At the intersection of ambition and achievement

Brittany Goble (MBA ’24) is passionate about the importance of education. This mindset drove her as a student growing up. It also motivated her to become a middle school teacher before pivoting her career to work with government agencies to help them improve accessibility for citizens.

And it was critical in her decision to pursue an MBA.

“I went into teaching to solve education problems but quickly realized that to make the level of impact I envisioned, I needed to go beyond a single classroom,” Goble says. “Through education, people are more empowered to achieve their goals. My story is a perfect example.”

While her new career in business consulting allowed her to help her clients optimize processes and increase revenue, Goble knew she needed something more to propel her toward her ultimate goal: landing a C-suite role by the age of 40.

“When I came across an advertisement for UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Charlotte Executive MBA Program on LinkedIn, it felt like the answer I’d been looking for,” Goble says. “The program offered the opportunity to earn a prestigious MBA without having to uproot my family or sacrifice my career. “The fact that it was local, flexible and designed for professionals managing full-time jobs made it exactly what I needed.”

But this opportunity was far from easy. With two young children at home and a demanding full-time job, Goble faced a considerable challenge. The new UNC Kenan-Flagler campus in Charlotte and the MBA program’s structure allowed her to stay close to home and keep her weekends (mostly) free for her family.

“Balancing the MBA with everything else in my life — work, family and personal time — was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she says. “The level of time management and discipline required to manage all of that teaches you a lot about yourself and helps crystallize what is most important to your goals for the future.”

Set up for success

For Goble, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Executive MBA Program wasn’t just an academic challenge — it was a transformative experience that provided her with the network, knowledge and leadership skills to move her career forward.

One of the standout experiences during the two-year program was participating in the UNC Kenan-Flagler STAR (Student Teams Achieving Results) Program. Goble transitioned from analyzing case studies in the classroom to tackling real-world business challenges.

“With the STAR Program, we got to live the case study,” Goble says. “We worked on forecasting for a material manufacturer, offering ideas on how to modernize their process for both the near and long term. It was rewarding to apply everything we’d been learning to a real business problem.”

Although her decision to pursue an executive MBA was driven by her long-term goals, it impacted her career much faster than she anticipated.

“While I was still working toward my degree, I landed my current role as capture director at ICF, a company that helps public and private sector clients navigate change,” Goble says. “I know that being in the MBA program helped me stand out in the interview process. It also gave me the confidence that I was prepared for this new role.”

A new network and a new perspective

Now, with her MBA degree from UNC Kenan-Flagler, Goble’s goal of reaching the C-suite by 40 no longer feels like a dream.

“I’m unapologetic about my goal to reach the C-suite, but before the MBA, it seemed ambitious and perhaps a little unrealistic,” she says. “Now, it feels achievable — UNC Kenan-Flagler gave me the tools, network and confidence to make it happen.”

While Goble credits the MBA program with sharpening her leadership skills, she knows the benefits of her degree extended far beyond classroom knowledge. The relationships she forged with her cohort and the broader UNC Kenan-Flagler network are crucial sources of support, both personally and professionally.

“The friendships I built in my cohort will stay with me for life. It’s more than just a degree — it’s a community that supports you,” Goble says. “UNC Kenan-Flagler made it possible to achieve a life-changing education while still living my life.”

Ready to discover what you can achieve? Explore how working professionals can pursue their Executive MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler’s new Charlotte campus.