Belk College Graduate Student Ambassadors enjoy interacting with potential new students — like you!— and can help answer questions about the program.
Please reach out directly to the Ambassador if there is anything you would like to learn about the Online MBA program at UNC Charlotte.
2023-2024 Online MBA Ambassador: Jade Hanafin
Program (Full-Time, Part-Time): Part-Time
Concentration/Area of Emphasis: Business Finance
Current Employer: Mann+Hummel
Position: Supply Chain Project Manager
Anticipated Graduation: May 2024
Previous Institutions and Degrees: UNC Asheville - Management / Accounting
Favorite Place in Charlotte: Lucky Dog Bark & Brew
Hometown: Belmont, NC
Dream Job: CFO
Why did you choose the Belk College of Business over others?: I chose UNC Charlotte’s online MBA program because of the flexibility to take classes on my own time while also working full time. I also love that I can choose a self-structured concentration that can cater to my career goals and focus on business topics that I want to learn more about. Many of the classes in this curriculum build on my knowledge from my undergraduate studies along with what I have been learning in the workforce.
What has been the best part of your academic experience so far?: Within my first few weeks of school the Career Center offered to provide a new headshot and advice on how to spruce up my resume and Linkedin. They provide so many opportunities to network with big companies in Charlotte and are there every step of the way.
WHY THE CHARLOTTE ONLINE MBA
Jade Hanafin, Online MBA Ambassador, reflects on what drew her to the program.
When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in 2017, I thought I wanted to go straight to graduate school. I took the GRE, spruced up my resume, and attended information sessions for graduate schools that interested me. Then I landed my first job as an accountant, and I began to let the idea of graduate school slip away. The day-to-day of maintaining a full-time job, having a social life, and volunteering made it easy to become complacent. It wasn’t until I learned that UNC Charlotte was introducing an online MBA program that I made it a priority to apply.
Below are the top 3 reasons why the Charlotte online MBA was the right fit for me and my career goals:
Flexibility
The online MBA is a fully asynchronous program. This means that classes can be taken anytime and anywhere. One reason I put off pursuing my master’s was because I knew it would be hard rearranging my schedule to commute to campus two times a week. With the online MBA program, going to class is as simple as connecting to Wi-Fi and turning on my computer.
You can also tailor your class load in a way that best fits your lifestyle. If you have a very busy schedule then you can take as few as one class a semester. On the other hand, if you are trying to complete the program quickly, you can take on a heavier load and be done in as little as 3 semesters.
Enhanced networking opportunities
An MBA helps you build better leadership skills, but it also helps you build a broader professional network. With the online MBA you have access to all the same UNC Charlotte career center services as the students in their in-person programs. These include resume writing, interview tips, and their professional clothing closet. One unique advantage of an online MBA is the increased opportunity for diversity when it comes to networking. Since anyone can pursue this program from around the world, you may have classmates who are living and working in other countries. This perk provides access to job networking and perspectives you would not otherwise have.
Bigger sense of community
Before I started, I was nervous that the program would not have the same collegial feel as in-person classes. I was completely wrong. The professors and students find creative ways to compensate for not being face-to-face. Fellow students chat in a GroupMe to share experiences, talk about assignments, and get to know everyone on a personal level. Professors give plenty of opportunities to make themselves available by holding weekly virtual office hours. Additionally, I work with the other graduate program ambassadors to host a social event each semester for both online and in-person students. We plan to also schedule a Zoom event for students who are not local.
I hope that by sharing my experiences I have inspired other busy working professionals to stop putting off graduate school until “someday” and make it a priority to apply for the Charlotte Online MBA today!