At UNC Kenan-Flagler, we believe that a diverse classroom leads to a stronger learning experience. We’re dedicated to ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the inclusive leadership skills required to recognize and manage bias in the workplace, lean into challenging conversations, and harness the power of diverse thought, experiences and perspectives.
This isn’t something we can do alone. That’s why we’re proud to invite prospective MBA students of marginalized communities to join us for Diversity Weekend in Chapel Hill. You’ll find a robust agenda designed to give you insight into our Full-Time MBA program and participate in important conversations about inclusion in business. You’ll also have the chance to network with current students over informal social events and engaging panel discussions.
Registration for Diversity Week 2022 is now closed. We encourage you to check out our events calendar for other opportunities to connect with our admissions team and UNC Kenan-Flagler community.
"During Diversity Day, I fell in love with the beautiful campus, and Chapel Hill was the community I was looking for. UNC Kenan-Flagler is collaborative, and everyone here genuinely wanted to help me achieve my aims.”
2022 Keynote Speaker: Lance Bennett
Lance Bennett is an MBA Prep Coach for Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). He helps guide MBA ready people of color through the MBA admissions process. Prior to MLT, Lance was the Director of Diversity Admissions at the Kellogg School of Management and Associate Director of Admissions at the Wake Forest School of Business where he was responsible for diversity admissions.
Prior to his experience in higher education, Lance spent over 20-years at the former Wachovia Bank holding multiple leadership roles in Operations and Human Resources. Lance is a certified Diversity Practitioner and is the Founder and Managing Partner of L.E.B. Partners; a consulting firm helping organizations build more diverse, inclusive and equitable environments. He is known for his passion for helping others and his ability to build and foster relationships across a wide spectrum of identity groups.
2022 Event Agenda
Please note that the agenda is subject to change. We kindly ask that all visitors abide by our campus Health & Safety standards during Diversity Weekend.Friday, November 11
Optional Pre-MBA Event: Carolina Women in Business ConferenceTake advantage of the opportunity to participate in engaging discussions about how women can build meaningful relationships and set an example at any level while exploring ways to become better mentors and allies. Leadership For Tomorrow is hosted by Carolina Women in Business for current Full-Time MBA students, prospective students, and local leaders. This is a separate event – please register if you're interested in attending.Use code DIVERSITY to receive a discount on your General Admission ticket.
Saturday, November 12
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Check-in & Continental Breakfast |
| 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | Welcome & Keynote Address Presenters: Saravanan Kesavan, Assistant Dean of Full-Time MBA program & Professor of Operations and Sarah Graham Kenan Scholar Keynote Speaker: Lance Bennett (he/him), MLT MBA Prep Coach & Founder of L.E.B. Partners At L.E.B. Partners, we strongly believe that engagement, especially across difference, is critical in building inclusive and equitable environments. This interactive workshop helps participants do just that! We will explore group memberships (privileged/power and marginalized/underrepresented), and the dynamic of being an individual while belonging to groups. We’ll explore this from the lens of leadership, as prospective business school students are looking to build/expand. I'll also share some practical and tactical ways for each participant to make a positive impact on inclusivity and equity. |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. | Session Breakout – Choose One Women’s Roundtable Guest speakers will share their experiences navigating careers as businesswomen and discuss the importance of advocacy and mentorship in the workplace. Global Perspectives in Business Careers In our increasingly global world, embodying a diverse perspective provides you with keen advantages in developing your network, leading others, and developing cultural competence in business. In this session, join the Student Teams Achieving Results (STAR) team to learn more about the impact of embracing global perspectives as you navigate your career. |
| 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 pm. | Lunch Join us for lunch and a session with the Career & Leadership team. You’ll gain insight on UNC Kenan-Flagler's employer recruiting efforts and hear from second-year MBA students. Students will share how diversity, inclusion, and belonging have been an integral part of their MBA career journey from summer internship searches to accepting full-time offers. |
| 2:10 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Session Breakout – Choose One Transitioning Military Experience to Business School Success Hear from MBA alumni they share insight on their transition to the MBA program, including finding community and utilizing resources, and how their military experience prepared them for success in the program and beyond. LGBTQ+ Corporate Climate Assessment While the topic of inclusion in the workplace for the LGBTQ+ community has garnered more support over the years, there is still room for progress. In this session, we’ll explore how the workplace has evolved to be more inclusive, discuss current challenges and how you can be a part of the solution. |
3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Session Breakout – Choose One Promoting Wellness in an MBA Program Holistic wellness and prioritizing mental health are critical to success in your professional and personal life. At times, it can become challenging to identify what areas of our wellness need some TLC. In this session, we will explore the dimensions of wellbeing, and how each contributes to us being our whole, and most balanced selves. Participants will have the opportunity to play Wellness Bingo and win a prize! Pay Equity and Transparency How much we get paid for the work we do is a very real indication of our value to society and to our company. These monetary decisions impact more than just us as individuals, altering things on a regional, societal, and global scale. In this session we’ll look at the existing system, analyzing the spaces and companies where we have influence and power, and practice making intentional decisions to course-correct and build systems that provide competitive, livable wages to all employees. |
| 4:10 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Celebrating our Community: Exploring Personal Identity in the Context of Race, Ethnicity, & Culture The MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler reflects a rich, diverse community of students from across the U.S. and the world. During this interactive session, you will hear from student members of UNC Kenan-Flagler diversity clubs. Students will explore their personal identities in the context of race, ethnicity, and culture and how they have cultivated a community within the larger MBA community. |
| 5:00 p.m. – 5:05 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
| 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. | Diversity Club Happy Hour Mix and mingle with current MBA students to learn more about the campus community and student involvement at UNC Kenan-Flagler. |
Sunday, November 13
| 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Light Breakfast |
| 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Application Workshop |
| 11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. | Closing Remarks |
| Post-event | Optional Self-Guided Campus Tour |