CHRIS FLEISHMAN

Financial Services

Director of Finance Portfolio Management & Optimization at Pfizer

“I wanted the name recognition of a top-20 MBA program.”

As an American living in Switzerland, I wanted an MBA degree from a U.S.-based school, because chances are, I’m either going to come back to the United States or work for an American multinational company in the future. I wanted the name recognition of a top-20 MBA program.

“The Kenan-Flagler approach is extremely team-oriented.”

The Kenan-Flagler approach is extremely team-oriented. Through the assignments, my professors very much encourage teamwork. Whenever I need to ask for help, whether it’s of a professor or a fellow student, the response is collegial and open.

In a virtual classroom or in person, you want to do your best and you definitely want to contribute. You want to add value, but not in a way that’s uber competitive. I think that lends itself to making the class much bigger than the sum of its parts.

“If it were just finance people, it would get kind of boring.”

I think it’s awesome that I am meeting so many people from such diverse backgrounds. We have musicians here. We have rocket scientists (really!). We have doctors. This diversity enriches the fabric of the student body and I’m all for that. If it were just finance people, it would get kind of boring.

Student & Alumni Profiles ▸