Hasan Abdul-Mutakallim

Hasan Abdul-Mutakallim, MBA@UNC Class of 2025
Cyberspace Operations Planner | NATO – Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)

 

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

Since beginning the MBA@UNC program, my career has evolved in unexpected and deeply rewarding ways. In March 2024, drawing on insights from my coursework, I made the case that the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Hosting and Compute Directorate needed its first Chief of Marketing. That proposal was accepted, and I served in the role until my transfer to NATO in March 2025. The MBA program equipped me with both the strategic tools and the confidence to create new value within a large federal agency—and to step into a leadership role that hadn’t existed before.

 

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

The Kenan-Flagler MBA@UNC program has given me the language, tools, and strategic mindset to deliver actionable, business-oriented advice at every level of my organization. Whether I’m walking into a technical, operational, or executive meeting, I can quickly frame challenges using proven frameworks—or adapt them to offer original, practical solutions. Courses like Finance, Operations, and Corporate Strategy gave me not just knowledge, but a new lens through which to see problems and opportunities.

 

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

You’ve earned more than a degree — you’ve earned the mindset, network, and capability to make a difference. My advice? Find the people who inspire you, align with a mission that fuels your passion, then dream boldly, plan rigorously, and execute with relentless determination.

 

In what ways do you see MBA students from Kenan-Flagler Business School standing out in the workplace or making an impact?

Kenan-Flagler students are grounded, sharp, and purpose-driven. We show up prepared to lead conversations and shape strategic decisions. Our training is grounded in real-world tools and timeless principles. We’re taught to ask better questions, connect the dots, and articulate the “so what” in a way that moves people and organizations forward. That practical, principled edge sets us apart in any environment.

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

I’m as introverted as I am extroverted. Over the years, I’ve pushed past my shyness because I realized that shrinking back doesn’t serve people or progress. Stepping forward — even when uncomfortable — is how things get done.

Is there anyone you would like to recognize for their support?

Professors Atul Nerkar, Amanda Thompson, and Ashraf Jaffer have each played a pivotal role in shaping my understanding of business, finance, accounting, corporate structure, strategy, and entrepreneurship. Their courses form the core of my business foundation and the springboard for my future path.

Professor Nerkar exemplifies teaching excellence — his Entrepreneurship and Corporate Strategy courses challenged my assumptions and refined my entrepreneurship instincts. His ability to connect frameworks to real-world application helped me evolve not just as a student, but as a leader.

Professor Thompson’s clarity in distilling complex finance concepts made even the most technical topics accessible. Her coaching helped me build a solid grasp of corporate finance and risk management.

Professor Jaffer, through her thoughtful instruction in accounting and business structure, helped me develop the fluency and confidence to speak the language of financial leadership.

Each of them has left a lasting mark on my MBA journey — and I will carry their lessons with me throughout my career.