Meet our MBAs: Ayisha Swann

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Undergraduate school and major: 
Dartmouth College, English and Geography

What really set UNC Kenan-Flagler apart was the responsiveness of students and alumni to my questions – not only after I was admitted, but throughout my application process. I felt like I was a part of the family before I even submitted my application.

Past employers and job titles:

• Special projects coordinator at Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) in Washington, D.C.
• High school English teacher in Bogota, Colombia
• Public programs and experiences intern at National Geographic in Washington, D.C.

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:
I like to think of myself as a “multipotentialite” – interested in everything, expert in nothing!

Share a fun fact about yourself:
I hold three passports and love to travel, but I have a completely irrational fear of flying.

Describe your biggest career accomplishment so far:
When I worked at the Golden Triangle, I conceived and managed a $20,000 public art project in downtown D.C. in coordination with the Japanese Embassy and the neighborhood’s commercial stakeholders. The novelty and public appeal of the project solidified it as a recurring annual event.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?
Figure out your story and develop your personal brand before you even start the process. Then attend as many events, webinars and campus tours as you can— face time is way more important than you think!

Why did you choose to pursue your MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler?
UNC Kenan-Flagler was always at the top of my list because of its stellar MBA real estate program and  its unique MBA/MRP (Masters in City and Regional Planning) dual-degree program that I was hoping to pursue. But what really set UNC Kenan-Flagler apart was the responsiveness of students and alumni to my questions – not only after I was admitted, but throughout my application process. I felt like I was a part of the family before I even submitted my application.

>> Learn more about the MBA Real Estate concentration

What is your dream job? 
I hope to one day be the executive director of a land trust or urban planning consulting firm. I believe that my generation’s biggest challenge will be environmental degradation and climate change, and I hope to be able to reverse or at least mitigate the problem through economically profitable and environmentally sustainable solutions.

What do you hope your Business School peers will say about you after graduation? 
“She’ll be giving a TED talk one day.”

This post originally appearsd on Poets & Quants.

I’m interested.

_{Complete the fields below and we’ll be in touch with more information.  Fields marked with “*” are required.}