Turning Tuition Benefits Into Momentum: One Professional’s MBA Journey
Connor Fagan doesn’t believe in dream jobs.
“I don’t have a dream job,” he says. “My passion is coaching, developing others, and being a strategic thought leader.”
That mindset has served him well as Senior Vice President of Consumer & Small Business Banking at Truist, and as a graduate of the UNC Charlotte MBA program, which he completed while climbing the corporate ladder and navigating newlywed life with his wife (who also got her MBA, but at a rival school).
Why UNC Charlotte?
Connor chose UNC Charlotte for its unbeatable combo: a Tier 1 research university, with business classes right in the heart of uptown Charlotte, with the flexibility to pursue an MBA part-time.
“The value proposition was clear,” he says. “It’s the biggest university in Charlotte with access to world-class resources, and it let me keep progressing in my career while earning my degree.”
As a liberal arts grad, Connor knew he had the critical thinking skills, but not the technical business foundation to thrive in the fast-paced world of financial services. UNC Charlotte helped bridge that gap.
“I wanted to continue to augment some of those thinking skills I developed in my undergrad with some of the business expertise that an MBA provides,” he said.
Tuition Benefits = Peace of Mind
Thanks to Truist’s employer tuition benefits, Connor was able to pursue his MBA without the financial stress.
“It gave me peace of mind, as well as the security knowing that I was supported in my aspirations, beyond just professional development,” he said.
Connor’s coursework wasn’t just theory. It directly impacted his day job. One standout? An elective in Innovation Design Thinking with Dr. John Tuders at UNC Charlotte’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
“It was amazing. We were learning how to identify client needs, conduct interviews, and design solutions. I was applying those same skills at work in a real-time consumer strategy initiative at Truist,” he says.
Other courses in finance, accounting, and economics also gave him immediate tools to analyze trends in the banking industry and connect the dots across business functions.
Since finishing his MBA, Connor says the biggest change hasn’t been in his title. It’s in how he sees the business.
“A mentor once described it like the evolution chart,” he says. “You start out looking down, focused on just what’s in front of you. But over time, you begin to lift your head and see more.”
As he’s grown, so has his perspective. He now understands how different parts of the organization work together, even areas outside his day-to-day role.
“It’s helped me get a more holistic 50-, 60,000-foot view,” he says. “When I started, it was more like 15,000 feet.”
Rhythm Over Balance
Balancing everything wasn’t easy. Connor and his wife got married just before starting their programs, and life didn’t slow down. Between work, school, and building a life together, the schedule was relentless, and the pressure to do it all was real.
“The hardest part was prioritizing myself,” he says. “You can always put more into work or school. But sometimes, you have to step back and realize it’s okay to go to the Whitewater Center, take a date night, and recharge. It’s not about work-life balance. It’s about rhythms.”
His Advice? Don’t Wait.
Connor’s advice to anyone considering an MBA at UNC Charlotte? Do it. Especially if you have access to tuition assistance.
Couple the price tag with a program that can flex with life’s changes, and you’ve got a smart, sustainable path to an MBA. “It lets you put your foot on the gas, or ease off when you need to,” Connor says. “I’ve really benefited from my time here and the experience.”