Dan Hawkins

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School

“I’m a former professional stage actor/stand-up comedian, turned digital advertiser, MBA candidate, and brand manager.”

Hometown: Wayne, Pennsylvania

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve performed at Carnegie Hall, competed in North Carolina’s funniest standup comedian competition, and have two hole-in-ones in golf.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Wake Forest University, Communications Major, Entrepreneurship Minor, Theater Minor

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Reveal Mobile

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? The Hershey Company, Hershey Pennsylvania

Where will you be working after graduation? The Hershey Company, Associate Brand Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Marketing Club, Vice President of Leadership and Development
• Marketing Club, Career Mentor
• MBA Student Ambassadors, Board Member
• MBA Student Ambassador
• MBA Admissions, Campus Visit Program Coordinator
• Beer Society, Executive Council
• Blue Cup Competition Captain, Softball, Dodgeball and Trivia
• MBA Student Association, Social Liaison

Club Membership:

• Marketing Club
• Consulting Club
• Tech Club
• Beer Society
• Wine Society
• Golf Club

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I love creating entertainment events for my peers. The fun, the energy and the intangible feeling of making others smile is such a rewarding feeling; therefore, I’m most proud of creating the Carolina Casual Comedy Show at UNC Kenan-Flagler. Before business school, I was an avid performer, both in live theater and stand-up comedy. I saw an opportunity to transform our usual Thursday afternoon Carolina Casual into a spectacle that’d be free and fun for all members of the Carolina Community. Working with the MBA student organization, utilizing my live performers’ professional network, we brought several professional comics to campus and, with myself hosting, held a comedy show on the steps of the business school! The show was a hit, and it has become an annual tradition, with the next show occurring this May just before graduation.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I took a leap of faith three years into my career in digital advertising and jumped from a larger media company to a small tech startup where I was the 15th employee, hired to start their customer success team from scratch. I got my hands dirty building inaugural procedures, such as customer journeys, and onboarding processes to great success. At the same time, I learned to fail fast such as with projecting client support costs. It forced me to think differently and innovate to find solutions, such as recording 10+ self-help videos to handle common customer questions to increase the close rate of support tickets. I was proud that I was able to build the customer success team to a team of four, before setting off within the company to create the sales engineering team from scratch. I love building teams, I guess!

Why did you choose this business school? I remember speaking with my brother, David Hawkins, about his time at UNC Kenan-Flagler. He told me, “Daniel, Carolina is the nicest MBA in the country.” He was right. I flourish in a communal environment, where the mindset is “We’re all in this together” (cue the High School Musical music). But in all seriousness, I knew MBA cultures could be competitive, and I wanted to attend a school that both embraced the challenge and rigor of an MBA program, while simultaneously uniting the cohort through a friendly and approachable ethos. I can say that UNC has completely lived up to its reputation as the nicest MBA in the country, and I’d reapply in a heartbeat.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? There are so many options to choose from! If I must select one, I’d say Mark McNeilly. I’ve been lucky enough to take both Global Marketing and Leading in the Middle with Professor McNeilly and thoroughly enjoyed each class. He has a teaching style that engrosses me in the material, and he is incredibly skilled at fostering respectful conversation around any topic. In Global Marketing, I loved learning from Professor McNeilly about the context and nuance of details of brand image on a global and localized scale. In Leading in the Middle, I particularly enjoyed the exercises designed around inquiry in business meetings. Professor McNeilly is the best!

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Okay, this has got to be a tie between Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Business and Improv for Business. While in business school, I have watched the ChatGPT revolution play out before me. The introduction of generative AI to the business world today is like the introduction of Microsoft Excel in the 1990s. I think it’ll be such a necessary and fundamental skill in the future, and I’m eager to learn as much as I can about it now. The professor, Daniel Ringel, is great and has a hands-on approach to teaching us business applications for generative AI. I’ve had my mind blown multiple times in class and it’s a real joy to go to.

The second class, Improv for Business, was a wonderful way for me to blend my passion for performing with the business world. Taught by Greg Hohn, he has such a unique way of getting MBA students out of their shells. Each class starts with an improv game that ultimately turns into a deeper learning experience applicable to both business and life in general. I’d say to any future Tar Heels out there, don’t walk, RUN to sign up for either of these two classes; they were highlights of my MBA experience.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Overall, I’m proud of what I’ve done throughout the MBA program. You hear of students stretching themselves too thin, which I believe was ultimately my case, and that is why I never took advantage of one great offering at UNC. Looking back, I wish I had applied to go on one of the Global Immersion Electives, or GIEs. I’ve heard firsthand from many of my classmates the awesome experiences of traveling to culturally rich countries and learning firsthand from the companies there. So, if I had to go back, I think that’d be the only thing I’d do differently.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth is probably the perception that there is no connectivity between UNC and Duke and that the schools are just bitter rivals. While the rivalry is certainly strong, especially come basketball season, there were many of my classmates getting joint degrees at UNC and Duke, so it was completely normal to interact with some joint UNC-Duke students and Duke MBAs.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Okay, I think I missed a point earlier for the reasons why I chose UNC: I wanted to go to school in Chapel Hill. I sincerely wanted the “college town” experience, but unfortunately, I didn’t have that as part of my undergraduate school. Chapel Hill is regularly ranked amongst the best “college towns” in the U.S. and I completely understand why. I love it here. Franklin Street is amazing, filled with lots to do and the game day atmosphere is second to none. I would love to come back and live in a place like Chapel Hill one day.

