Naequan Jones
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MBA Concentration: General Management and Sustainable Enterprise
Background:
A Business major, I graduated from Wake Forest University in 2006; I worked at Wachovia (now part of Wells Fargo) for four years, most recently as a Risk Officer for the Global Financial Institutions Group within the Corporate and Investment Banking division.
Career goals:
In the short-term, I hope to further develop my leadership skills by working in corporate strategy or completing a general management rotational program for a major corporation. My long-term goal is to open a charter school so that I can work to close the achievement gap between minority and white students in the United States.
Why did you choose Kenan-Flagler?
I chose Kenan-Flagler because of its culture, which values a collaborative learning environment, mutual support, and close-knit bonds between students, faculty, and staff. Kenan-Flagler’s five core values (leadership, community, teamwork, excellence, and integrity) align with my personal values. Furthermore, the school’s emphasis on cultivating leaders (through its student-tailored Leadership Initiative) to add value professionally as well as in the community also resonates with me.
How will you define success within the MBA program?
I will define success not only by the coursework I complete in the classroom, but also by the extent to which I stretch myself through extracurricular activities within the MBA program. Business school is a time of personal and professional growth, and I hope to take on various leadership roles that will further my overall development. Lastly, I will define success based on the quality of relationships that I am able to cultivate with my colleagues while at Kenan-Flagler.
What are you looking to gain the most during your first year experience?
During my first year, I hope to develop further the quantitative, qualitative, and leadership skills (through the core curriculum and extracurricular activities) necessary for success during my summer internship and beyond. I also look forward to networking with as many of my classmates as possible; Kenan-Flagler has a very diverse student body, which I try to take advantage of on a daily basis.
What does Your Kenan-Flagler and Consortium Network mean to you?
My Kenan-Flagler and Consortium Networks represent two close-knit communities that will support me throughout the rest of my life. I will do everything I can to support UNC and the Consortium because they believed in me, and helped me achieve my goal of pursuing an MBA.
Who is someone in business that you admire the most?
I admire Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone. His pioneering work in education reform has become a national model for educating and mentoring poverty-stricken youth from the time they enter elementary school until they graduate from college and become working professionals.
What three words define who you are, and why?
Persistent: I am a hard-worker who always strives for excellence; I recognize that if I am to be successful, I must put forth 110% effort into everything that I do.
Genuine: As I look back over my life, I recognize that I would not be where I am today without the positive influences that so many people have had on my life. I sincerely believe that it is necessary for one to be his or her true self in order to build authentic relationships with others.
Curious: I am always eager to learn new things, interact with diverse groups of people, and expose myself to situations that challenge my personal and professional growth.
What is an interesting personal fact that you would like to share?
I am the first person in my immediate family to complete a Bachelor’s Degree. However, it is with immense pride I say that my mother has since received Associate Degrees in Education and Business, while my sister has received Associate Degrees in Business and Accounting. My sister is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.