Geard Fossett, UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class of 2024
Age: 28
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Pittsburgh Major: Sociology, Minor: Spanish (Graduated May 2016); The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) (Graduated May 2018)
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 4 years of work experience, healthcare administration; Worked in large academic medical centers: Durham VA Medical Center, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and most recently the Mayo Clinic.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Healthcare is what I’m passionate about, it’s what I see myself doing long-term in some way, shape, or form. I have my Master in Healthcare Administration (MHA), which I think did a phenomenal job of giving me a comprehensive understanding of how healthcare works overall in the United States. However, my MHA was also heavily focused on the nonprofit side of the business and my work experience so far was only in hospitals. I wanted to get a broader look at healthcare, specifically the for-profit side of healthcare, as well as expose myself to a variety of other industries so I can diversify the experiences I will ultimately bring back to healthcare.
Why did you choose UNC Kenan-Flagler? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Carolina has always had a special place in my heart. I loved my time here as an MHA, and when I decided I wanted to go back to school, I couldn’t imagine myself going anywhere else. I’m from North Carolina, so continuing my education in a state and at a school that has already given me so much really means a lot to me. When I was looking at MBA programs, I really liked how UNC Kenan-Flagler’s was structured as well as the experiential learning opportunities in addition to the organizations and opportunities that graduates were able to transition into after graduation. I knew UNC Kenan-Flagler was the place I needed to be.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
I think my most valuable contribution to the class is my willingness and desire to learn from everyone while being open to sharing my own experiences. Another reason I was very excited to go back to school was to be surrounded by talented people from a variety of different industries and learn from their experiences as well as share my own. Class discussions are always captivating because everyone has done so much.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have been chased by a black bear and came out unharmed!
Post-MBA career interests:
General management consulting, pharma, health tech, but I’m also extremely open to any other opportunities I may discover. One of the best parts about business school is that there is always a chance to learn about something new!
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Talk to as many people as possible. Between coffee chats with students and alumni, webinars for UNC, and for the Consortium. Talking to people who worked in the jobs I could see myself working in. I think that is what I would absolutely repeat. It gave me such insight into the community at UNC Kenan-Flagler.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently? 
I would have spent more time understanding the recruitment timelines and narrowing down the companies I am interested in working at. Recruiting comes very quickly, especially if you do early recruiting in the summer. There are so many great companies out there so being decisive becomes important.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The standardized testing aspect, because I ultimately didn’t submit my scores for admission. I got through the entire MBA admission process just knowing that graduating with my MBA will be worth the hard work in the end.
What is your initial impression of the UNC Kenan-Flagler students/culture/community?
It has been very positive. I really love how I am able to feel like a part of the UNC Kenan-Flagler community and the UNC community at large as well. My classmates are great, and the faculty and staff have been wonderful. It has been a great experience and I am looking forward to my time here.
What is one thing you have learned about UNC Kenan-Flagler that has surprised you?
How many people are dual degrees or have another advanced degree. It’s been extremely interesting to hear my classmates’ reasons for why they came back and what they are doing with both degrees.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Finding time to fully explore everything that I’m interested in. Between classes, recruitment efforts, clubs and trying to maintain a life outside of school, there are so many opportunities and but only so much time!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
To be a student again. After taking four years off I realized how much I missed school.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
Significantly. I worked in the hospital throughout the pandemic. To see the stress of everyone working, including my own, and watching our healthcare system completely break down was a huge reason why I applied when I applied. I got furloughed for the better part of 2020 as a direct result of the pandemic like many other hospital workers. It gave me a lot of extra time to reflect on what I wanted out of my career. I decided that I wanted to increase my exposure to new people and ideas, continue to build up my network, sharpen my financial acumen and ultimately expand my capabilities.
