Realizing her ambitions

Bhumika Agarwal (MBA ’25) does not shy away from challenges. She made the journey from New Delhi to Chapel Hill and now to Boston, where she is working as a consultant at L.E.K. Consulting.

“I am and have always been ambitious. My goal is to rise to an influential position which enables me to make a real impact,” she says. “I want to make my younger self proud and be in a position to influence not just organizations, but communities.”

Earning an MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School gave Agarwal the platform to realize her ambitions.

After graduating from the Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, her career story began when she joined JP Morgan Chase as an analyst in the corporate analysis development program.

“While it was a great fit at the time, I felt my learning curve plateaued early,” she says. “After talking with my parents, I considered switching jobs or getting an MBA. My role at the time was at the intersection of internal consulting and data analytics, so I felt ready for the next step with proper training.”

Agarwal chose the business school route and applied to several programs. UNC Kenan-Flagler stood out for many reasons, including the chance to live in a college town instead of a big city.

Then there was the welcoming community. “Everyone I interacted with at UNC Kenan-Flagler was genuine and warm,” she says.

She also found the curriculum to be the perfect blend of case-based and lecture-based learning and appreciated the strong consulting concentration. “The consulting concentration courses are very practical and relevant courses, and they helped me prepare for my transition to a consulting role,” Agarwal says.

Leading and building community

Far from home and determined to make the most of her experience, Agarwal engaged deeply with the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. She took liaison roles with clubs including Carolina Women in Business, Business Technology Club, Analytics Club and Consulting Club, serving on the Consulting Club’s executive board in her second year.

Her leadership in the Admissions Ambassador Program had an especially big impact on her experience. As co-president of campus ambassadors and the Campus Visit Program (CVP) coordinator, she worked with both current and prospective students guiding and supporting people at different stages of their business school journeys. She worked relentlessly to elevate the CVP, giving prospective students personalized experiences, making them feel welcomed and genuinely excited about the possibility of joining the UNC Kenan-Flagler family.

“The CVP coordinator role stood out the most because it let me represent UNC Kenan-Flagler to both future and current students,” says Agarwal. “The role also helped me win the Impact Award, which is one of the highlights of my MBA experience.”

Home sweet home

Not surprisingly, the network Agarwal built on campus is what she thinks is the most special part of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s offerings.

“The most special thing is the people — it’s always the people,” says Agarwal. “Their warmth and willingness to help and support made UNC Kenan-Flagler and its community stand out. As an international student, things like coffee chats and networking were new to me, but my classmates and the career team were considerate, understanding and helpful, sharing best practices and tips. Even during my internship, I found myself craving to return to UNC because of the people. I was fortunate to find amazing friends and a strong support system.”

She never had to worry about feeling homesick. She enjoyed cultural exchanges on campus where students across cultures shared their customs and traditions, including Indian students celebrating festivals such as Diwali and Holi. The Asian Business Club and International Business Association organized events with food, dance performances and festival practices that represented different cultures and nationalities at UNC Kenan-Flagler.

“It was wonderful to see people from other cultures and nationalities try different types of Indian food and ask questions about it, which made us feel welcomed, included and more at home,” says Agarwal.

Learning to think bigger

Agarwal was committed to getting the most out of the UNC Kenan-Flagler curriculum to put her on the fast-track to achieve her goals. She appreciated the practical lessons, experiential learning and overall approach to learning.

“The MBA was a chance to reflect, learn, unlearn and relearn,” says Agarwal. “I gained both theoretical and practical training, which helped me to fill the gaps in and solidify my knowledge. Developing a strategic mindset, thinking about the bigger picture and long-term impact were key focus areas for me. The competitive course bidding process also taught me about trade-offs and strategic decision-making, which I’ll carry forward.”

Following a summer internship at L.E.K. Consulting in Boston, Agarwal returned to the firm as a generalist consultant. Over time, she plans to focus on the industry and practice area that resonates most with her, and she is currently considering industrials, consumer, telecommunications and technology.

She is also enjoying the move to city life. “Boston is a beautiful city, and I live in Beacon Hill, which is famous for being picturesque and historic,” says Agarwal. “It’s a major change from Chapel Hill, which was a quiet college town where people randomly smile at you. In Boston, people keep to themselves, but the city is beautiful and full of history.”

When she moved to Boston, a friend from UNC helped her set up her apartment — another moment that reinforced the value of her network.

Agarwal has advice for those thinking of earning an MBA.

“Don’t second guess yourself,” she says. “If the thought of getting an MBA has crossed your mind, the idea is there for a reason. You are competent enough. Imposter syndrome is real, but if you weren’t capable, you wouldn’t even consider it. Give it a go; the worst that can happen is a ‘no,’ but at least you tried your best.”

Read more about Agarwal in this “Best & Brightest” profile by Poets & Quants.