Meet UNC’s MBA Class Of 2019

Patrick Kurunwune 

University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I love spicy food so I’m hotter than a hot pocket filled with hot sauce.

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played football at Duke University.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

  • Duke University: Biological Anthropology & Anatomy; Psychology
  • UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy: PharmD

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

  • UNC Memorial Hospital: Pharmacy Administration Finance Consultant
  • State Farm: Property & Casualty Senior Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far was getting into business school. I always knew I wanted to go to pharmacy school, but I only applied to UNC because I knew they offered a prestigious dual-degree program. I have never been more excited in my professional career the day I received my acceptance letter from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? The individuals who wrote my letters of recommendations really knew me and could speak to my character. I would advise you to take the time to ask individuals who have observed your work ethic and know the unique characteristics you can bring to the table.

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? I knew I wanted to pursue the dual-degree program that UNC offered (MBA/PharmD) because there was no other school in the country that has a top tier pharmacy school and business school. More specifically, UNC Kenan-Flagler has a strong reputation for collaboration and helping others. I noticed this as early as my first recruiting event I attended (Inside the MBA) where I observed how Stephanie Williams, senior associate director of admissions, was so intrigued in helping me with the MBA process even though she had just met me! The culture is contagious as many of the faculty I have interacted with have the same passion for wanting to support you.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Success for me would mean I am working in the healthcare sector. Within this domain, I want to focus on health outcomes that are aligned with patient preference. I want to assure that the most efficacious drugs are provided with the simplest ease of use to the necessary patient populations. My interest for this type of work sparked 11 years ago when my mother was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. This gave me a first-hand look at the struggles that many patients face with medication access and costs. This is what motivated me to pursue an industry that would allow me to affect patient populations on a macro scale.

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