Pivotal Moment      

M.S. in Management Ambassador Ta-Halia Fairman explains how the program has changed the trajectory of her life. 

After earning my undergraduate degree in Health Systems Management from UNC Charlotte, I made the decision to pursue an M.S. in Management through the Belk College of Business. This has undoubtedly been the best decision I have made when it comes to my career path and personal growth. The opportunities that the Belk College of Business provides all its graduate students and the experiences that I have personally been afforded through my program are truly astonishing.  

First, the Belk College of Business organizes and encourages students to attend numerous events outside of class. These help build meaningful connections with working professionals from a wide variety of companies in the area. My favorite has been the Women in Business networking event. It was tremendously inspiring to be surrounded by so many women poised to take on the business world. 

The Belk College of Business also fosters an environment where students feel empowered to connect with faculty, staff and peer mentors and coaches. Some of these relations grow organically and others are formal parts of the curriculum. The M.S. in Management, for example, has a career coach, Robin Boswell. Receiving one on one coaching and being able to go to her for advice at any point during the year has significantly improved my confidence, networking skills and overall professionalism.   

Furthermore, the support my classmates and I have received from the Belk College of Business extends well beyond academics and job placement. The faculty and staff go out of their way to make sure each student feels welcomed and appreciated. Several times over the past year we’ve received gifts and other tokens to let us know that we are a valued part of a caring community. It is an example of what every academic setting should be like. 

Finally, as a graduate program ambassador, I’ve had the privilege to connect with undergraduate students that are just like me before I started the M.S. in Management program. Getting to explain to them how the Belk College of Business provides access to a huge Business Niner alumni network, career coaching, and opportunities to form lifelong professional and personal connections with peers has opened my eyes to just how much this program has changed the trajectory of my life. I am tremendously grateful for this opportunity and would strongly encourage anyone considering graduate school to choose the Belk College of Business.