Success Stories

Associate, McKinsey & Company
Charlotte, North Carolina

Growing up the oldest of six kids in Raleigh, NC, Paige Smith (MBA ’23) stayed true to her home state – and close to family – when choosing where to earn her academic degrees. She received her BA in public policy at UNC-Chapel Hill and her Master’s in education at North Carolina State University. Upon graduation, she served as manager of special projects at Duke University School of Medicine.

Tasked with leading the internal executive search function at Duke, she and her team were trailblazers in the academic space on how to think about evaluating leadership candidates and ensuring diversity in the hiring process. This meant developing a model focused on selecting leaders based on their ability to navigate a complex healthcare environment rather than solely because of their research and clinical accomplishments, a radical change in approach. “To meet the changing leadership profile, we revamped our screening processes and ultimately hired about 20 of the most dynamic leaders that Duke has ever seen. I really believe my contribution made a lasting impact on the organization.”

During this time, Paige found herself inspired by a senior leader. “Before working with her, I was convinced that the challenges facing our healthcare system today were far too complicated for anyone to ever solve,” she said. “Now I realize we need more people like her who are willing to take on hard problems and think outside the box.”

Realizing that an MBA would put her in a stronger position to take on critical business and operational issues, she began looking into business schools, especially those with a strong local alumni network. “All of the programs I looked at had outstanding faculty and a reputation for a strong healthcare concentration,” she recalled. “However, I was particularly impressed by how UNC Kenan-Flagler really walks the walk when it comes to incorporating leadership and diversity into its coursework and culture. They don’t just talk about core values; they actively work to create an environment where everyone’s opinions and perspectives are valued and welcomed.”

Paige was serious about her MBA school research. “I didn’t just talk to students,” she said. “I also talked to employers who had hired MBA grads and asked what students they wanted on their teams. People are excited to hire UNC graduates because they are collaborative teammates who have perfected the balance of grit and collegiality.”

As a lifelong Tar Heel, Paige was delighted to “boomerang back” to her undergraduate alma mater and enrolled at UNC Kenan-Flagler. From the start, she felt a sense of belonging and support. “During your first year, you are paired with study group members whom you work with for the entirety of the core curriculum. In my group, I had a PharmD/MBA who was previously a Division I student-athlete, a JD/MBA who was launching a crypto-currency start-up on the side, and two veterans with deep engineering backgrounds. Every person’s skill set was critical to the five of us making it through the core. That experience transformed the way I think about diversity on a work team.”

Paige was strategic about her academic choices, stepping out of her comfort zone to make the most of her experience. “I had to put in a lot more time than most other students because I was starting from zero knowledge, but I’m proud of myself for pushing through,” she recalls.

Her favorite course was Data Analytics: Tools and Opportunities. “For our final project, we started with a messy data set that was basically an unfiltered export of Yelp reviews and turned it into actional insights that could help a Charlotte restaurant improve staffing and menu choices at each of their three locations. Not only did I learn about data analysis, but I also overcame my fear of ‘breaking’ the data set,” said Paige.

In addition to her coursework, Paige was a project leader in the experiential STAR program, a consultant at the Business Communications Center, a teaching assistant in Global Marketing, both a Forté Fellow and recipient of the Buck Williams Fellowship, and president of the Consulting Club, the biggest career club at the UNC Kenan-Flagler.  She also found time to cheer on UNC during the Blue Cup friendly competition between UNC and Duke.

As a summer intern with McKinsey & Company in 2022, Paige put her critical thinking, creative skills and self-drive to work, leading to a full-time offer with the organization.  In her new role, she will apply the quantitative, decision-making and leadership skills gleaned from the broad coursework she absorbed during the MBA program.  “There are a lot of myths about what it takes to succeed in the business world, but most are out of date,” she said. “Today’s employers are looking for a diverse set of individuals who can think creatively about problems we don’t even know exist yet. The world needs future leaders who break the traditional mold and think outside the box. I want to be part of the solution.”

