Iza Noor, UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class of 2023
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Undergraduate Institution and Major: McMaster University, Chemical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6 years; Energy, Oil and Gas. I spent the past 6 years in the oil and gas sector, working in various engineering roles including Operations, Project Management and Supply Coordinating. While I enjoyed the troubleshooting and technical problem solving that comes with working in the sector, I was ready for a change.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I realized that an MBA would help build my business acumen and offer me the necessary tools to help charge my career forward. Primarily, I was looking to make a career switch from engineering to finance and wanted to formally build a toolkit. Now that I am here and have seen the opportunities and doors this degree opens, I wish I had it done it earlier!
Why did you choose UNC Kenan-Flagler? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I was drawn to the friendly and collaborative culture that exists at UNC Kenan-Flagler – being Canadian these values really resonated with me! I reached out to the current students early in the application process and was surprised by how helpful they were. I could pick up on the collaborative culture as the students were more than willing to connect me to other students, and every student was just as friendly and helpful as the one before. The culture, coupled with the school’s strong corporate finance concentration, and approachable faculty, solidified my choice.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
I am excited to be the Diversity and Inclusion liaison within the Investment Banking Club. I feel that many people are unaware about the many diversity focused MBA recruiting opportunities, which exist within investment banking and other industries. I want to raise more awareness around these processes to improve diversity recruiting, specifically within investment banking.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
My husband and I (like many millennials) adopted a Maltese puppy, named Louis, in the middle of the lockdown last year. He is the absolute baby of the family and enjoys repping the Tar Heel jersey (very well)!
Post-MBA career interests:
I am interested in pursuing a career in finance, specifically within investment banking. Attending Forte FAST helped solidify this interest. I would advise any Forte Fellow interested in finance to attend the Forte FAST conference, which is held early in the summer before the MBA program starts. The conference gives a lot of information around different finance careers and gives exposure to other females in the industry and many recruiters.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
– One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reaching out to different students at the school to carry out conversations around their experiences was the most enjoyable and rewarding part of the process. This is an opportunity to pick these students’ brains so that you can start forming a picture about what you want out of your own MBA experience.
– One thing you would change or do differently?
Doubting myself was a huge part of my application process and now that I look back, I wonder why I did at all. It is easy to feel like you are not good enough for these schools, but the admissions officers are looking for the most diverse class and everyone brings a unique perspective, which is important to keep in mind.
– Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Coming from Canada, the U.S. school application process was unfamiliar to me. I was unsure how to navigate the numerous components, which make up the MBA application – from essays to standardized scores to connecting with students. I took it one step at a time and stayed extremely organized, which helped me push through.
What is your initial impression of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s students/culture/community?
Being a Dean’s Fellow, my first impression of UNC Kenan-Flagler was going to a retreat with the other Dean’s Fellows and doing team building activities together. I was blown away by this select group of 30 individuals. It only got better from there. Once I met the other 270 students, I realized that every single person brought something very interesting to the table. The students came from all walks of life and were truly spectacular in their previous careers before deciding to come back to pursue their MBA. As far as community goes, I had heard about the “Carolina Way,” but did not really understand what this meant. I realize now that the sense of community and belonging is extremely strong, and everyone can fit in within this community. This sense of community extends into the alumni network, who are more than willing to go out of their way for you and ensure that you are successful.
One thing you have learned about UNC Kenan-Flagler that has surprised you?
I was surprised by how much math, specifically algebra, I have been doing in business school. Even though I worked as an engineer, I had not pulled out my calculator in years! My biggest word of advice is to make sure to brush up on basic mathematics skills, it will help a lot.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
Due to COVID-19, I was not able to visit the schools that I was applying to. I would not have made a different choice, but it is so important to visit the school, meet the students in person, and take in where you will be for the next two years of life. I did visit Chapel Hill, after the fact, and was glad to know it’s a great place to be. Hopefully, as things open, there will more in person events for prospective students to visit.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am always anxious that I might not be taking full advantage of all the unique opportunities that an MBA provides. UNC Kenan-Flagler, along with the other top business schools, give students access to the best peers, amazing companies, and many opportunities to learn and grow from. The unfortunate part is that there is only so many hours in the day to be able to make the most out of all of this.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited about being in a geographical location so far out of my comfort zone. The Southern weather is charming and is a nice break from the grueling Canadian winters, that is for sure!
