After starting her career as an engineer, Harmonie Jacobson (UNC Kenan-Flagler, ‘20) decided to go to business school to build leadership and management skills. During her search process, Jacobson used her goals and criteria to identify the right program for her, which led her to Chapel Hill, North Carolina and UNC Kenan-Flagler. During this interview, Jacobson shared her criteria for selecting an MBA program, the various programs, resources and experiences at UNC Kenan-Flagler that have enriched her MBA Experience, and her advice about how admitted MBA students can select the right MBA Program.
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
Before business school, I served in a few different engineering/technical roles. I started in Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Operations Leadership Development Program, where I rotated through four different groups (Supply Planning, Distribution/Logistics, Program Management, and Manufacturing) in two years. Then, I joined a smaller biotech company, Illumina, and became their first Industrial Engineer, supporting consumables manufacturing for their DNA sequencing/genotyping instrumentation.
After serving as a program manager for a global project to significantly scale manufacturing capacity in their San Diego and Singapore locations, I was promoted to Sr. Process Development Engineer. I supported a new product introduction on their microarray platform. Although I learned a lot in all of these technical/operations-focused roles, I always knew that I wanted to go to business school to round out my skill set and prepare myself to lead teams. I was introduced to the MBA through Forte during undergrad, so it was really just a matter of finding the right time and program.
MBASchooled: What were the big questions you considered in your decision about which school to attend?
- Will I feel a sense of belonging and will I get along with my classmates?
- Will this business school get me to where I want to go in my post-MBA career and on a path of least resistance?
- Is the school recognized for healthcare, technology, marketing and/or entrepreneurship? (I know….I had–and still have–a lot of interests.)
- Is this a school that will accept both me and my partner? (Note: Me and my partner were applying to b-school together, which definitely added an extra layer of complexity.)
- Is the school located somewhere I would like to spend two years of my life?
- Am I going to have fun?
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend UNC Kenan-Flagler?
I felt a sense of belonging with UNC Kenan-Flagler during every step of the admissions process, from the moment I talked to an admissions representative at a Forte Forum to the time that I stepped foot on campus for my visit to Experience Weekend (the admitted student weekend at Kenan-Flagler). To put things into perspective, I still keep in touch with two of the people that I met during my campus visit as a prospective student before I even applied to the school.
Once accepted, I was receiving phone calls and emails from current students who were willing to answer all of my questions. I started making friends at Experience Weekend before I officially decided to come to Kenan-Flagler. Although my husband and I obviously got into the program on our own merits, Kenan-Flagler was one of few schools that was truly accepting and excited about the fact that we were embarking on the MBA journey together. I was also very excited about the program’s Healthcare Enrichment Concentration (and relevant programming through their Center for the Business of Health). Chapel Hill and the surrounding RTP area are also frequently underrated. There’s great food, lots of open outdoor space, beautiful weather, and an amazing cost of living.
MBASchooled: What about the culture and classmates stood out to you about UNC Kenan-Flagler?
UNC Kenan-Flagler is an extremely supportive environment and a true community. Although many of us are type-A personalities who love some friendly competition, I was really looking for a place where I could grow my leadership skills without fear of being judged. There were many things that stood out to me about Kenan-Flagler from the get-go, but one that stands out is the experience I had while sitting in on a class session. Instead of being summoned to the back of the classroom, my student ambassador introduced me to the professor, and the professor invited me to introduce myself to the class. I was also invited to participate in class and ask questions. This was completely different from the experience I had at other schools.
MBASchooled: What resources, programs or information were helpful to you in making your decision?
- Forte MBALaunch
- Speaking with current students and alumni
- Visiting campus
- Admitted Student Weekend
- Blog posts and articles
MBASchooled: How has Kenan-Flagler helped you work toward your own career goals and aspirations?
I’ve been able to grow intellectually, professionally, and personally through my time at Kenan-Flagler. Given my educational background in engineering, Kenan-Flagler’s core gave me the ability to finally learn all of the Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Strategy, etc., fields that I had never studied prior to b-school. I’ve also been able to take some really valuable courses in analytics, organizational behavior, entrepreneurship, and D&I that will help me be more specialized and serve as a well-rounded leader.
Through my time serving in club roles (including President of Carolina Women in Business), I have now had the opportunity to lead teams and drive positive change in the business community around D&I. The knowledge I’ve gained from these experiences is directly translatable to my post-MBA career.
MBASchooled: What parts or aspects of the academic experience attracted you to UNC Kenan-Flagler?
UNC Kenan-Flagler has a rigorous core program that is front-loaded into the fall of your first-year, and then you have a lot of flexibility to take several electives in the spring before entering your summer internship. Additionally, the module system is really nice because you can take a wider variety of classes (up to 12) within a semester. Kenan-Flagler also has AMAZING professors that are teaching some really innovative classes.
The program is always listening to students’ interests and adapting quickly. For example, I had the opportunity to take a new Python for Business Analytics Class last fall (which is now part of their STEM-certified Business Analytics & Management Science concentration), and I will also be taking a one-day seminar course on COVID-19 in a few weeks.
MBASchooled: What has been a surprise, or an unexpected element of your experience at UNC Kenan-Flagler?
Well, I can certainly say that we’ve faced some adversity during these past two years. Our Class of 2020 unfortunately had a classmate tragically pass away during the fall of our first semester. While I didn’t know this person very well, I had classmates/friends that were very directly impacted. Although words can’t describe how tough this experience was, I will say that I believe it brought our class closer together and prompted many of us to challenge our priorities and find ways to make a lasting impact on the Kenan-Flagler community. My classmates are continuing to find ways to stay connected, even during this challenging time with COVID-19. While we can’t be together in person during our last module before graduating, we’re still hosting events and staying connected virtually.
MBASchooled: What’s something you wish you knew more about before starting your MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler?
I wish I had done some more research into all of the ways to get involved before stepping foot on campus! I generally knew which clubs I was interested in, but there are ways to get involved with research, entrepreneurship, case competitions, internships and the list goes on and on. As a first-year student, these opportunities basically come barreling at you at 100 miles per hour all at the same time. It’s hard to keep track of everything, which can lead to people either signing up for way too many things or missing out/saying no to something that would have been super valuable. The more research that you can do ahead of time (such as talking to current students, conducting research online, and making prioritized lists of how you want to spend your time), the more prepared you will be to maximize your time and energy on the things that matter most.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are evaluating where they want to attend business school?
- Do your research – I talk to students both at UNC Kenan-Flagler and in other MBA programs who were blindsided by things that should have been really apparent through talking to current students and asking the right questions.
- Stay true to your own goals and aspirations – It’s really easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. Just because everyone else is doing *fill in the blank* doesn’t mean that’s what you should be doing. The great thing about an MBA is that it is highly customizable. If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, you may be looking in the wrong place, or maybe it’s up to you to be the person that changes the status quo.
- Follow your gut and your heart – It’s really easy to get hung up on things like school rankings or prestige. While these things may be important, I think it’s important to make a list of all the things that are important to you and find a place that checks as many of your boxes as possible.
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