Raquel Argenal Matheu

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

“I’m driven, quick to empathize and determined to work hard even in the small things.”

Hometown: Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I came to the U.S. to play tennis at a Division 1 university, and have lived in the Midwest, West Coast and now the East Coast.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Missouri-Kansas City, bachelor of business administration with an emphasis in finance and managerial entrepreneurship

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Imperial PFS, Account Executive

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Kenan-Flagler’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It would be Kenan-Flagler’s inclusive culture and the Technology & Innovation Management concentration. Coming from an international background, it was important for me to attend a program where diverse perspectives and voices were welcomed, which would create a safe environment for rich discussions and professional growth. The Technology & Innovation Management concentration also played a key part due to my interest in the tech industry. This concentration will teach me to learn how to use data to uncover trends and make better business decisions, learn about effective innovation management, and help predict the impact of new technologies.

What has been your first impression of the Kenan-Flagler MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Kenan-Flagler story so far. At a Zoom call for a tech company presentation, I met a second-year MBA student who was interning at that tech company. After the session, I added him on LinkedIn hoping we could connect in the near future. He immediately reached out offering his time and help as I got settled at Chapel Hill. We set up a coffee chat, and I had an amazing time hearing from his experience and unique story. This showed me how collaborative the culture is at UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA program, and how students have a keen interest in learning more about you and genuinely want to help.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Kenan-Flagler? Being part of the Vetter Dean’s Fellows Program, where I hope I can hone my leadership skills and inspire others, engage with other leaders, and help implement recommendations that future classes can benefit from.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While I worked at Imperial PFS, a leader in the industry of insurance financing, I helped managed one of the largest books of business in the West Coast, comprised of $143M in insurance loans, and contributed to the growth of the company by surpassing goals in 2021.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? I recently read an article from Forbes called, “13 Tips From MBA Students On How To Succeed In A Top-Tier Program” by Kimberley A. Whittler. It is a great read for any incoming and current MBA students. Once you start your MBA, you will get busy, and you may be tempted to stay in your comfort zone, but the tips in this article will remind you that you are here to push yourself to grow and to take advantage of the opportunities the MBA offers.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Becoming a better leader, immersing myself in different ways of thinking and ideas, gaining new data analytics skill, and building long-lasting relationships.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Kenan-Flagler’s MBA program? Be your authentic self! Don’t be afraid to reach out to current students with questions. You will be surprised by the number of students and alumni who will be excited to talk to you about their UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA experience.

DON’T MISS: MEET UNC KENAN-FLAGLER’S MBA CLASS OF 2024