Lizzy Reinholt

Lizzy Reinholt, Weekend MBA Class of 2024
President, Peaks Renewables

 

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

When I started my career, I was firmly rooted in communications and PR—work I loved, but I knew there was more I wanted to contribute. My company believed in that potential, investing in my growth and giving me opportunities to take on broader leadership roles, eventually serving as SVP of Corporate Affairs, Marketing, and Sustainability. With a journalism degree as my foundation, I also knew that to truly operate at the next level, I needed to expand my toolkit—deepening my understanding of business management, financial modeling, and M&A. That’s what led me to UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Executive MBA program. The experience was transformative. While in the program, I stepped into the COO role for our renewable development subsidiary, leading day-to-day operations. Not long after graduation, I became President of the company. UNC didn’t just give me knowledge—it gave me confidence, a sharper strategic lens, and a network of peers I continue to learn from. In an industry that’s both volatile and full of opportunity, those tools have been invaluable in helping me lead with clarity, seize opportunities, and drive value for the long term.

 

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

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Executive MBA gave me the financial acumen, strategic perspective, and leadership tools to step confidently into bigger roles. Courses like Leading in the Middle, Financial Analysis and Valuation, and the core finance classes strengthened my ability to model, assess, and act on complex business opportunities. Leading in the Middle was especially transformative—it shifted how I think about decision-making. I realized that the “how” matters just as much, if not more, than the decision itself, and I’ve worked to embed that mindset not only in my leadership but in the culture of my entire company.

 

What advice would you give to current MBA students?

The real value of an MBA isn’t just in knowing the right answer—it’s in knowing how to ask the right questions, build the right team, and adapt your approach when the world changes. Your financial models will get outdated, your strategic plans will get disrupted, but the ability to think critically, lead with humility, turn challenges into opportunities, and surround yourself with people who challenge you—that’s what endures. In the end, it’s less about mastering every concept and more about mastering the mindset to keep learning, listening, and leading.

 

In what ways do you see our students standing out in the workplace or making an impact?

UNC Kenan-Flagler students stand out because their business fundamentals are grounded in values and people—not just profit margins. They understand that long-term success comes from building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating solutions that work for all stakeholders. In the workplace, they’re the ones who listen first, lead with integrity, and still deliver exceptional results. They don’t just measure impact in dollars—they measure it in the strength of the teams they build, the relationships they nurture, and the positive change they drive in their organizations and communities.