Family Business Leaders Mentorship Program

Aashna Patel is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studies public policy and minors in business and entrepreneurship. Her interest in family business is personal: her father and grandfather have both built businesses, giving her an appreciation for the persistence, relationships, and decisions behind entrepreneurship. 

She is curious about how family businesses grow and adapt while holding onto the values that shaped them. During a semester in Ireland, she also saw how local businesses become part of community life. At UNC, she explores how organizations make decisions through coursework and consulting experience, alongside leadership in the UNC Loreleis. As a mentee in the Family Business Leaders Program, she is looking forward to learning from her mentor’s experience and perspective on business ownership, leadership, succession, and long-term strategy. She is also excited to connect with other students who share a family business background and exchange perspectives on carrying a business forward. 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aashna-patel-b5080335b 

My name is Maxim Taraban, and I am from Greensboro, NC. I’m majoring in business with a minor in artificial intelligence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of school, I enjoy playing pickleball, fishing, and flying drones. My interest in drones has led me to start my own drone business, allowing me to explore entrepreneurship firsthand.  

My family owns a real estate business, which has made me interested in learning about what goes into running a business with family. I want to learn more about how everyone works together, handles disagreements, and helps the business grow. Having my own drone business has made me realize how much there is to learn, and I’m excited to pick up ideas that could help both my family’s business and my own. 

As a mentee in this program, I am looking forward to learning from someone who has experience and can offer practical advice about family businesses. I wish to strengthen my leadership and problem-solving skills, while also learning how to deal with business challenges. I also hope to learn how technology and AI can be used to support business growth. Finally, I want to build a meaningful connection with my mentor and become more confident as an entrepreneur. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-taraban-b172a9421/ 

Hey y’all! My name is Tatum Haston. I am a first-year student from Charlotte, NC. I am an active member of the UNC Women in Family Business Club, Tri Delta sorority, YPO Next Generation NC, and involved in the Family Enterprise Center here at Chapel Hill. From selling handmade friendship bracelets in my neighborhood at the ripe age of five to vending pound cakes to my mom’s friends on Facebook, I have always loved the process of creating and running businesses. My biggest inspiration and motivator in business is my dad, who is the president and CEO of the Roby Family of Companies based in Charlotte. As a mentee, I am exhilarated to learn how to create a business plan, increase my networking skills, and explore what it means to be successful in a family business. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to kick things off! 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatum-haston-5b2864397?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios 

I’m Lucy, a freshman pursuing a double major in Business Administration and Data Science. My parents run a tech enterprise called Supersonic Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. The company develops and manufactures industrial‑AI‑powered inspection machines for defect detection on lithium batteries, PCB boards and semiconductors. I plan to join the family business in the future. As a mentee, I’m eager to learn practical operational skills to prepare myself for taking over the family company.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-zhang-31939a435/ 

My name is Henry Powell, and I’m a Junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Business Administration, Management & Society, and Urban Planning. I grew up around my family’s business, Modern Fabrics, where I’ve gained hands-on experience in e-commerce, inventory, and day-to-day operations. Working in our business has sparked my interest in how family enterprises grow while maintaining the relationships and values that make them unique, especially within a familial setting. As a mentee, I’m looking forward to learning from my mentor’s experiences and gaining perspectives that I can apply to both my future career and my family’s business! 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-powell-b1662a324/ 

My name is Jimbo Smith, and I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia. I attended the University of Alabama, where I studied marketing and risk management. During college, I was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and served as president of the Capstone Startup Association. 

After graduating in 2024, I spent two years in Charlotte, North Carolina, working as an underwriter for Berkley Southeast, a commercial property and casualty insurance company. That experience gave me insight into how small and middle-market businesses operate and the risks they face. It also gave me experience in the same industry as my family business. After two years in Charlotte, I decided to pursue my MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. 

My family owns and operates a commercial insurance agency that my grandfather started, so family business has always been an important part of my life. One of my goals in pursuing my MBA is to learn how I can contribute to the continued growth and success of our family business. 

I am most looking forward to building a relationship with my mentor, learning from their experiences with family business, and gaining perspective on the challenges and opportunities that come with it. I hope to develop a meaningful, long-term relationship where we can work toward our goals. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbo-smith/ 

I am a third-year law student at UNC School of Law with a particular interest in entrepreneurship, business transactions, and the legal considerations involved in building and sustaining a business. 

I am the youngest of three siblings and the only daughter in a family of entrepreneurs whose businesses span automotive and real estate. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family gave me an early appreciation for business ownership, particularly the intersection of family relationships, business decisions, and long-term planning. 

Before law school, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from East Carolina University. My professional experience is in mergers and acquisitions, sports and entertainment representation, business development, and judicial work. At UNC, I am a member of the Start-Up Law Clinic, where I assist emerging businesses with formation, contracts, and other legal considerations involved in launching a company. 

My personal background and legal education have shaped my interest in family enterprises, particularly succession planning, generational wealth, and preserving a family’s entrepreneurial legacy. I am excited to be involved with the Family Enterprise Center and to learn from families building and sustaining businesses across generations.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-tyson/