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Business Manager, NextEra Energy
Juno Beach, Florida

Nick Heyward loved his experience in corporate finance, building a successful career and holding a key position as a financial analyst at consumer packaged goods giant PepsiCo. There, he created, launched and implemented a standardized way to measure and evaluate sales across the U.S. The user-friendly, highly functional tool won him an award for its impact. But even with that impressive career highlight, he felt the itch to expand his horizons and explore opportunities in an entirely new industry: real estate. “I felt like I was reaching a plateau and wanted to push myself to reach the next level of opportunities while expanding my network,” he said. “I saw an MBA as my opportunity to do just that, providing the space and time to challenge myself academically.”

As he contemplated where to obtain an MBA that would best build the skills he’d need to career-pivot, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Full-Time MBA program stood out – in particular, for its highly regarded real estate concentration. “UNC Kenan-Flagler has one of the largest real estate programs in the nation, making it the perfect place for me to be exposed to and learn about the industry so that I could be set up for long-term success,” he said.

The cooperative environment that UNC Kenan-Flagler fosters for its students was also a big draw. “Collaboration is strongly encouraged, bringing people with a wide variety of prior work and educational experiences together,” said Nick. “In addition, the opportunities for real-world application of what is learned in the classroom fit my personality and how I’d like to develop as a leader in the business world.”

Nick served as Co-President of the Black Business Student Association (BBSA), Vice President of Community Engagement with The Consortium, a Vetter Dean’s Fellow and a Richard H. Jenrette Fellow. “Co-leading the BBSA was one of the best experiences I had during my time at the school. I was involved in many aspects of the school from helping prospective students with applications to creating social events for students to connect with alumni and bringing Black alumni to speak on campus. Representation is something we are always mindful of, which makes these speakers so important to students,” he noted.

His coursework married his passion for DEI and his thirst for knowledge. Nick’s favorite class was Leading Diverse and Inclusive Organizations. “In that class, we had many tough conversations as we grappled with the nuances related to the struggles of marginalized groups in corporate environments.”

The coursework was so varied, that he expanded his focus on real estate to include energy and sustainability. “The insights on the energy transition, how public policy can support it, and what technology could be developed to address climate change were part of our energy courses,” he said. “As a newcomer to the industry, having the space to ask questions in a welcoming environment was very helpful in my learning experience.”

The many opportunities offered by UNC Kenan-Flagler to broaden his horizons came as somewhat of a surprise to Nick. “Going into business school, I knew it would be a great social networking experience. However, I didn’t expect that experience to be global. Many of my classmates studied in amazing places like Switzerland and Thailand and shared the connections they made. I went on a trip to Rwanda with the Vetter Dean’s Fellows,” he recalled of the immersive business trek.

Now a business manager at NextEra Energy, he hopes to integrate both his coursework, previous work experience and interest in DEI with his new area of focus. “Although I am not going into commercial real estate full-time, I would like to remain active in the industry. In the future, I would like to join the board of a non-profit affordable housing developer. Affordable housing is something I remain passionate about, which ties into sustainable development as well,” he said.

However, his global business experience has left a lasting impression on Nick as he considers the trajectory of his career. “Traveling to a new place is a great experience, but I would love to immerse myself in a new culture over an extended period of time. Ideally, I would like to work on an international assignment where I can live abroad.”

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Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consulting
Charlotte, North Carolina

Taylor Jackson (MBA ’23) is literally a “people person,” setting up a trajectory that would take her from human relations (HR) to consulting from the moment she enrolled at her hometown’s Texas A&M University. There, she earned a BS in HR development with minors in business and psychology – ideal credentials for her future plans. Working in HR in retail post-graduation ultimately prepared her for a position at Deloitte Consulting as a human capital consultant. At Deloitte, she applied the insights she gleaned from her experience in organization transformation for retail clients to transform the roles of over 1 million associates in one of her final projects at the company. “I count this as one of my greatest achievements because while serving in the HR role in my early career, I dreamed of creating programs that would transform an entire organization,” she says. “Seeing that dream come true and result in employees finding meaning in their work and falling in love with their jobs was incredibly rewarding.”

