Beginning the Journey
In mid-January, I took part in the UNC Kenan-Flagler immersion week for the Weekend Class of 2011. When I arrived at the Paul J. Rizzo Conference Center and I was surrounded by a group of people who had the similar deer in the headlight look, I knew I was in the right place.
I started this new experience like any other – I was excited to finally start my journey but I needed to find answers to some very important questions. Is this really going to take 20 months? How many UNC basketball games would I be able to go to? Are we really going to use all these books? How was the food going to be? My journey merited further exploration…
Like an announcer at a sporting event, day one was kicked off with the booming voice of Associate Dean Hugh O’Neill welcoming us to the Class of 2011. He had our attention and we began the orientation process. We learned about the rich history of UNC Kenan-Flagler and the faculty encouraged us to think about how we could make the most of our two years. Alumni urged us to express our point of view and listen to students who offered a different perspective. Dean James Dean told us to take advantage of — and contribute to the Kenan-Flagler collaborative culture. The best part was finally getting to meet the 57 strangers that comprised our class. As each of us gave snippets of who we were and what we do for our professions, I was amazed by how many years of experience and how diverse a group they had brought together.
Day two quickly answered the question of when we would start using that big box of books that got delivered before the holidays. We jumped right in and each professor after the next were so passionate and excited to enlighten us with their course material. From case studies to binomial probability to cash flows, I quickly found out from my classmates that I was not alone in feeling a bit overwhelmed. It was at this point that I felt a sense of relief when I realized that we were in this together and that we would be teaching each other and learning as a group.
The rest of the week included team building exercises that took us all out of our comfort zones and accelerated the process of getting to know everyone. Each exercise seemed impossible in the beginning but we quickly realized that collectively we could overcome any challenge they threw at us. I’m especially grateful for this experience to finally find out that my body (let’s just say I could lose a few pounds and the delicious food all week wasn’t helping) could be lifted by a group of people six feet off the ground and fed through a three foot hole without touching the sides. I didn’t see physics in the curriculum but I’m sure you won’t find this law in any textbook.
By the end of the immersion week, I realized I still had a lot of questions but the most important question was answered. I knew I had made the right choice by choosing UNC Kenan-Flagler. I may not have time to go to any UNC basketball games but I knew I was embarking on a special journey with 56 new friends.
I was quite impressed with the amount of effort the whole staff devoted to us and our individual development. It was easy to notice that here they really care about our growth and development as leaders. The immersion week made me confident about the decision I had made. UNC Kenan-Flagler was the right place for me.
Marcos (Weekend MBA 2011)
I had absolutely no idea what to expect of Immersion Week. But with or without expectations, it was more than I could ever imagined. It was intense but immensely interesting, formative and entertaining. Everyone commented on the incredible level of service and detail delivered that week. We also realized that the Business Week polls were accurate. Not only does UNC have one of the best EMBA progams in country, the professors are the most inspiring that I have ever encountered. If class time wasn’t enough, we spent endless hours forming lifetime friendships. The most exciting part is the fact that 56 people with the same drive and determination, have embarked on this journey together.
Immersion week was a truly amazing experience!
Maria, Weekend MBA 2011
There was a point halfway through Immersion Week, I did not think that I would make it but I did. Like my classmates, I am convinced that the UNC EMBA program is the right decision for me. I find myself regretting that I did not do this sooner in my career. The staff is amazaing, Not only are the professors impressive but they actually make learning fun. Just since Immersion Week, I have grown tremendously. In my everyday interactions with my boss, superiors, and team, I am looking for new ways to interface with them and apply the strategy and techniques that we have learned thus far. This is a journey that will impact all of us for the better.