Meet Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class Of 2018

Matthew Lyde-Cajustelt

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  I like to consider myself a focused, multifaceted and tenacious supplier of laughs.

Hometown: Mount Vernon, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: While at Syracuse University, I played 4 years for the Syracuse Men’s Basketball Team

Undergraduate School and Major:  Syracuse University, Mechanical Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: JP Morgan Chase, Software Engineer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Aside from being admitted into the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Program, I was very proud of graduating from JP Morgan Chase’s Corporate Development Program with the highest performance rating.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Throughout the admissions process, aspiring MBAs seek to prove how smart they are, how quickly they learn, and that that they ultimately can handle the rigor of a top MBA program. However, sometimes we forget that MBA programs admit a person and not a transcript. While your 4.0 is extremely impressive and I applaud you, my recommendation is to use the essays, interviews and recommendations to give the admissions committees a picture of you as a person and what makes you so much cooler, more interesting, or more fun than the next 4.0.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Aside from UNC Kenan-Flagler’s stellar reputation amongst U.S. and global MBA programs as a top educator, I found a unique sense of family and genuine interest in me as a person and potential member of that UNC family, not only post-acceptance, but throughout the entire admissions process. This sense of community combined with the UNC Kenan-Flagler curriculum’s emphasis on both collaboration and leadership made the decision relatively simple.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life?  Since my sophomore year of undergrad, I’ve dreamed of an investment banking career within the technology, media and telecomm group at one of the top eight global investment banks.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  “No matter how difficult times get, you can always count on Matt to make you smile, give you his honest opinion and work as hard as needed to get the job done.”