When Taylor realized she needed more insight into her client’s needs, she decided to pursue an MBA, focusing on getting a better understanding of data, analytics and marketing principles so she could help her clients think more strategically and pinpoint opportunities to improve their experiences. Her choice of UNC Kenan-Flagler was also tied to her ability to connect with people. “Coming to business school with the goal of growing as a leader, I knew I wanted to surround myself with high-achieving people who, at their core, wanted to help others along the way,” says Taylor. “During multiple conversations with MBA Ambassadors, I got the sense that UNC Kenan-Flagler was a place filled with those people. The Ambassadors were always willing to go out of their way to help, whether by showing me the latest assignment they were working on or offering to look at my essays. Everyone I spoke with was brilliant and driven, but their willingness to help me convinced me this was where I wanted to be and whom I wanted to surround myself with for two years.”

Once enrolled, Taylor immersed herself in leadership roles that built her people skills while enriching her academic experience: MBA Student Association (MBASA) president, student ambassador, career mentor, 100 Women undergraduate mentor, Blue Cup Competition executive councilmember and member of numerous clubs and organizations. She also had the opportunity to interview Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Company, at the groundbreaking ceremony of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s new Steven D. Bell Hall.

Described by senior leadership as “an exceptional student who is energetic, committed and hardworking,” Taylor carried on the ethos of making things better for those who will follow in future classes. As the first MBASA president post-COVID, she was a positive brand ambassador focused on reinvigorating the collaborative culture for which UNC Kenan-Flagler is known, creating new traditions like monthly cohort supper clubs, MBASA Town Halls, listening sessions with peers and assisting in the development of new technology to better understand the needs of various student groups. Her classmates and professors valued her passion so much that Taylor was presented with the Core Value Impact Award for her achievements.

Taking full advantage of the many opportunities offered at UNC Kenan-Flagler, she recruited for internal strategy roles and spent a summer in New York City working in commercial strategy for Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Academically, she particularly enjoyed the Business Law class because of the spirited debate that was encouraged as students were assigned to portray either plaintiffs or defendants in a case to help them understand the nuances of the concepts they were studying. “By putting ourselves in the shoes of others, everyone in the class walked away as a more empathetic person, better able to relate and communicate with others,” says Taylor. “As a future leader, I will always need to have the skill set of being able to debate ideas from a place of empathy.”

Empathy will continue to define her work in her new position as senior consultant at Deloitte Consulting. There she plans to apply the leadership and academic skills that she honed at UNC Kenan-Flagler. “I want to create a stronger pipeline of women leaders into business school. At Deloitte, I plan to use both the established Employee Resource Groups and Graduate School Assistance Program (GSAP) connections to create a network for women interested in exploring business school. By tapping into this network, I hope we can create a formal mentorship program in the firm that matches women in the early stages of considering business school with former GSAPers and campus hires.”

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Investment Manager, Volvo Group Venture Capital
Durham, North Carolina

Joe Darcy used to coach high school students in hockey in Harlem in New York, putting together the team’s strategies and plays. Coaching was a way to give back to his local community while he worked in New York’s financial center, managing relationships with high-net-worth clients at a multi-family office.

Wanting to become more involved in running a business, Joe found his next challenge in earning an MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler, adding the formal business training missing from his undergraduate degree at a liberal arts college in Massachusetts. “I wanted to understand the nuts and bolts of financial markets, and how to found businesses. I was hoping to come out of the MBA with a business playbook,” he said.

At UNC Kenan-Flagler, Joe led the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club and took fellow club members to Silicon Valley where they met people in every role in the startup ecosystem. He was closely involved with many other clubs as well and was recognized as a Kenan Scholar, awarded to students who show a genuine interest in making positive contributions to society. “I love creating opportunities for people to try new and unique things,” he says. “In doing so I have made friends for life and stayed current with emerging developments in industry.”

As a Kenan Scholar, Joe conducted a research project tracking venture capital trends in North Carolina, an experience that allowed him breaking into the VC space, a sector often without formal recruiting and where networking is crucial. An important part of his learning experience was the Venture Capital Investment Competition, an opportunity that allowed Joe to meet numerous VCs and one he characterized as “transformative.”

Meanwhile, the Venture Capital/Angel Intern Program gave him real experience in the industry, working as an intern while earning his MBA. He first worked at the accelerator Techstars and then VC firm IDEA Fund Partners in Durham, where he served as one of the firm’s principals. “I like the idea of creating something out of nothing, rolling up my sleeves, getting my hands dirty and working towards an exit, perhaps even the next big IPO,” said Joe.

