MBA Student Ambassadors

Hi! My name is Noon and I’m originally from Sudan, Africa. I went to University of Medical Science and Technology (UMST) in Sudan for undergrad where I studied Business Administration. After graduation, I began my career at a multinational manufacturing company in Sudan as part of their two year Leadership Development Program. Within the program, I worked in sales and marketing, supply chain and business development. Right after completing the LDP, I accepted a full-time position as a project manager within the company’s PMO.

My passion for more education led me to decide to move to the U.S. in 2016 to do my Master’s in organizational leadership at Clarke University. Afterwards, I was fortunate enough to work for John Deere at their operations and supply management departments before coming to Kenan-Flagler. I’m looking to transition to strategy or operations management within the tech industry.

Feel free to reach out with any questions about the MBA process, life at UNC, moving to the U.S. or anything else!

• Email Noon

Hello, my name is Taylor Jackson and I am from Houston, Texas. I went to Texas A&M University (Whoop!) where I studied Human Resources and minored in Business and Psychology. After graduation, I worked as an HR generalist for Target before pursuing consulting. Prior to business school, I worked for Deloitte in Human Capital consulting, specializing in retain and consumer product clients. I am pursuing my MBA to get a better understanding of data & analytics and marketing principles to better understand how to help my clients think more strategically and pinpoint opportunities to improve their customers’ experiences. During my MBA, I recruited for internal strategy roles and spent my summer in NYC working in commercial strategy for Anheuser-Busch InBev.

During my time at Kenan-Flagler, I have held a variety of leadership roles and was elected as the Student Body President for the 2022-2023 school year.

Feel free to reach out to me on topics like off-campus recruiting, involvement in leadership roles or moving to North Carolina.

• Email Taylor

Hey there! My name is Quincy, and I am originally from Ypsilanti, MI. I went to Eastern Michigan University for undergrad, studying Criminology and earning my Commission as an Army Officer. After serving in the Army for four years and completing a tour to Afghanistan, I decided to transition from Active Duty to pursue a career in Investment Management.

Feel free to reach out with questions about the MBA process, Diversity Networking Programs, life at UNC, or anything else that may be on your mind!

• Email Quincy

Hi! My name is Kevin Ortiz and I’m originally from Orlando and was born in Mexico. I went to the University of Central Florida for my undergraduate degree where I studied business administration. After graduation, I started my career with Truist Leadership Institute as a Leadership Development Instructor. While I was based out of Greensboro, NC, I got the chance to travel all over the US as I visited different colleges and universities to deliver leadership development programming.

I am a first-generation college student and love my Latin American roots. Feel free to reach out with any questions about UNC or anything else that comes to mind.

• Email Kevin

Hi, my name is Emily and I’m originally from Maryland. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Anthropology, then served 6 years as a Marine Corps Logistics Officer. After finishing up active duty, I worked in supply chain for 2.5 years for a global mining productivity partner based in Dallas, Texas, before heading to Kenan-Flagler Business School to develop my business acumen and explore my interest in marketing and strategy.

When I’m not studying or working, I love exploring NC with my husband Dan and my dog Betsy. Happy to answer any questions you might have, big or small!

• Email Emily

Hello! My name is Annie and I’m originally from Iowa. I went to the University of Notre Dame for undergrad where I double majored in English and American Studies. Post-graduation, I made my way to Chicago where I started my career in public relations. After a few internships, I transitioned over to the advertising side, specializing in social and digital marketing strategies. My client roster kept things interesting as I worked on everything from theme parks to shaving brands. My most recent role was as a digital strategist with Edelman working on cheese/snack products and grill brands. I’m planning to pursue a career in brand management with a CPG or retail company, pending how my ongoing internship search evolves.

Reach out with questions about MBA applications, UNC culture, relocating to Chapel Hill or anything else that’s on your mind!

