentation and incorporate this new information.

The Energy Club hosts career labs throughout the fall, which provide details on writing cover letters, networking with alumni, resume building, recruiting and preparing for behavioral and case interviews. The club hosts a second-year intern panel, where second-year students discuss their internships and first-years can ask questions.

Energy Club members are given opportunities to have “coffee chats” with alumni and with second-year energy students. The club also hosts an alumni mock interview night, where first-year students are paired with alumni working in the energy industry to practice for behavioral interviews.

Energy Club members get frequent updates on open positions in the energy sector and internship opportunities that are available. In addition, the club hosts company presentations from industry leaders throughout the year.