Meet Kenan-Flagler's MBA Class Of 2018

Ayisha Swann

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I like to think of myself as a “multipotentialite” – interested in everything, expert in nothing!

Hometown: Arlington, VA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I hold three passports and love to travel, but I have a completely irrational fear of flying.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Dartmouth College, English and Geography

Currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in urban planning at UNC

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID): Special Projects Coordinator (Washington, D.C.)
World Teach Colombia: High School English Teacher (Bogota, Colombia)
National Geographic: Public Programs and Experiences Intern (Washington, D.C.)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When I worked at the Golden Triangle, I conceived of and managed a $20,000 public art project in downtown D.C. in coordination with the Japanese Embassy and the neighborhood’s commercial stakeholders. The novelty and public appeal of the project solidified it as a recurring annual event.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Figure out your story and develop your personal brand before you even start the process. Then attend as many events, webinars and campus tours as you can— face time is way more important than you think!

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? UNC Kenan-Flagler was always at the top of my list because of its stellar MBA real estate program and its unique dual MBA, MCRP (Masters in City and Regional Planning) degree program that I was hoping to pursue. But what really set UNC Kenan-Flagler apart was its student and alumni responsiveness to my questions, not only after I was admitted, but throughout my application process. I felt like I was a part of the family before I even submitted my application.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? I hope to one day be the executive director of a land trust or an urban planning consulting firm. I believe that my generation’s biggest challenge will be environmental degradation and climate change, and I hope to be able to reverse or at least mitigate the problem through economically profitable and environmentally sustainable solutions.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? “She’ll be giving a TED talk one day.”

DON’T MISS: THE STEREOTYPE-DEFYING MBA STUDENTS IN THE CLASS OF 2018