• Email Annie

Hello! My name is Ankita and I am an international student from India. I went to the National Institute of Fashion Technology (Bangalore, India) for undergrad where I studied Apparel & Retail Management. My passion for lifestyle products made me explore different sectors in the retail space in India and South-East Asia. After graduation, I began my career as a consultant working with brands like ASDA Stores, SuperDry, Victoria’s Secret, Disney, DC, Universal, etc. providing solutions to their sourcing problems. I have worked with AJIO.com (Reliance Retail) in the past and most recently I led Forever 21 India E-commerce business. I co-facilitate ‘breathing & meditation’ workshops as a volunteer at the Art of Living Foundation, focused on social issues.

I am a trained dancer in Indian classical dance forms and a huge Disney fan (I love Mickey Mouse!). I look forward to pursuing a career in consulting after business school. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions about life at UNC, the MBA process, moving to the USA, or anything else that you might want to know!

• Email Ankita

Hi! My name is Evan Sutton and I am originally from Birmingham, AL but I also spent three years living in Milan, Italy when I was younger. After graduating from high school, I went to Auburn University where I studied chemical engineering. After I graduated from Auburn, I went to work for International Paper, first at their plant in Selma, AL and later at their plant in Pensacola, FL. I started out as a process engineer before moving into various roles in production/operations management, where I was able to put my engineering and problem-solving skills to work – solving complex problems in real time. I interned this past summer at Deloitte Consulting in Charlotte, NC, and I’ll be returning full-time after graduation.

Outside of class, I’m involved with the Consulting Club, Carolina Disability Alliance, and I serve as president of the Wine Society. I’m also married and have a 2-year-old son, so feel free to ask me about MBA-ing with a family, career pivoting, consulting, or anything else on your mind.

• Email Evan

Hey! My name is Bryant and I am originally from Alabama. I attended Alabama A&M University for undergrad where I studied Electrical Engineering. However, during my summer internship with NASA I realized a desk job was not for me. Furthermore, I wanted to hone my leadership and interpersonal skills as well as see the world. So I joined the United States Army. I served nine years as a Combat Arms Officer. I served on multiple cross-functional teams in many different units across the globe. I am looking to leverage that experience to pursue a career in Management Consulting.

I am a proud member of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Pride Club and the Black Business Student Association. Feel free to reach out with questions about the MBA process, why I chose UNC Kenan-Flagler, life in Chapel Hill, navigating the transition to civilian life, or anything else that might be on your mind!

• Email Bryant

My name is Madison, and I’m originally from Arlington, TX. I went to the University of Missouri (Mizzou) for undergrad and the master’s program, where I studied Magazine Journalism. After graduating, I moved to New York City where I worked for three major media companies: Hearst Corporation, Meredith Corporation and Verizon Media. Most recently at Meredith and Verizon Media. At UNC Kenan-Flagler, I’m currently pursuing a career in marketing brand management/strategy within the tech or retail industry, and I interned at Amazon during summer 2022.

Feel free to reach out with questions about the MBA process (especially if you have a “non-traditional” background!), life in Chapel Hill or anything else you’re curious about!

• Email Madison

Hi, I’m Shaurya! I am from originally from New Delhi, India. I completed my undergrad in Economics from LSR. To feed my inquisitive and business acumen I worked in market research for over 7 years. Here I worked alongside Private Equities and Management Consulting firms solve their business and strategy problems. But soon I found myself wanting more and decided to pursue my MBA in hope to not just help but build and implement strategy. Post my MBA I hope to work in Marketing and Corporate Strategy.

You can reach out to me for any questions about anything under the sun, I’d be happy to give my insights on everything UNC Kenan-Flagler, MBA and anything else.

• Email Shaurya

Hi there! My name is Arvind and I am originally from Richmond, VA. I received a formalized education in Mechanical Engineering at the undergraduate and graduate level, and then worked for five years as a Supplier Quality Engineer in the automotive and aerospace industries. After graduation, I am looking to make a career-switch into the financial services sector, specifically Investment Banking.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions regarding the MBA application process, life at UNC, Investment Banking career recruiting, or anything else that may be on your mind!

