Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class Of 2020

Laura Takanen

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am a very loyal and casual person who enjoys the little things.

Hometown: Long Beach, California

Fun fact about yourself Despite not being very athletic, I have hiked both the Inca Trail and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Undergraduate School and Major University of California at Davis, History; Boston College, M.Ed Secondary Teaching in History

Most recent employer and job title U.S. Navy, Supply Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my biggest accomplishments so far was working on the Non-Combatant Evacuation Order used during the South Sudan Civil War.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The classmates I have met so far are all extremely friendly and happy to help with anything.

Aside from your classmates, 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 liked the atmosphere. Everyone I talked with, from admissions to those during the class visit, were so welcoming and personable. I really liked the way I was treated by the school and that definitely influenced my decision to attend Kenan-Flagler.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Veterans Club

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? The Navy is sponsoring me, so they decided that this was the right time for me.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I didn’t really even consider this because I haven’t heard of anyone leaving a top tier MBA program who didn’t think it was worth it.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, Stern, Anderson, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Marshall

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The tool I used to determine fit at various schools was the classroom visit. Despite the fact that many of the classes I visited had the same structure, there were still several small differences that spoke to culture. I really enjoyed my visit at Kenan-Flagler because I was brought to the class by a student ambassador, I was invited to participate, the students were interacting because they had something to say (not just because they wanted credit), and everyone showed respect by arriving on time.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was when I decided to join the Navy. It not only changed my career, but also forced me to grow in a myriad of ways.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Return to the Navy and work at one of our inventory control points.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I will still be in the Navy, hopefully in a Commander operational tour.

Meet the Class of 2020 Series

London Business School

University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School

University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business

MIT Sloan School of Management

Columbia Business School

Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business

Yale School of Mnnagement

University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

New York University’s Stern School of Business

Emory’s Goizueta School of Business

Washington University’s Olin Business School

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