Background
After growing up in North Carolina, I pursued my undergraduate degree in South Carolina. At Furman University, where I was exposed to the basics of econometric research, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and earned my commission as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. Before coming to Kenan-Flagler, I completed military training, worked within the automotive industry and most recently worked in healthcare venture capital.
Career path
My career has mainly been centered around financial and managerial operations. I decided to attend Kenan-Flagler to further my skills and knowledge in both marketing and business strategy. As a Kenan Scholar, I will be working with Dr. Barry Bayus on a project related to the 3D printing community response to COVID-19.
Interest/hobbies
Coming from a large family, I always have something going on at home. Being the oldest boy, I do my best to provide guidance and be a listening force. I enjoy the outdoors, many types of sports and being surrounded by friends and family.
Background
I grew up in San Diego, studied public health and public policy during my undergraduate career at the University of California, Berkeley and then worked in domestic healthcare consulting in the employer-sponsored insurance space at Mercer for a few years in San Francisco before coming back to school.
Career path
At Mercer, I focused on initiatives to help employers manage the health of their employees, often through digital health startups. Moving forward, I’m really interested in how technology or other innovative approaches can be leveraged to improve the efficiency and delivery of equitable healthcare access on a global level.
Interest/hobbies
At Kenan-Flagler, I’m involved with the Healthcare Club, Net Impact, CWIB and the MBA Impact Investing Network & Training (MIINT) program. I’m also a co-chair of the Gillings Student Global Health Committee. In my free time, I love to play soccer, cook and explore breweries and coffee shops in the Triangle.
Background
After attending Rhodes College, I started my career in digital project management in marketing/advertising at Archer Malmo. At Kenan-Flagler, I hope to combine my marketing and project management experience with new learnings from my classmates and courses at KFBS as I move into the next phase of my career.
Background
I was born in a town called Milton Keynes, which is roughly 40 miles northwest of London. I have about ten years of experience in business development and strategy, mostly focused around the renewable energy space. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to build on my professional knowledge of sustainability through Kenan-Flagler’s MBA energy pathway and the Kenan Scholars program.
Career path
My career has hinged around the concept of climate change mitigation for several years now. Most of my career path has revolved around the solar- and anaerobic-digestion energy industries, but I’m passionate about any firm that tackles large-scale emissions reductions or global sustainability endeavors.
Interest/hobbies
I really like sportfighting, both as a participant and as an audience member. I’m also a big nerd, and enjoy writing and tabletop roleplaying games.
Background
Born and raised in North Carolina, I currently live in the Bay Area with my husband and our two boys. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from UNC Charlotte. Additionally, I hold the Certified Financial PlannerTM professional certification; Series 7 and 66 licenses; and life, health and variable insurance licenses.
Career Path
As vice president, financial planning director at Morgan Stanley, I leverage my expertise to support our financial advisors in delivering the full firm to clients while providing best-in-class advice. Previously, I spent nearly seven years as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and UBS. Before transitioning to financial services, I served as a sales manager at Nordstrom for nearly seven years, leading teams of up to 80 employees.
Interests & Hobbies
I enjoy studying public and private collaborations to achieve positive socio-economic and environmental outcomes. Moreover, I’m fascinated by the role capital markets play in catalyzing change. Consequently, my research interests are focused on ESG and impact investing for the future. As the mother of a child with autism, I’m passionate about supporting differently abled individuals to access resources and education to live their best lives.
Background
I hail from New Delhi, India. During college, I received a dual degree: a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering and a master’s degree in economics. This education really piqued my interest in the economy and businesses and led me to working with leading investment banking and private equity firms and the government.
Career path
Working as an analyst in investment banking and private equity firms, I worked across sectors and assisted multiple companies and startups in raising growth capital. I also became aware of the severe crunch of capital availability across these types of companies, which strengthened my passion for economics and finance. Later, transitioning to government roles at both the federal and state level, I witnessed the tangible impact of private capital deployment for emerging markets and their companies. I then decided to pursue my MBA degree to gain significant leadership experience and capital-raising exposure across global markets. Post-Kenan Flagler, my intention is to work in emerging markets finance and continue to address the capital availability challenges that many developing nations around the globe face.
Interest/hobbies
My hobbies include reading, especially history books; long-distance running; and cooking. I enjoy spending time with friends and am an ardent supporter of Liverpool in the English Premier League.
Background
I was born in India, where I received my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. I pursued my master’s degree in the same subject at California State University, Northridge. I have worked at Synopsys Inc. for the last 24 years, helping major semiconductor companies design their chips to be faster, smaller and more power efficient.
Career path
While at Kenan-Flagler, I would like to leverage my technology background to further my passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship. The project “Sustainability in the Technology Industry: Challenges and Opportunities” will give me in-depth, hands-on experience to research the current methodologies employed by software and hardware companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use and waste generation. Also, I am very excited to join the Center for Sustainable Enterprise team and contribute to its ESG and impact investing work in the technology sector. My long-term goal is to lead result-driven corporate, social and environmental responsibility (CSER) initiatives at technology companies through strategic development and business operations.
Interest/hobbies
I am passionate about sustainability and STEM education. I have coached K-12 students to participate in green initiatives and robotics competitions. I have taught therapeutic yoga as community service for the last 19 years to all age groups. In my free time, I enjoy travelling, singing, painting and reading nonfiction books.
Background
I am the daughter of two Haitian immigrant parents who found love in Brooklyn, New York and decided to raise a family. I have two older brothers who I am very close with. I have travelled nationally and internationally to represent the U.S. in fencing, which helped me get recruited onto the UNC fencing team. I enjoy reading, museums, playing guitar and weightlifting. I believe the secret to living your best life is the company you keep. “People change people.”
Career path
I plan on using my analytical and people skills to change the scope of what an HR department/team should look like. Strategic HR is a topic that is often overlooked, but there is a need to understand that behind the market trends and data analytics are just people trying to do the best for themselves and the people they love. I plan on working at large, innovative companies to create positive impact for employee work life, individual communities and the global economy, to put humanity at the forefront of work, life and community.
Interest/hobbies
I enjoy reading articles and books that challenge my perspective, like the Tao of Pooh, and classics like Brave New World and The Great Gatsby. Podcasts are also extremely engaging when they are about mental health, politics, divergent thinkers and popular culture. I love working out with my friends, especially in nature, and eating new foods of different cultures (yes, vegan foods too!).
Background
I graduated from the Kenan-Flagler undergraduate business program in 2017. I spent the last three years working in financial services for Wells Fargo. I am very interested in the use of mathematics and statistics to extract meaningful insights from data, specifically the application of data science in finance.
Career path
I began my career at Wells Fargo focused on retail and institutional investment management. My goal during the MBA program is to bridge my career experience in financial services with my interest and passion for transformative technology.
Interest/hobbies
My hobbies include any outdoor activities, playing sports and live music. I am interested in technology and serve as a liaison for the MBA Business Technology Club.
Background
I was born and raised in Nelson County, Virginia, a rural community nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology.
Career path
Prior to grad school, my career had been centered around education and closing the opportunity gap through a variety of roles in nonprofit management and fund development. I have worked for several national and international organizations and am also an alum of Teach for America and AmeriCorps. Driven by the question “What does it take to scale a great idea?” I decided to attend Kenan-Flagler and further develop my skills and knowledge in business strategy. As a Kenan Scholar, I will be working with Jill Willette on a project related to the needs of growth-stage ventures.
Interest/hobbies
I am passionate about community, sustainability and service. In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to podcasts, salsa dancing, gardening and learning new things. My personal goal is to learn to play tennis in 2021.