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Personal Care Brand Manager, Tom’s of Maine, Colgate-Palmolive Company
New York, New York

Chelsea Gardner (MBA ’20) flourished in her role as a health media specialist at Edelman, the world’s largest PR firm. There, the native North Carolinian and North Carolina State University valedictorian successfully applied the skills she’d learned as a Communications major to her daily work. Not only did she excel in her position, but she also worked towards the greater good by creating media campaigns that brought awareness to women’s and sexual health issues.

But while the work was personally and professionally fulfilling, she felt that something was missing. She enjoyed using her brand management knowledge to focus on goods targeting health and wellness, but in order to get to the next level in her career, she needed to broaden her expertise.

Connecting to UNC Kenan-Flagler via the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, the largest diversity network in the U.S., she took courses specifically geared toward building her business savvy while empowering her to make a positive impact. Her studies focused on greenwashing, environmental justice, and sustainable enterprise. “Taking those courses at UNC Kenan-Flagler helped me to look at business through a different lens,” said Chelsea.

She also strengthened her “people” skills, learning how to advocate for herself through a negotiations module. “A lot of the time, the things you have to know to do your job successfully you’ll learn on the job,” she says, “but networking, negotiations, advocating for yourself – some of those are not intuitive. You have to practice to do it confidently and it makes a world of difference in your career.”

While in the Full-Time MBA program, she threw herself completely into leadership roles: she was named a Wallace L. Jones fellow and served as chapter president of the Consortium at UNC, a learning and development VP for the Alliance of Minority Business Students, a career mentor, and a Business Communication Center consultant.

She also took advantage of an exchange program that allowed her to study in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile, giving her unique insight into how businesses operate in other countries and strengthening her Spanish skills while expanding her network.

Stressing the importance of getting involved outside of academics, she says, “You have two years to test out what you’re interested in and try on different hats. Leaning into new experiences made my business school experience richer and more profound.”

By graduation, she joined healthcare industry giant Colgate-Palmolive’s global marketing development program. Within a year, she became an associate brand manager for Colgate’s Suavitel laundry detergent brand and used that experience as a jumping-off point for her next position within the organization. Landing at Tom’s of Maine (a Colgate subsidiary) in October 2022 as brand manager of personal care, she found her true niche. The company, whose mission is “Do good. For real.” produces natural, environmentally friendly health and wellness products.

Crediting the supportive environment of UNC Kenan-Flagler for her success in meeting the demands and embracing the opportunities of her new position, Chelsea says, “I’m just really excited about the direction that things are going in my career and that when opportunities came my way, I had the courage to raise my hand.”

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Finance and Commercial Development Program Analyst, Chevron
Houston, Texas

After seven years in the energy industry, Angelica Ly was ready for a new challenge. So, she set out to propel her career forward by earning her MBA and ended up landing the ideal job with Chevron.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley, Angelica realized being an engineer wasn’t quite the right path for her. She turned to technical project management, combining her passion for engineering with her love of people interaction.

“I realized that I wanted to have more impact on business strategy,” said Angelica. “I wanted to stay in the energy industry, but wanted to refine my skills in finance.” UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA energy concentration was the ideal fit.

In the program, Angelica took advantage of numerous opportunities to immerse herself in the energy industry. She took classes taught by CEOs and treasurers of major companies, joined the student-run Energy Club, and scored an internship with industry giant ExxonMobil in Thailand, an opportunity she accessed via faculty and staff support at Kenan-Flagler.

After graduation, and with help from a UNC Kenan-Flagler alumnus, Angelica joined Chevron in an exciting commercial and business rotation. “Coming from renewable energy and moving into oil and gas was “not what I expected coming into school,” Angelica commented. “That’s what business school did – opened doors I didn’t know existed.”

Angelica’s excitement about her new career is clear. “The industry is redefining itself; there are more questions and unknowns and thus more new ideas and innovation,” she said. “The size of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s energy concentration is growing with the industry, which makes for a great opportunity to explore the rapidly changing energy sector.”

