LinkedIn Spotlight Series

For Hasan Abdul-Mutakallim, the MBA@UNC program became a launchpad for transformation. In March 2024, drawing on insights from his coursework, he made the case that the Defense Information Systems Agency needed its first Chief of Marketing. That proposal was accepted — a role he pioneered until his transfer to NATO in March 2025. Today, he serves as a Cyberspace Operations Planner at NATO’s Cyberspace Operations Center. [More]

Since graduating from UNC Kenan-Flagler, Drew Adams has built a dynamic career at Bristol Myers Squibb — one marked by agility, leadership, and an eagerness to learn. He joined BMS through an R&D rotational program that allowed him to explore four different business areas over two years. [More]

After two decades in military service, Charles “Chuck” An knew that stepping into the corporate world would require new skills, fresh perspective, and the right support system. When he discovered MBA@UNC through the MBA Veterans Conference, it marked the beginning of a transformative journey — one that ultimately led to his current role as Assistant Vice President, Process Design Consultant at Bank of America. [More]

When Jonathan Britton stepped into the Weekend MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler, he had just retired after 24 years of service in the U.S. Army, leading as a Lieutenant Colonel and Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot. Like many transitioning servicemembers, the biggest challenge wasn’t what he had already accomplished — it was how to translate that experience into a civilian career with purpose.[More]

When Uriah Ford came to UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, he set out to build a career that combined leadership, strategy, and impact. That vision started to take shape during his summer internship at Sanofi in the Specialty Care Commercial Leadership Development Program — an experience that led to a full-time offer. After graduation, Uriah will be heading back to Sanofi to officially launch his post-MBA career! [More]

After earning his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler, Tyler Jeffery was ready for more. “After years at a large Fortune 500 corporation and a short stint at a start up, I found myself ready to take on more upon graduating from UNC,” he shared. [More]

Gabriel stepped into this role from a different industry, focusing on adaptability, learning, and earning trust quickly by listening deeply, building cross-cultural and cross-functional relationships, and delivering early wins. [More]

As a recent graduate, Leo Kasmer is reflecting on a journey defined by growth, support, and finding purpose. A military veteran transitioning into the business world, Leo admits, “I struggled with knowing that I had no background in traditional business operations, let alone the energy industry.” [More]

When Killian Nowrey began his MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler, he brought with him a unique background: a criminal justice degree, years of service as an enlisted soldier, and an early-stage business idea with just a few sock prototypes and no sales. [More]

As Lisa Park prepares to graduate next week, she reflects on a milestone that defined her MBA journey: earning a spot in Bristol Myers Squibb as a Manager of Global Product Development & Supply (GPS) Emerging Leaders Program. Transitioning from a research scientist to a future biopharma leader wasn’t easy, but it was intentional. [More].

After earning her MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler, Leigh Shultz achieved a long-time career goal: an international leadership role with Merck. She was first promoted to Associate Vice President in International Commercial Operations within Merck & Co.’s Human Health division, where she led a center of excellence focused on commercial trade strategy. In October 2025, she accepted a new challenge – heading the commercial operations team at Merck Canada. [More]

When Matt Strong began his MBA journey at UNC Kenan-Flagler, he was already thriving in his career at a large enterprise. But he saw an opportunity, not just to deepen his technical expertise, but to grow as a leader capable of shaping strategy and driving meaningful impact. [More]

Dawn Turner credits UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Executive MBA program with giving her the tools and confidence to take the next step in her career. Just five months after graduation, she stepped into her current role, leading the teams driving RFK Racing’s brand and business impact, overseeing marketing, creative storytelling, digital engagement, PR, and partner activation. [More]

When Don Young crossed the stage to collect his UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA, he was already packing for his next challenge. Within days, he stepped into an Advisor role to the CEO at ADT, a brief but pivotal stop before accepting his first-ever Chief Executive Officer position at Everon. [More]

Kyad Agha’s professional journey began at Lowe’s in 2019, where he first joined as an undergraduate intern. Five years later, he has built a thriving career in supply chain — most recently earning a promotion to Sr. Business Project Manager – Supply Chain in January while balancing the demands of the Evening MBA program. [More]

Sr. Event Marketing Specialist | Lenovo  

Nia Allison’s journey with Lenovo began in 2020 as a sales intern, where she built a lasting connection with a recruiter who later opened the door to a marketing opportunity aligned with her long-term goals. Transitioning from sales into marketing wasn’t easy, it required learning how to apply classroom theory to real-world strategies, but through persistence, curiosity, and hands-on experience, Nia successfully bridged that gap and grew into her current role. [More]

Recipient of the INNOVATION Core Value Award | Forté Fellow | Vetter Dean’s Fellow | Aspiring Consultant & Finance Leader  

