From Experience to Leadership: Why I Chose the M.S. in Management

By Eliza Lastovetska ’27

When I decided to pursue my M.S. in Management at UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business, I wasn’t looking for a completely new career path. I wanted something that would help me grow within the path I was already building.

Before beginning graduate school, I had years of professional experience and had taken on significant responsibilities in a business environment. I knew what it was like to manage day-to-day operations, work with people, solve unexpected problems and make decisions that affected more than just myself.

Experience also taught me how much more there was to learn.

I wanted to understand the “why” behind some of the decisions I was making. I wanted to strengthen my knowledge of leadership, management, analytics and the different areas of business that come together when you’re responsible for an organization. That was one of the biggest reasons the M.S. in Management program stood out to me.

Bringing the Classroom Into My Career

One of the most valuable parts of graduate school has been connecting what I’m learning to situations I’ve already experienced professionally.

When we discuss leadership, teamwork, decision-making or organizational behavior in class, I don’t see them only as concepts in a textbook. I find myself thinking about conversations I’ve had, challenges I’ve faced and decisions I’ve made at work.

Sometimes a class confirms something I learned through experience. Other times, it completely changes the way I look at a situation.

That connection has made graduate school feel much more meaningful. I’m not pursuing a degree simply to add another credential to my résumé. I want to leave the program as a more thoughtful and capable leader.

Becoming More Involved

Something I didn’t fully expect when starting graduate school was how much I would grow outside the classroom.

Becoming a Graduate Programs Ambassador has given me the opportunity to represent the Belk College of Business, meet prospective students and become more involved in the graduate community. Speaking with students who are considering graduate school brings me full circle — especially when they’re asking the same questions I once did.

I’ve learned that some of the most valuable opportunities begin simply by showing up, introducing yourself and being willing to get involved.

Graduate school can become much more than attending class, completing assignments and earning a degree. It can also be a place to build relationships, challenge yourself and discover what kind of professional you want to become.

You Don’t Have to Have Everything Figured Out

If I could tell a prospective graduate student one thing, it would be that you don’t need to have your entire future mapped out before you begin.

You can enter graduate school with experience and still have a lot to learn. You can know where you want to go professionally while still discovering new things about yourself along the way.

That has been one of the biggest lessons of my experience so far.

I came into the M.S. in Management program wanting to strengthen the skills I could bring back into my professional life. What I’ve found is an experience that is also pushing me to become more confident, more involved and more intentional about the kind of leader I want to be.

And I’m still learning — which is exactly why I’m here.