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Manager, Oncology Early Commercial Strategy and Diagnostics, GSK
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For as long as he can remember, Patrick Gomez Menzies has been fascinated by the healthcare industry, describing it as the “interaction between science, business, and society.”

With a bachelor’s degree in the history of biotechnology at Harvard and a graduate degree in biomedical science at UC San Diego, he spent time consulting for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, which exposed him to the complex challenges that decision-makers at these organizations faced.

“I started to realize that most of the people making decisions in those companies had MBAs, not PhDs,” he said. This revelation sparked his decision to go to business school.

Coming to Chapel Hill was no accident for Patrick. The school’s location at one corner of the Research Triangle in North Carolina, which is home three major research universities and several innovative pharmaceutical companies like GSK and Endacea-Technology, was a big draw. This proximity helped him find plenty of hands-on learning opportunities during his time in the MBA Program.

Patrick participated in UNC Kenan-Flagler’s STAR (Student Teams Achieving Results) program. During his consulting project, Patrick and his team worked with GSK to help them re-enter the innovating therapeutic space of oncology.

He also put his newfound business acumen behind a good cause as part of the school’s Nonprofit Board Consultants program. Here, he consulted for a local non-profit – the Poe Center for Health Education. “They’re a non-profit that educates children and parents on healthy living,” said Patrick. “We recommended some ways to automate their processes to give them a greater reach in the community.”

Patrick also stretched his leadership muscle as vice-president of diversity for the MBA Student Association. “I considered how every student can have a positive business school experience, and leave as leaders who’ll emulate that diverse and positive environment in their future careers,” he noted.

After graduation, Patrick started a four-year rotational leadership program with GSK, working on the launch of a new cancer drug for multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. “The collaborative culture at GSK reminded me of the culture at UNC Kenan-Flagler,” he said.

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Vice President, Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs

Landing a job with Goldman Sachs is at the top of Nora Cruz’s list of greatest professional achievements.

But before finance, Nora was all about basketball, playing in high school, serving as a manager on the UNC women’s basketball team while she completed her undergraduate business degree at Kenan-Flagler, and coaching at the U.S. Military Academy, Emory University and Appalachian State University. She later joined the marketing team for the Washington Wizards before turning her attention to grad school.

“Coaching women’s basketball is an interest and passion of mine but I didn’t want to make it a career,” Nora said. “I knew I wanted two things: to be in and around the financial markets, or finance broadly, and to be in a client-facing position, directly working with and advising clients.”

To achieve this goal, Nora returned to UNC Kenan-Flagler, enrolling in the Full-Time MBA Program, an experience that allowed her to grow personally and professionally. She met her wife Lauren in the program and built strong, lasting friendships. She also met alumni and corporate recruiters, who helped her discover that private wealth management was a field that would allow her to work in finance and have a direct impact on clients.

Nora credits the School’s strong alumni network for helping her land her dream job. “Don’t underestimate the importance of networking,” she noted. “I’m not certain there was any other path for me to have successfully changed careers without the strength and support of the Kenan-Flagler alumni network.”

One of the reasons Nora loves working at Goldman is that she’s continuously challenged. “Every day when at work, I am pushed to grow and develop by the people around me, by the strength and intellect of the people at the firm, and the passion my colleagues exude in providing excellent advice and service to our clients,” she said. “I am naturally curious and I enjoy being challenged by the many people around me who are experts in their fields.”

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Owner/Founder, Brandwein’s Bagels
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Alex never expected to be in the bagel business. Bagels were a staple in his life growing up in New York and a big part of his routine while studying business at the University of Wisconsin. Now he is the brains and brawn behind Brandwein’s Bagels, which is bringing New York-style bagels to Chapel Hill.

Alex started his career in investment banking in Chicago before returning to New York to work in investment banking and real estate private equity. But the urge to pursue something entrepreneurial tugged at him, so he decided to invest in his career and pursue an MBA, with the intent to follow the real estate concentration.

In looking for “entrepreneurial ways to activate real estate,” Alex applied and was accepted into the Entrepreneurship Center’s Adams Apprenticeship, a selective program that accelerates the entrepreneurial careers of UNC’s highest potential student leaders. He originally intended to pursue real estate entrepreneurship, but by the time the interview came around, the idea of creating a bagel business was calling him.