• Email Arvind

My name is Ben Read and I am originally from Winston-Salem, N.C. I graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2011 and served 10 years in the US Navy as a MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter pilot prior to enrolling at UNC Kenan-Flagler. One of the biggest things that drew me to UNC Kenan-Flagler was the collaborative environment. Whether it’s grabbing dinner on Franklin St with a group of friends, or working on a group project for class, UNC Kenan-Flagler’s close knit community is second to none. I am concentrating in real estate development and hoping to make an immediate impact in the Triangle area after graduation. Looking forward to answering any questions you have!

• Email Ben

Hi! I am Pratik, a physician (M.D.) from Mumbai, India. After my medical training, I successfully executed a variety of roles in the healthcare/biopharma space – designing and conducting clinical trials, drug marketing and life cycle management. In my last role, I provided pro bono medical care to patients of Covid-19 in India. This past summer, I interned at Health Advances, LLC, in their San Francisco office and worked on multiple projects in Medical Devices and Biopharma space.

I love to spend my free time with a good, well-narrated audiobook and a cup of Chai.

• Email Pratik

Tim Leyden is a Class of 2023 MBA candidate, concentrating in Corporate Finance and Energy. Before Kenan-Flagler Business School, he worked in the Sustainability & Energy team at JPMorgan Chase, where he focused on managing the firm’s energy operations for sourcing renewable electricity across 5,000 real estate locations.

This past summer, he worked as an Investment Banking Summer Associate within the Emerging Growth & Regional Coverage (EGRC) group at Bank of America in New York City, where he will return as a full-time associate upon graduating from UNC Kenan-Flagler in May 2023.

Originally from Westchester County, N.Y, Tim graduated from Villanova University a BBA in Finance & Management Information Systems. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, listening to live music, and exploring the Raleigh-Durham area.

• Email Tim

Hello! My name is Emme and I’m originally from California. I went to the University of Toronto for undergrad, where I pursued a degree in Marketing and Economics. After graduating, I stayed in Toronto and began working at Nielsen, a data and audience measurement firm. While I was there, I worked with advertising agencies, advertisers and publishers to help measure their digital content and target online audiences. I had the unique opportunity to work with a wide range of customers across Canada, including clients in the CPG, Finance, Auto and Tech industries (to name a few!). I’m planning to pursue a career in marketing strategy with a media or CPG company.

Feel free to reach out to me with questions about the application process, the UNC/Chapel Community, or anything else you can think of!

• Email Emme

Hi, I am Sai Bovilla. I am concentrating on Marketing and Business Analytics at UNC Kenan-Flagler. Prior to my MBA, I worked in two diverse industries: Tech Consulting and Mining. In my six years of work, I have undertaken a variety of roles and responsibilities: developer, project management, operations, logistics and product management.  This summer, I interned at Emerson Electric in their Supply Chain Operations, where I worked on the digitalization of the supply chain and process improvement of an assembly plant.

When it comes to  my personal life, I love to cook, run marathons, play badminton, and watch cricket.

• Email Sai

Hello! I’m Ashwin Kumar, a Full-Time UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA student from Kerala, India. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Engineering at Mahatma Ghandi University, majoring in Electronics and Communication. Before business school, I worked in the digital technology space in the telecom industry for eight years. I have worked in a couple of different roles in India, Singapore and London (UK), ranging from systems engineering and product management to technical account management. I’m very passionate about technology and would love to talk about any emerging trends in the industry! I worked at VMware as a product management intern during the summer.

Outside of school, I am a professional musician, specializing in percussion. I also love to mix and produce music. I’m happy to chat about the MBA experience, music, career options and recruiting, or anything else!

• Email Ashwin

Hello! My name is a Abdur Rahman, and I am an international student from Pakistan. I went to GIK Institute for my undergrad, where I studied Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, I started working in the Oil & Gas sector as a drilling consultant, working across Pakistan and the Middle East. During this job, I helped numerous clients drill oil and gas wells and stayed on rig sites for months. Currently at UNC Kenan-Flagler, I am pursuing concentrations in Consulting and Technology & Innovation Management. I am dual recruiting for consulting and technology roles.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions regarding the MBA application process, moving to the U.S., life at UNC, dual recruiting or being married while attending school.

