Charles An

Charles “Chuck” An, MBA@UNC Class of 2024
Assistant Vice President, Process Design Consultant | Bank of America

 

How did your career evolve after graduating from the MBA Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School?

I discovered MBA@UNC when I was looking to attend the MBA Veterans Conference, which I applied and got accepted into the program at UNC. I returned to the MBA Veterans Conference the following year and visited with the Bank of America recruiter. With the help of Dr. Sandra Sienko Chandler, Dr. Bill Faulkner, and Camille Mason, I was prepared to submit a professionally written resume and present myself as a potential candidate to Bank of America.

 

How did UNC, Kenan-Flagler Business School, the MBA program, or MBA Career Services help you reach where you are today?

Coming from two decades of military service, I knew I did not possess the business acumen that would make me a stand out as I was reentering the corporate world. I didn’t even know what 10-K form was prior to business school. Now I am able to read a company’s 10-K to comprehend their performance, financial condition, and business operations, all which is important in forecasting the company’s direction. Learning those things from the company’s 10-K has made me valuable to the company because I know where I can make an impact in their operations. Since then, I have shared the insight of the 10-K to fellow military and veteran candidates as they learn to transition to civilian life and apply to corporate jobs.

 

What’s one lesson or insight you hope every MBA student takes with them after graduation?

1) Read a company’s 10-K or 8-K to have an understanding of how they have performed and what they are looking to do moving forward. For those looking to apply for a job with a specific company, their 10-K or 8-K gives you insight on what positions may be available, to rewrite your resume in a manner that matches their needs, and lets you answer interview questions intelligently about the company.
2) Network across all the MBA programs that UNC offers. I’ve had the opportunity to meet fellow students who are already in professions that I could lean on, most obviously those who were already in the business world. Networking helped me complete the MBA journey with others..

 

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I accepted the job offer from Bank of America during the middle of my final class of the MBA program. I was in Professor Atul Nerkar‘s class when he called on me for to answer a question. Sure enough, my phone rang; the recruiter from Bank of America was trying to reach me. I had to quickly answer Professor Nerkar so I could go call the recruiter back and explain that I wasn’t ignoring him. He would make the job offer, which I accepted, and went back to finish up class. After accepting the job, I actually connected with a couple of fellow MBA@UNC graduates that ended up at Bank of America: Adam Dose and Nathan Drewry.