A variety of courses from his MBA helped Alex bring his new venture to life. “My Marketing class made me think about customers and branding while Retail Operations was the perfect place to think about scaling a business,” said Alex. He also received significant support from numerous UNC alumni and from Launch Chapel Hill, an internationally recognized accelerator supported by the Entrepreneurship Center.

Working out of Chapel Hill’s Midway Community Kitchen, Brandwein’s Bagels quickly sold out of 650 bagels at its first pop-up experience in August 2019 and less than a year later opened a permanent location. “Bagels are the driver but the real focus is bringing people together,” Alex said. “I’m so happy that I get to share this little bit of myself and so excited to see where this goes.”

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Associate, McKinsey & Company
Decatur, Georgia

Maya (Anderson) Yates is the future of American capitalism, a next-generation business leader who intends to marry profit and purpose to help small businesses generate wealth and create jobs. “I want to find the diamond in the rough and realize its potential,” she said. Raised by a single mother, a social worker in Decatur, Georgia, her upbringing made her all too aware of inequalities in America. At her public high school, “most of the Black kids lived in the housing projects and most of the white kids were from upper middle-class families.”

With a thirst for knowledge and a determination to improve her lot in life, Maya won a place at Harvard University, majoring in English, before returning home where she began working for a small real estate brokerage, helping families to buy homes and generate wealth – something her family never did when she was growing up. She enjoyed the dynamism of real estate, but aspired to tackle bigger problems and make an impact on more people; with an entrepreneurial spirit she’s harbored since childhood, Maya sought her MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler. “I fell in love with the beautiful campus and it was the community I was looking for,” she said. “It was collaborative; people genuinely wanted to help me achieve my aims.”

Maya made the most of her MBA experience. She joined the Adam Smith Society, an association of business students who promote debate about how capitalism can help society, and served on its board. Her academic excellence was recognized with numerous fellowships and she served as chair of the school’s Dean Fellows Program. And, she helped create the Black Business Student Association, which Maya calls a “rallying point for black students, a place where they can build their networks.”

The Full-Time MBA program also helped Maya cultivate her own network through numerous experiential learning opportunities. She worked as an analyst with NCGrowth on projects that support economic development in communities and with Domino’s on a STAR consulting project that gave her experience operating in a corporate environment and exposure to senior executives. She also visited Bolivia and Ecuador on a Global Immersion Elective to see how business is done around the world and to develop cross-cultural communication skills.

These experiences prepared her for a post-MBA career at McKinsey in Atlanta, though she hopes to eventually work for herself, helping to make small businesses a success and their dreams come true. “By working for Fortune 500 firms, I get to see how it’s done in the largest and most complicated companies. I want to bring those lessons to smaller businesses. The entrepreneurial spirit still lives in me,” commented Maya.

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Vice President, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
New York, New York

Even before her MBA — and long before she started her current role at J.P. Morgan Private Bank — Charlotte Burnett was passionate about raising the profile of women in business.

Charlotte, or “Charlie” to those who know her, took a commission with the United States Army straight out of undergrad, working in Special Operations where women make up only 10% of the personnel. In an effort to unite women on her into a more supportive community, Charlie founded a women’s networking initiative, indicative of her commitment to teamwork and bringing people together.

Charlie brought this collaborative spirit with her when she joined the Full-Time MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler. “The community and culture are very distinctive,” she recalled. “Kenan-Flagler is extremely collegial and collaborative — and down to earth! That was the most important trait. I knew it was where I would fit in best.”

Charlie made a name for herself at the school, serving as president of the Carolina Women in Business networking club, an experience she called one of the best leadership experiences of her career. Overseeing more than 75 events during her presidency and leading a rebranding of the club with a focus on making it more accessible, Charlie opened the door for more people from the school community to get involved in progress towards gender equity. “At Kenan-Flagler, student leaders really play an important role in the community,” she recalled. “You’re given the opportunity to try a lot of different things.”

Her success as a leader not only helped the school grow, but also transformed her career. In 2019, she received the prestigious Edie Hunt Inspiration Award from the Forté Foundation, and after graduating, became a senior associate at J.P. Morgan Private Bank (with a recent promotion to vice president in 2023). Charlie sees her achievements as proof of the power of “learning by doing”, both in and outside of the classroom, and they have helped her successfully transition from a military career in Carolina into finance in New York.