What surprised you the most about business school? When people say business school is a lot of work, I remember thinking, “Psshh, I’ve been stressed before, I’ll be fine.” Well, they were, of course, right. Business school can, at times, be overwhelming and the rollercoaster of emotions through recruiting can certainly take a toll. It was in those moments I leaned on my UNC community to get through the toughest parts, and I was surprised at how much they shined through. So, I guess my answer is two things that surprised me. Yes, being in business school is as busy as they say, but also the Carolina community is as supportive as they say, and I’m so thankful I got to go through the experience.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? It’s almost like asking me, “Who on the 1996 Olympic Dream Team do you admire the most?” There are so many incredible people to choose from that I don’t know where to begin! If I had to choose one, I’d say I most admire my close friend and our MBA Student Association President Tyler Vonderhaar. Tyler and I met early on in business school and struck up a close personal friendship, but it was when Tyler became MBA Student Association president that I learned he has a superpower: he attends everything. I don’t think he’s missed a single MBA event while simultaneously balancing recruiting, schoolwork, and a social life outside of the MBA program.

He is also one of the most committed and empathic individuals I know. He has gone out of his way to welcome every member of our class, listen to all criticism, and help any classmate who needed assistance throughout his time as president. He’s made it his mission to revamp the in-person MBA experience since returning to the classroom after COVID and he’s succeeded with flying colors. It has never been just hollow words, but sincere actions to drive change and include all – and I find that incredibly admirable. I sincerely do not understand how he accomplishes so much in a single day and has the energy to do it every single day. His kindness, passion for helping others, and brilliance in the classroom have convinced me he will go far, and I’m just happy to be able to call him my friend.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Let’s go with a short-term goal and a long-term goal. In the short term, I’m extremely excited to work in marketing at The Hershey Company post-MBA. I can sincerely say I’ll love what I do, making more moments of goodness. Within the marketing department at Hershey is the partnerships team, which is behind such brilliant partnerships as How the Grinch Stole Christmas holiday Hershey Kisses and the limited-edition Harry Potter Hershey’s chocolate bars. I hope to join this team at Hershey and develop the next exciting partnership. I’ve always loved bringing things together that might not initially match (Llke stand-up comedy and UNC’s MBA program), but when combined create a wonderful synergy that brings joy and excitement to others. So, I’d say if I could accomplish that at Hershey, I’d be incredibly fulfilled.

The second long-term goal is a bit out there, but I’d love to be on the board for a professional theater, helping decide what shows to do in the next season and developing a youth performing program. Live theater and performing have had such a positive impact on my life. I sincerely think the day I missed the bus home and had to kill time by going to a play audition changed my life immeasurable for the better. If I’m able to, it’d be my way of giving back to the art that has given me so much.

What made Dan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Dan’s wide and varied background and many skills have made him an invaluable addition to the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Class of 2024. His journey from a professional stage actor and stand-up comedian to a digital advertiser and brand manager have demonstrated his remarkable adaptability and breadth of experiences. All of these have enriched the learning environment at UNC Kenan-Flagler and highlight his versatility and creative problem-solving skills.

Dan’s involvement in many different activities and leadership roles at UNC Kenan-Flagler underscore his value to his MBA class. As vice president of leadership and development in the Marketing Club, a career mentor, and a board member of the MBA Student Ambassadors, Dan exhibited strong leadership and mentorship qualities. His initiative in creating the Carolina Casual Comedy Show at UNC Kenan-Flagler not only brought entertainment and a sense of community to the campus but also showcased Dan’s innovative thinking and ability to engage people with diverse interests. His role in organizing such a successful event reflects his exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, making him a standout member of his class.

Moreover, Dan’s academic pursuits, such as his interest in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence in Business, and Improv for Business, indicate the Dan has a unique mindset. These interests, combined with his professional achievements and aspiration to contribute to the arts and education, show Dan is not just focused on his personal growth but is also keen on making meaningful contributions to society. His selection of UNC for its community-oriented culture and his appreciation for the supportive environment it offered further illustrate his alignment with the values of teamwork and collaboration. All these factors collectively made Dan an invaluable and memorable member of the UNC MBA Class of 2024.

On a personal note, I have really enjoyed having Dan in my classes. He’s extremely intelligent, friendly and (of course) has a great sense of humor. His thoughts and comments have always been on point and insightful. He’s just a wonderful and fun student to have in a course and it’s clear he’s both well-respected and appreciated by his peers.”

Mark McNeilly
Professor of the Practice of Marketing

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024