For Miluska Alvarado Alarcon, choosing UNC Kenan-Flagler was about more than reputation — it was about community. Drawn to its collaborative culture, strong leadership development, and track record in finance and consulting, she saw a place where she could grow both personally and professionally. As a Forté Fellow and Vetter Dean’s Fellow, that choice has already been reaffirmed through the support she’s received. [More]

Real Estate Club President | Summer Associate, Development Team at Welltower  

When Jose Badillo joined UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Full-Time MBA program, he brought a strong foundation from his project management background at CBRE. That experience, paired with new technical skills from his MBA coursework, gave him the confidence to land his summer internship as a Development Associate with Welltower. [More]

Cypress Legacy Champion | Commercial Leadership Development Program Intern at Bristol Myers Squibb  

For Bradly Boaz, breaking into the pharmaceutical industry was no small feat. During recruiting, he split his challenges into two buckets: mastering the process itself and becoming fluent in pharma. From countless coffee chats and mock interviews over the holidays (“so many I got tired of hearing my own voice,” he jokes) to devouring Fierce Pharma articles and leaning on the Healthcare Club for a crash course, Bradly pushed through to land his internship with Bristol Myers Squibb in the Commercial Leadership Development Program. [More]

Finance Manager | Holland America Line (a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc)  

Recruited before starting his MBA, Andres brings proven strengths in personnel management, coaching teams, cost control, forecasting, and cross-functional alignment. He’s known for adaptability and delivering actionable insights that drive business performance. Through the KFBS MBA program, he’s sharpened his analytical and leadership skills, gained advanced strategic and financial expertise, and built a strong network that will fuel future opportunities. [More]

Senior Vice President of Operations | Upstream Rehabilitation  

After 15 years with Upstream Rehabilitation, Lindsay Caruthers’ commitment to excellence, leadership, and continued learning led to her promotion to Senior Vice President of Operations in June 2025. Her career journey reflects a steady progression through operational leadership roles, fueled by a passion for personal growth and a drive to lead with business excellence. [More]

Sales Manager | Guidde  

For Emily Ciavolino, her MBA journey has run in parallel with her growth at Guidde, where she was recently promoted to Sales Manager. That role started with a leap of faith – leaving a large, successful startup (monday.com) she’d helped take public to join an earlier-stage company, “It felt like a risk, but I trusted the team and believed in the vision.” Starting as a founding Account Executive, she built the sales foundation from the ground up before stepping into management to scale and onboard the team. [More]

Finance Intern at American Express → Incoming Finance Manager | American Express  

For Paola Corleto, the recruiting journey started with an important question: what did she truly want to do? Once she clarified her passion for finance, she focused her search and learned how to tell her story with clarity. From there, she took a “leave no stone unturned” approach, leveraging LinkedIn, MBA Career Services resources, and countless coffee chats with colleagues to learn about culture and strategy at her target companies. [More]

Recipient of the IMPACT Core Values Award | Operations & Management | Exploring Pharma & Strategy  

For Tom Lanphier, coming into business school wasn’t about having all the answers – it was about finding them. He’s already leaning on clubs, professors, alumni, second-years, and MBA Career Services as he shapes his path toward operations, management, and potentially pharmaceuticals or strategy. [More]

Recipient of the IMPACT Core Value Award | Vetter Dean’s Fellow | Exploring Real Estate, Marketing, and Finance  

When David LaPasha began his MBA journey at UNC Kenan-Flagler this August, he was drawn not just by the school’s reputation but by the Carolina community itself. The small class size and the culture of teamwork and leadership have already made an impression, and being named a Vetter Dean’s Fellow sealed the deal. “I have met some of the most amazing people both through the Fellows program and the MBA as a whole,” he shares. [More]

Recipient of the INTEGRITY Core Value Award | Forté Fellow | Aspiring Healthcare & Consulting Leader  

For Sophia Lochner, UNC Kenan-Flagler stood out for its strong academic and professional support for students pursuing healthcare careers, and for the collaborative, driven nature of its community. Coming from a non-healthcare background, she saw the MBA Program as the right place to pivot and grow. [More]

MBA Latin American Business Association President | Internal Audit Intern – SOX Compliance at NetApp  

For Martin Luque, the MBA recruiting process came with an extra layer of challenge: navigating it as an international student. Building a professional network from scratch while adapting to a new market required persistence, resilience, and a lot of practice interviews. With the support of his classmates and coaching from the Career & Leadership team, Martin landed his internship at NetApp, where he applied his finance background on the Internal Audit – SOX Compliance team. [More]

Recipient of the Core Values Award | Consortium Fellow | Vetter Dean’s Fellow | MBA Leadership Development Program | Delta Air Lines

Chris Nwosu will spend his summer as an MBA Intern at Delta Air Lines. He first learned about the opportunity during a company visit with a UNC alum at Delta, followed by a coffee chat where he discovered a supply chain role that piqued his interest. That connection ultimately led him to engage with Delta at the National Black MBA Conference. [More]