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Founder, MyOwn Communications
Durham, N.C.

Chihao brought a decade of experience in the healthcare industry to the UNC Kenan-Flagler Full-Time MBA program. And after graduation, he took those combined lessons learned to launch his startup, MyOwn Communications, in partnership with two classmates. 

Chihao and his partners recognized the disparity in resources between large and small healthcare organizations. MyOwn Communications specifically focuses on the challenges some of these organizations face when trying to communicate and collaborate on patient care. 

The foundation of his startup was laid in Startup UNC, a year-long experiential learning class to help students commercialize their ideas. Chihao learned how to build a business plan, create a prototype and pitch to investors. MyOwn Communications then entered the Launch Chapel Hill accelerator — a safe space to test ideas and receive feedback from like-minded entrepreneurs.

Throughout his MBA experience, Chihao took advantage of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s extensive healthcare offerings. “Other schools have a hodgepodge of healthcare classes, whereas UNC has a structured and robust healthcare program anchored in the Center for the Business of Health,” he said. “It was a phenomenal experience to sit in a classroom with future physicians, public health experts and business leaders to discuss relevant healthcare issues.”

Chihao’s busy schedule didn’t stop there. Outside of classes, he joined the leadership teams of the MBA Healthcare Club and Asian Business Club, as well as participating on the basketball and flag football teams. On top of that, he worked part-time as a physician assistant at UNC Health Care.

“I came to UNC Kenan-Flagler to develop a deeper understanding of the business of healthcare,” he recalled. “I also built a stronger set of leadership abilities and learned the foundational tools to scale a successful healthcare startup.”

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Director of Heart Transplant, Atrium Health
Charlotte, North Carolina

With an undergrad degree from Carolina in Public Health and professional experience in the healthcare industry, pursuing her MBA in UNC Kenan-Flagler’s nationally recognized healthcare program was a natural next step for Taylor. “At Kenan-Flagler, I found the same culture I loved as an undergrad: a culture defined by collaboration, ambition, passion, and fun,” she explained. “I knew I would be challenged with a rigorous core curriculum and rewarded with endless opportunities for growth.”

With a passion for healthcare and well-defined career goals to advance her career in the industry, Taylor had a clear understanding of the value her MBA would provide. “As an undergraduate, I studied health policy and management and developed a valuable skillset and knowledge of healthcare,” she said. “I saw an MBA as a way to supplement those skills with more business acumen and better equip myself to make cross-functional decisions.”

At UNC Kenan-Flagler, Taylor also developed significant leadership skills, serving as president of the Healthcare Club, one of the largest and most active student clubs on campus. Collaborating with a dozen students filling VP roles with the club, she organized the school’s largest Healthcare Conference to date, hosted the first-ever National Interdisciplinary Healthcare Case Competition, and launched an alumni mentorship program for healthcare students.

Through this leadership, Taylor worked closely with Brad Staats, professor of operations and faculty director of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Center for the Business of Health. Brad described Taylor as a unique student, a strategic thinker, and “a strong leader who had an impact on our healthcare efforts in a way that will be seen for years.”

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Founder, MBASchooled and Betterwork Labs
Los Angeles, California

Al didn’t know it at the time, but the lesson his father taught him as a child – that there’s always something you can teach someone, and something you can learn from them – would shape his leadership style and his career.

As an analyst at Deloitte Consulting, Al learned from (and taught) his colleagues. After a few years, he made the decision to pursue an MBA as what felt like the natural next step in his career. Thanks to the impactful network he’d grown and their trusted recommendations, he enrolled in UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Full-Time MBA program.

Alongside his studies, Al took advantage of leadership opportunities. He was elected vice president of diversity for the MBA Student Association, prioritizing the ability for his classmates to be their authentic selves – welcoming and embracing their differences.

“Our experiences are enriched because of those differences,” he said. “And when it comes to relationship building, everyone has something to learn and something they can offer. Everyone has a unique set of talents. And there’s usually a story behind them.”

