Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class of 2027

“Chapel Hill reminds me of the Pacific Northwest, with its trees, trails and wildlife, but there is also a genuine friendliness and down-to-earth culture that makes the town so special,” says Carson Fletcher, a real estate analyst from Seattle who was drawn to UNC Kenan-Flagler for the Wood Center for Real Estate Studies’ curriculum. “It’s deeply grounded in real-world application and industry relevance,” he said, adding, “The expansive and influential alumni network in real estate remains closely connected to the school, providing students with invaluable mentorship and career opportunities.”

The vast amount of student support – both alumni, faculty and classmates, alike – is indicative of the Carolina Way, a philosophy first expressed by legendary Tar Heel basketball coach Dean Smith, which amounts to “Play hard, play smart, play together.”

“The program is predicated on togetherness,” said first-year Ethan J. Hughes. “Someone else’s success isn’t a threat; it’s a door opening for the rest of us.” The Cary, NC, native – who holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard – added, “Many programs focus on prestige or competition while UNC Kenan-Flagler focuses on what matters most: the people. And long after graduation, it’s the strength of that community that will carry your career forward.”

Although the campus is nestled in greenery and surrounded by an area that manages to convey both a small town feel and a thriving downtown, it is close to the action. With Research Triangle Park just 20 minutes away, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBAs have unprecedented access to nearly 400 cutting edge companies from biotech to banking that offer projects, internships, mentors and partnerships that give them a distinct head start as they approach their chosen industries and roles.

“With its concentration of cutting-edge companies in technology, health and wellness, the Triangle offers an incredible ecosystem for innovation and growth. Being immersed in this dynamic environment is both inspiring and strategic.”

Marketer Alyssa Maita, who is pivoting into product management, notes of the RTP advantage, “With its concentration of cutting-edge companies in technology, health and wellness, the Triangle offers an incredible ecosystem for innovation and growth. Being immersed in this dynamic environment is both inspiring and strategic.”

Alyssa is not unique in seeking a transition from a previous industry. Jeffery Obiagu, a Seton Hall basketball star turned CPA, transitioned from his position as senior associate in assurance at Ernst & Young to a senior associate in deals at EY-Parthenon and is now moving into investment banking.

“A major deciding factor for me is the ability to customize my courses at UNC Kenan-Flagler to align with my post-MBA goals,” he noted. Lacking experience in sell-side and other necessary M&A and valuation knowledge to make this career switch, the Corporate Finance concentration offered him the knowledge that he sought. “Courses like Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Deal Structures, and Investment Banking teach the core skills in M&A and financial modeling to help me gain a better understanding of how finance works in the real world.”

Another student making a career pivot is Akosua Gyan Bandoh, a chemical engineer who once owned a haircare brand, has worked as a well integrity engineer and also led career guidance for the Society of Petroleum Engineers. While in the MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler, she is also pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Management at Duke University. Her focus now is on healthcare.

“One of my biggest accomplishments was my internship at Amgen, where I worked with the engineering and utilities team within a global healthcare/biotechnology environment,” she notes. “Coming from a traditional oil and gas background, I hadn’t fully realized how critical engineering and energy are to the healthcare sector. Through this role, I contributed to initiatives and projects that supported life-saving operations.”

Ramya Meenakshisundaram is also making a transition: from professional sports to consulting. “My career highlight has been balancing my career in golf brand consulting at Creative Artists Agency and as a professional golfer playing a limited schedule. Competing while contributing to award‑winning marketing campaigns has allowed me to have an impact the sport on and off the course, elevating the visibility of both men’s and women’s golf.”

Now, Ramya’s focus is on building entrepreneurship skills. “The Entrepreneurship concentration offers mentorship, hands-on opportunities and an environment where ideas can grow into reality,” says Ramya.

The Class of 2027 has experience in a wide range of fields, worldwide – many of them leading to groundbreaking positive change. In Peru, Miluska Andrea Alvarado Alarcon worked in microfinancing, while Alfonso Duarte oversaw banking digital transformations. Carson Fletcher helped close 50 deals, including a 30,000 square foot office lease. As a consultant, Daniella Kapural guided a healthcare tech startup from initial funding to its eventual acquisition.

For U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant Matthew Mundorf, who traveled over 200,000 nautical miles transferring fuel for the U.S. Navy, his new focus is on investment banking, particularly the Finance Development Program. “Second-year students I spoke with described the unique benefits of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s alliance with Training the Street, especially during the MOD IV pre-internship course, where job-specific skills in Excel modeling and PowerPoint pitches are developed. This course offering is an unparalleled opportunity to prepare for my summer internship, where the knowledge and skills gained will allow me to perform my best.”

Read the full Poets & Quants Article: Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class of 2027