Michael Patrick
MBA concentration: Corporate Finance
Background
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, University of Georgia 2003
Professionally, I have worked for three vastly different companies. I started out my career at Wells Fargo Financial as a credit manager developing mortgage and auto loans. While working for this Fortune 500 company, I learned the art of selling, marketing, and negotiations. I left Wells Fargo to pursue a management role with a small minority owned firm called Anasteel & Supply Company. Anasteel fabricates steel that is placed inside of bridges, highways, and condos. Through this role I developed my leadership skills, customer relationship management, and team building ability. The combination of these two roles served me well as I started my own company, The Patrick Center for Sports. My company provided high level sport specific training. This venture was by far the most rewarding because I was able to start the business from scratch and see it grow.
Career goals
My goal is to lead a dynamic organization that competes at the highest level in its industry.
Your internship:
I interned at Coca-Cola during the summer of 2009. I worked with the DASANI brand management team. The opportunity with Coke allowed me to learn from one the world’s greatest companies. My project required me to develop a strategy to differentiate DASANI from its competitors through the use of Coke’s strategic properties. My analytical skills and creative thinking were enhanced immensely through the internship experience.
A tidbit about your personal life that you do not mind sharing
I love the TV show 30 Rock. My wonderful wife, Ashley, bought me the first three seasons of the show on DVD. Graciously, she puts up with me watching the DVD’s every night as we fall asleep. I can be a pretty serious person and I find that watching the show reminds me to laugh every day.
Why you chose Kenan-Flagler
I chose Kenan-Flagler because its MBA program offered the three core elements I was looking for in my MBA. 1- a strong finance concentration: The finance faculty and courses at KFBS are amazing 2- an international experience: I enrolled in a Global Immersion Elective that allowed me to visit 10 companies in Brasil over the span of two weeks. The experience was life changing 3- leadership development opportunity: The leadership initiative at KFBS has given me the tools to effect change and motivate people within an organization. The UNC-Kenan-Flagler MBA program provided more opportunity for real & simulated learning of critical behavioral skills.
Student life
I am the president of the MBA Student Association which means that I am charged with setting the vision, objectives, and strategy for our 37 student run clubs. The clubs are divided into three types: career development, diversity, and activities. The opportunity to serve the Kenan-Flagler students in this capacity has been a tremendous honor. My classmates are passionate about the clubs they join and they inspire me strive for excellence.
Your second year as a MBA
My second year at Kenan-Flagler has been a wonderful ride. My schedule is full of classes that explore the subjects I am most interest in. I have had the chance to implement a few initiatives to help the school advance. Lastly, I have received a full-time job offer from Goldman Sachs to work in private wealth management. Receiving Goldman’s offer is definitely a tribute to the learning environment at Kenan-Flagler. The school prepared me extremely well both in the classroom and in the career management office. The resources made available to students are remarkable.
Your Kenan-Flagler and Consortium Network
"The passion that alumni have for the business school never ends and it’s one of the things that makes the recruitment program so strong. The consortium network from KFBS doesn’t just talk about supporting students, they live it. Every call or email to UNC Consortium alums has resulted in a helpful and positive response.
Background
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, University of Georgia 2003
Professionally, I have worked for three vastly different companies. I started out my career at Wells Fargo Financial as a credit manager developing mortgage and auto loans. While working for this Fortune 500 company, I learned the art of selling, marketing, and negotiations. I left Wells Fargo to pursue a management role with a small minority owned firm called Anasteel & Supply Company. Anasteel fabricates steel that is placed inside of bridges, highways, and condos. Through this role I developed my leadership skills, customer relationship management, and team building ability. The combination of these two roles served me well as I started my own company, The Patrick Center for Sports. My company provided high level sport specific training. This venture was by far the most rewarding because I was able to start the business from scratch and see it grow.
Career goals
My goal is to lead a dynamic organization that competes at the highest level in its industry.
Your internship:
I interned at Coca-Cola during the summer of 2009. I worked with the DASANI brand management team. The opportunity with Coke allowed me to learn from one the world’s greatest companies. My project required me to develop a strategy to differentiate DASANI from its competitors through the use of Coke’s strategic properties. My analytical skills and creative thinking were enhanced immensely through the internship experience.
A tidbit about your personal life that you do not mind sharing
I love the TV show 30 Rock. My wonderful wife, Ashley, bought me the first three seasons of the show on DVD. Graciously, she puts up with me watching the DVD’s every night as we fall asleep. I can be a pretty serious person and I find that watching the show reminds me to laugh every day.
Why you chose Kenan-Flagler
I chose Kenan-Flagler because its MBA program offered the three core elements I was looking for in my MBA. 1- a strong finance concentration: The finance faculty and courses at KFBS are amazing 2- an international experience: I enrolled in a Global Immersion Elective that allowed me to visit 10 companies in Brasil over the span of two weeks. The experience was life changing 3- leadership development opportunity: The leadership initiative at KFBS has given me the tools to effect change and motivate people within an organization. The UNC-Kenan-Flagler MBA program provided more opportunity for real & simulated learning of critical behavioral skills.
Student life
I am the president of the MBA Student Association which means that I am charged with setting the vision, objectives, and strategy for our 37 student run clubs. The clubs are divided into three types: career development, diversity, and activities. The opportunity to serve the Kenan-Flagler students in this capacity has been a tremendous honor. My classmates are passionate about the clubs they join and they inspire me strive for excellence.
Your second year as a MBA
My second year at Kenan-Flagler has been a wonderful ride. My schedule is full of classes that explore the subjects I am most interest in. I have had the chance to implement a few initiatives to help the school advance. Lastly, I have received a full-time job offer from Goldman Sachs to work in private wealth management. Receiving Goldman’s offer is definitely a tribute to the learning environment at Kenan-Flagler. The school prepared me extremely well both in the classroom and in the career management office. The resources made available to students are remarkable.
Your Kenan-Flagler and Consortium Network
"The passion that alumni have for the business school never ends and it’s one of the things that makes the recruitment program so strong. The consortium network from KFBS doesn’t just talk about supporting students, they live it. Every call or email to UNC Consortium alums has resulted in a helpful and positive response.