Meet Someone Like You

Academic background: Neuroscience, UNC-Chapel Hill

For Sarah Kate Norris, the path to business began in the laboratory. After earning her undergraduate degree in neuroscience from UNC-Chapel Hill, she worked in neuroscience research, helping advance scientific discoveries toward real-world therapies. But as she gained experience, she realized that innovation depends on more than scientific breakthroughs. Financial and regulatory decisions often determine whether promising treatments ever reach patients.

That realization led her to the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Master of Science in Management program. Sarah Kate saw the MSM as a bridge between her science background and her desire to move into a strategy-focused career. The program offered the business foundation she needed while allowing her to stay connected to the life sciences industry.

“I wanted to stay close to science but move into a role where I could help shape strategy,” she says. “The MSM felt like the most direct path to making that happen.”

Throughout the program, Sarah Kate built skills in business strategy, finance, and operations, which complemented her technical expertise. Just as meaningful was the MSM community itself. Surrounded by classmates from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, she experienced informative classroom discussions, collaborative team projects, and a support system of peers and faculty.

Experiential learning also played a major role in preparing her for what comes next. Through the STAR consulting project, she worked directly with executive-level clients to analyze market landscapes and solve business challenges. During her global immersion elective in Turkey, she gained firsthand insight into how healthcare systems, regulation, and culture shape the adoption of therapies across markets.

“Those experiences helped bridge the gap between the classroom and the work I’ll be doing professionally,” she says.

After graduation, Sarah Kate is moving to Boston to join Franklin Life Science in regulatory strategy. In one of the world’s leading biopharma hubs, she will help companies navigate the clinical and regulatory process, supporting promising therapies on the path to approval.

Looking ahead, Sarah Kate hopes to build a career measured by outcomes: therapies brought to market and patients whose treatment options are expanded because of her work.

“Having a science and business perspective allows me to contribute on both sides of the table,” she says. “That’s where I know I can make the greatest impact.”

• Learn what it takes to follow Shayma's path.

Academic background: business, Franklin & Marshall College

John Donovan chose the Master of Science in Management Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler to sharpen how to think like a business leader while deepening his expertise in marketing.

For John, the MSM program offered the ideal balance of perspective and specialization.

“Having the opportunity to strengthen my understanding of how to think like a business leader, while also developing my skills in marketing, were big factors in my decision,” he says.

Growing up in Chapel Hill, he was especially excited to become part of the UNC Kenan-Flagler community he admired.

John previously studied business at a small liberal arts college, where he built a strong foundation but wanted greater depth in his chosen field. Before enrolling at UNC Kenan-Flagler, he gained hands-on experience executing marketing campaigns and managing brands for small startups. Now, the data and analytical skills he developed in the MSM program positioned him put into practice market research and performance marketing.

One of the most impactful aspects of the program has been the cohort itself.

“We have an extremely talented and diverse group of students, and that was clear from orientation,” John says.

Learning alongside classmates from backgrounds ranging from healthcare to the arts inspired him, and the tight-knit nature of the cohort allowed students to actively shape the culture of the program from the ground up.

Today, John is applying the skills he sharpened in the MSM program as a Client Relationship Associate with Vanguard in Pennsylvania, where he supports clients while continuing to grow his expertise in business and relationship management.

Academic background: Management and Society, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

As a member of the inaugural cohort of UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Master of Science in Management program, Kate Foster approached the MSM with a clear goal: to build on her marketing background while strengthening her business foundation.

A recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Kate earned her degree in Management and Society with a minor in Media and Journalism. Her undergraduate experience provided a strong grounding in economics, organizational dynamics, and marketing, but she recognized the need to expand her technical and analytical skills. Through the MSM program, she built capabilities in financial analysis, client relationship management, and strategic thinking, which complemented her background and prepared her for the next step.

Important to Kate’s experience was the MSM community. Surrounded by classmates from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, she found a culture rooted in collaboration and connection. The program’s close-knit environment and engaged faculty made a lasting impact, with professors invested in students’ growth and success.

Through the MSM program, Kate also gained clarity. What began as a broad interest in business evolved into a defined path in private wealth management. With the support of the career services team and experiential learning opportunities like the STAR Program, she was able to reconnect her skills to real-world applications.

“MSM gave me the clarity and direction to move from general interests to a defined path,” Foster says. “The support I received made the process feel intentional and gave me confidence stepping into my next chapter.”

As she begins her career in wealth management, Kate is especially excited about the personal and dynamic nature of the work. She is drawn to the opportunity to[BC1.1] build long-term relationships, understand clients’ goals, and serve as a trusted advisor over time. The MSM program helped her develop the adaptability and teamwork skills needed to thrive in the field.

Looking ahead, Kate hopes to make a meaningful impact in her clients’ lives while continuing to grow professionally. As a member of the program’s first cohort, she is eager to stay connected to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community and support future MSM students.

“My advice is to fully immerse yourself in the experience,” Foster says. “The relationships you build and how you apply what you learn beyond the classroom are what truly make the program so valuable.”

• Learn what it takes to follow Scott's path.

Academic background: Geophysics and Economics, University of South Carolina

When Will Holliday began exploring graduate school, he knew he wanted to change his course. After building a strong academic foundation in STEM, Holliday was ready to pivot into the business world and find a program that would help turn broad ambitions into a clear professional path.

That search led him to the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Master of Science in Management program. The MSM program stood out for its small class sizes, accelerated format, and strong return on investment. For a student seeking personalized connections with faculty and the chance to pursue unique career goals, the fit was perfect.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Holliday completed double majors in geophysics and economics, wrote a thesis focused on paleontology, and founded an automotive racing program. While his academic resume was impressive, his long-term interests extended beyond the classroom. Drawn to industries built on innovation and legacy, he entered the MSM program determined to build a career in the automotive industry.

“The MSM gave me the chance to earn an elite business education while still pursuing my own path,” he said. “It felt like a no-brainer.”

As a member of the program’s inaugural cohort, Holliday quickly found that one of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s greatest strengths is community. Professors knew students personally, classmates supported one another, and collaboration became a defining part of the experience.

“The first word that comes to mind is family,” he said. “Even early in the program, I felt like I could have a meaningful conversation with every person in the cohort.”

Holliday also discovered value in stepping outside his comfort zone. Initially focused on finance, he found unexpected enjoyment in marketing classes, where frameworks and strategy concepts proved relevant across industries.

Through UNC Kenan-Flagler’s career support and experiential learning opportunities, he translated those lessons into real-world experience. Finance coursework sharpened his technical skills, while the STAR Consulting Program gave him measurable accomplishments to discuss with employers. Guidance from career services helped refine his resume, LinkedIn presence, and job search strategy.

Now, Holliday is beginning his career as a manager in training with Hendrick Automotive Group. For a lifelong automotive enthusiast, the role represents the ideal blend of passion and profession.

“What excites me most is being surrounded by people who genuinely love cars and the culture around them. Hendrick has built a community around motorsports with their involvement in NASCAR and grassroots racing over the past few decades,” he said. “The MSM helped me turn my passion into skills I can bring forward in my career.”

Looking ahead, he hopes to help continue the spirit of the automotive industry while growing as a thoughtful, people-focused leader. With a unique combination of technical knowledge, business training, and enthusiasm, Holliday is ready to make his mark.

• Learn what it takes to follow Will's path.