Al also worked as a coach in the Business Communication Center, mentoring first-year MBA students, and years later, he took that coaching to the next level. “It helped me realize that a lot of people are challenged by the career recruiting process,” he explained. “At the core of it was helping others uncover their talents and strengths, and then using them to find a meaningful and rewarding career.”

After graduation, Al returned to Deloitte as a management consultant in San Francisco. In addition to serving clients, he led the coaching and training of new hires, and served on internal leadership teams to improve the performance management and career development process. “The experiences allowed me to take my passion for learning and teaching, much of which I cultivated at UNC Kenan-Flagler, and use them in new ways to drive impact.”

He made a career change in 2017 after reaching out to classmates for guidance and to identify opportunities. With the help of another Kenan-Flagler alumni, he transitioned to product marketing at a software company. “It was uncomfortable because consulting was the only job I knew, but I also recognized I’m at my best when I’m learning and acquiring new skills.”

Today, Al’s coaching mentality has exploded into a business, and his new full-time role as founder of Betterwork Labs, a talent development firm that helps leaders grow their people. His blog, MBASchooled, scaled into the book “MBA Insider: How to Make the Most of Your MBA Experience” as well as a podcast, MBA Insider. With this expanding venture dedicated to prospective MBA students interested in learning more about the life-changing role an MBA can offer, and getting guidance on finding the right program and navigating the admissions process, Al continues to teach others and help them find lifelong success.

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Investment Banking Associate, Wells Fargo
San Francisco, California

With an undergraduate degree in Neurobiology from Harvard and experience working with the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, Melissa brought a unique background into the Full-Time MBA Program. She also brought with her a commitment to making the world a better place.

When her service in the Peace Corps was interrupted by an evacuation triggered by rising security concerns, her dedication to the cause — and a project to build 75 latrines in the village she served — didn’t stop. Upon returning to the U.S, Melissa raised enough money to fund the rest of the project, which was completed in her absence.

This determination helped her succeed as she pursued her MBA. She received the Excellence Award for her academic achievement in her first year in the program. She served as VP of Student Engagement with the Alliance of Minority Business Students. And, she earned an internship with Wells Fargo in San Francisco, which she’s converted into a full-time job as an Investment Banking Associate.

Melissa’s decision to attend UNC Kenan-Flagler reflects the spirit in which she approaches her life. “Nothing could override the feeling of being in a room of admitted students, looking around, and knowing I could truly see myself in the program and that it was an environment I could grow and thrive in,” remembes Melissa. “The students at Carolina are the friendliest, humblest, most hard-working, and intelligent group of people I have ever had the privilege to be around.”

Her experience at Carolina has allowed Melissa to not only embrace the spirit she found in others, but has helped her push toward a long-term goal to start a healthcare organization. Stephen Arbogast, professor of finance, noted, “Melissa showed an acute appreciation of the need for leaders to develop and articulate a compelling vision and she has begun to apply this to her thinking about investment banking.”

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Associate, McKinsey & Company
Charlotte, North Carolina

You might expect someone with a background in college and pro football recruitment to choose an MBA program with a competitive community. For Zach, it was the opposite.

Before pursuing his MBA, Zach worked in scouting for Wake Forest University and the Tennessee Titans. After five years of working in the industry, he chose to change course and eventually landed in UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Full-Time MBA program.

“It’s not a cut-throat environment,” he said about UNC Kenan-Flagler. “Your classmates will help you prep for an interview at a company even if they’re also interviewing there – in fact, one of my favorite parts of the experience was seeing everyone come together during interview season.”

While it may not appear so on the surface, Zach quickly noticed the many similarities between his days as a scout and his MBA experience. Namely, the importance of teamwork. He and three teammates participated in an overnight case competition, and delivered a winning presentation just 12 hours after receiving the brief.

“People who knew the four of us thought, ‘That’s four different personalities, it’ll be interesting to see how they work together’— and they became some of my best friends over the next two years.”

After graduation, Zach launched his career as an associate at McKinsey & Company, taking the lessons of teamwork and new knowledge of consulting with him. “When I joined McKinsey & Company, I immediately began working with colleagues and clients from around the world, and the teamwork and global experiences I enjoyed at UNC Kenan-Flagler have already proved invaluable.”

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