Meet UNC’s MBA Class Of 2019

Patrick Gomez Menzies 

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School  

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  Gregarious scholar-athlete, thinker and problem-solver looking to make an impact in life sciences and health care

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Fun Fact About Yourself: Proud of two mottos:

SUB UMBRA FLOREO (Under the shade, I flourish) from my Belizean dual-citizenship

VIL GOD I ZAL (With God’s will, I shall) from my Scottish Clan, Menzies

Undergraduate School and Major: 

Harvard University, A.B. History and Science

City University of New York, York College, B.S. Biotechnology

University of California-San Diego, M.S. Biomedical Sciences

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

University of California-San Diego – Graduate Researcher

1798 Consultants Inc – Business Analyst Intern

Novoron Biosciences – Lead Project Consultant

LabKey Corporation – Science Marketing Intern

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment was receiving the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study. The fellowship identifies scholars who will assume leadership positions in science from diverse backgrounds and have a commitment to the advancement of diversity and inclusion in science. Selection is based on academic excellence, scientific potential, and efforts to advance diversity and inclusion. Throughout my career, I have had a passion for diversity and equity and believe it can be one of the greatest drivers of innovation and success. I have used my participation in the program to expand my professional network and support the growth of others through mentorship and collaboration.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? All business schools are not equivalent. Really do your due diligence. Understanding each school’s priorities, strengths, and outcomes will help you in multiple ways. First, you will be able to make a more informed decision on selecting target school and deciding where to apply. Second, this information is pivotal to writing a good, tailored essay and delivering a strong, thoughtful interview. Just as you are looking for the right school, schools are looking for the right students who contribute to their brand and fit their culture. Finally, if you have the privilege of choosing between admissions offers, you can make the decision of where you want to be for two years and be able to explain that decision to friends and employers throughout your career.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  UNC Kenan-Flagler’s focus on health care was the key factor for my decision. My goal coming to business school is to expand my skillset in order to provide greater value and have a greater impact in health care. The school is working on the cutting-edge of business curriculum in health care and encouraging greater interaction between UNC’s different elite professional schools including the business school, medical school and pharmacy school. In addition, this situates UNC Kenan-Flagler as a core school for recruitment for many top health care and pharmaceutical companies. I look forward to making connections across the health sciences and finding the right company to intern with.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Success for me means being able to get involved in student-run initiatives and learn to analyze the culture of different companies and firms. I believe there is so much to be learned from the diverse and accomplished peers who are attracted to UNC Kenan-Flagler. Success for me would be supporting the growth of that learning community by giving my time and effort for the success of others around me. In addition, I am excited about taking the time in business school to explore career options and the diversity of firms and functions available to MBA students. Part of my success would be choosing the right fit for my summer internship.