Forté Fellow | Consortium Fellow | MBA Experienced Intern with Florida Power & Light at NextEra Energy  

Rachel Oatis spent her summer as an MBA Experienced Intern with Florida Power & Light at NextEra Energy. Her journey began unexpectedly: on the way to a Marketing & Communications class, she received a call from a NextEra recruiter asking if she planned to attend the National Black MBA Conference. Although hesitant at first due to her lack of prior energy experience, Rachel took the leap. The recruiter and her team became key supporters, ultimately opening the door to an internship that proved to be transformative. [More]

Development Associate Intern | Trammell Crow Residential  

For Nicole Rojo, breaking into her summer internship meant going beyond the job boards. She refined her search with the help of alumni, peers, and faculty at the Wood Center, then reached out directly to firms that matched her interests. By building relationships with employees, staying in contact, and leaning on her network, Nicole secured her role as a Development Associate Intern with Trammell Crow Residential. [More]

Recipient of the INCLUSION Core Values Award | Dual-Degree MBA/PharmD | Aspiring Healthcare Leader  

For Gautami Sonarikar, pursuing an MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler goes hand in hand with her pharmacy studies at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Drawn by the healthcare concentration and opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, she saw Kenan-Flagler as the ideal place to prepare for leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. [More]

AVP of Consumer Products | Ascension Health  

Michelle Voorhies is no stranger to leading transformation. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and digital product, she has helped Fortune 500 companies embrace a more customer-centric approach to strategy. Today, she serves as AVP of Consumer Products at Ascension Health, where she leads teams modernizing digital patient experiences. [More]

Professor Albert brings over 40 years of experience in the venture capital industry directly into the MBA classroom. As the instructor for Business Plan Analysis (MBA 846J), he introduces nearly 100 first-year MBAs each year to entrepreneurship, venture capital, and early-stage investing. [More]

Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship | Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise | Full-Time MBA | MBA@UNC | Charlotte MBA | Evening MBA | Weekend MBA 

Professor Bermiss teaches People Analytics – digging into how data and analytics can make work better for both employees and employers. [More]

The Townsend Family Distinguished Professor and Professor of Marketing | Charlotte MBA | Evening MBA | Weekend MBA

Professor Rajdeep Grewal brings deep expertise in customer value and strategic marketing to his Customer Value Strategies course in the Executive MBA program. [More]

Olga Hawn, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship | Sustainability Distinguished Fellow | Faculty Director, Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability | MBA@UNC | Charlotte MBA | Full-Time MBA

Dr. Olga Hawn’s courses – Strategy and Sustainability and the Global Immersion Elective in Sustainability and Social Enterprise – invite MBA students to explore how firms can create meaningful impact while managing real-world trade-offs. [More]

Professor of Organizational Behavior and Edward M. O’Herron Scholar | Full-Time MBA | Charlotte MBA | Evening MBA | Weekend MBA 

Dr. Marie Mitchell teaches Ethical Leadership and Women in Leadership, two courses deeply tied to her research and close to her heart. What she loves most? The thoughtful, vulnerable discussions that emerge when students bring their real-world leadership challenges into the classroom.  [More]

Adjunct Professor of Operations | Center for the Business of Health | MBA@UNC 

As the instructor of MBA893B – Healthcare Analytics, Andrew Novokhatny brings the fast-moving world of advanced analytics to life for his students.  [More]

Sarah Graham Kenan Scholar, Clinical Professor | Full-Time MBA | MBA@UNC | Charlotte MBA | Evening MBA | Weekend MBA

Dr. Heidi Schultz brings humanity into the heart of business education. As a Clinical Professor in Management and Corporate Communication, she teaches Storytelling to Influence and Inspire — a course where authenticity, vulnerability, and connection are not just encouraged, but essential. [More]

Professor of the Practice of Real Estate Finance | Leonard W. Wood Center for Real Estate Studies | Full-Time MBA 

Jim Spaeth brings decades of industry experience to the classroom, teaching Real Estate Cases and Real Estate Development Process. He loves the hands-on nature of these courses and the way they immerse students in real-world conditions. [More]

TW Lewis Distinguished Clinical Scholar and Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship | Full-Time MBA | MBA@UNC | Charlotte MBA | Evening MBA | Weekend MBA

Dr. Ted Zoller’s teaching centers on New Venture Development and Entrepreneurs Lab, where he helps students cultivate the mindset and skillset to build, fund, and lead new ventures. [More]

Associate Director, Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability | Full-Time MBA | MBA@UNC | Evening MBA | Weekend MBA

Tracy Triggs-Matthews plays a crucial role in the success of the Ackerman Center for Excellence in Sustainability. [More]