Alumni Success Stories

Brian Zarecky: Business Analyst at VF Corporation

After graduating from the Bryan MBA program in 2006, Brian Zarecky went to work for the Internal Audit Department at VF, spending most of his time on performance measurement and assisting with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance work. He also tracks the results and action plans from each audit that they conduct.

Brian says his MBA courses prepared him for his current position. “Since moving into my permanent position as an internal auditor, it’s hard to narrow the list down to just one or two courses. I thought that all of the courses from the strategic management core were important. The global operations course provided me with an understanding of the principles of supply chain management and the marketing coursework provided me with an understanding of brand management.”

So how did he end up with VF as a business analyst? He spent a lot of time with Bryan Graduate Career Services. The career counselors emphasize the importance of networking to all the students. “Whenever I would speak to them about my job search their question was not ‘how is the job search going?’ but instead they would ask ‘how was my networking going?’ They provided me with some starting points and from there I began to make connections.” It was through networking that he obtained an internship with VF and the internship later developed into a job offer for his current position.

Like many other graduates, Brian believes the faculty is the main strength of the Bryan MBA. “Unlike larger schools where the professors are primarily involved in research, the professors at UNCG are there to teach. If you are willing to dedicate yourself to your studies, the professors are willing to go to great lengths to help you develop essential business skills, expand your knowledge base, and ultimately to become a strategic thinker.”

Brian came to the day MBA program from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania with a degree in psychology. This past semester he completed a Post-Master’s Certificate in Financial Analysis at the Bryan School.

- July 2007