• Email Abdur

Hello, my name is Rafael, and I am from Mexico City. I went to Tec de Monterrey for my Bachelor’s degree and USC for my Master’s degree. Before enrolling at UNC Kenan-Flagler for my MBA, I worked first in the automotive industry as a purchasing analyst at Fiat Chrysler and later as a consultant focused on Supply Chain and Transportation for several firms, such as Novigo, Deloitte and Blue Yonder. I am pursuing my MBA with a concentration in Business Analytics and Management Science to tackle the new challenges of digital supply chain industry 4.0 and help companies by revealing favorable insights throughout data analytics and recommending innovative solutions. This summer I did my internship at Meta/Facebook in the Bay Area within Sourcing and Operations Engineering (SOE) organization.

As part of my MBA journey, I am a Vetter Dean’s Fellow, I have participated in the STAR program, Global Immersion Elective (Greece), IBM-UNC Mentorship Program, and am currently involved in the Latin American Business Association (LATAM).

• Email Rafael

Hi! My name is Nishi and I am from Raleigh, N.C. I did my undergrad in Public Health at Meredith College and after that, worked at a startup based in Maryland, focused on health education. Healthcare has always been a passion for me so after I spent three years building and launching my own healthcare startup focused on financing! I am getting my MBA to build my knowledge base for business, both entrepreneurial and banking.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about starting a company, IB recruitment, UNC, or about North Carolina!

• Email Nishi

Hi! My name is Katie and I grew up on a farm in Lexington, Ky. I studied civil engineering at the University of Notre Dame and then spent five years working at a parking and transportation technology company in Indianapolis, Ind. There, I spent time in project management, product management, and strategy, helping cities and universities around the U.S. address their parking challenges. I decided to come back to school to pursue a dual degree MBA and Master of City and Regional Planning and to pivot into a career in public sector consulting. At Kenan-Flagler, I am pursuing concentrations in Consulting and Sustainable Enterprise and I hope to work at the intersection of people, policy and innovation.

This past summer, I interned at the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center, working on a process improvement project with one of the federal agencies. Please reach out with any questions about the application process, pursuing a dual degree, life in Chapel Hill, or anything else!

• Mail Katie

Hello! My name is ‘Sola and I am an international student from Nigeria. I graduated from the University of Ibadan (Oyo State, Nigeria) where I studied Economics & Geography and I learned how humans and society, in general, make economic decisions in the midst of scarce resources. Because of my interest in business, I decided to join the assurance unit of KPMG, where I had the opportunity to review the strategies and financial information of companies across the manufacturing, telecommunication, and agricultural industries in Nigeria. During my time with KPMG Nigeria, I became a qualified chartered accountant (equivalent to the CPA here in the US) and after five years+ with KPMG, I was headhunted by PwC UK to join the UK assurance practice and I saw this as a great opportunity to work with companies operating in a more developed economy. I worked with PwC UK for 2 years+ where I worked with clients in the Biotech, energy, and tech industry. I was also involved in the D&I committee where I created and facilitated Ted Circles to have conversations on identifying racial biases in the workplace and how to deal with them.

In 2020, I became more interested in being part of the decision-making process rather than reviewing management strategies and their impact on financial reporting. This led me to embark on my MBA journey as I needed to hone my skill sets, and I decided to pursue my MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler business school because of its focus on Finance and Inclusive leadership. I will be pursuing a career in corporate finance within the technology industry after business school. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions about life at UNC, the MBA process, moving to the USA, or anything else that you might want to know!

• Mail 'Sola

Hi! My name is Nick, and I’m from Lancaster, Pa. I went to Penn State for undergrad and graduated in 2018 with a B.S. of Mining Engineering. After graduating I worked for two different F500 mining companies in Tampa, Fla. and Gillete, Wyo. I quickly decided that Wyoming winters were not for me, and came back to the southeast for my MBA with concentrations in Corporate Finance and Energy. I made a career switch from mining to renewable energy and worked on the Origination team at NextEra in Juno Beach, Fla. for my summer internship, where I’ll be returning full-time. I am the UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Club president, and am active in Net Impact as well.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about our energy program, recruiting, coming from an nontraditional background, or anything else!

• Email Nick