The Diversified Side of Finance
The Carolina Union’s Business & Finance team is a shining example of how diversity contributes to the success of an organization.
People often think of finance as strictly an analytical and left-brained exercise, where spreadsheets populated with numbers and data are the only output that really matters. Fortunately, the Carolina Union’s Business & Finance team proves that conventional understanding of their work is a misconception as they approach their jobs with empathy, creativity, and a knack for problem-solving.
This people-centered approach stems from the team’s diversity, as its members come from various ethnic, racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds, and represent Arab, African, Asian, European, and Indigenous heritage. The Business & Finance team members are Amber Ali, Hala Hanna, Yolanda Jefferson, and student employee Kush Sethi. In addition to English, their team collectively speaks four languages: Arabic, Hindi, Fiji Hindi, and Urdu.
Having such distinct and varied backgrounds provides unique perspectives and viewpoints, which contribute to the deeper understanding of topics, and provide creative and innovative solutions. It also helps them connect with the diverse UNC student community, where 800+ student organizations are represented by cultures and ethnicities from all over the world. Student employee Kush Sethi state, “The diversity of this office is great because it allows us to experience all corners of the world.”
The team provides a fantastic display of how staff from multiple cultures, backgrounds, and faiths work together in a respectful and harmonious environment. Apart from having a positive impact on customer service, it also promotes inclusivity and assists in collaboration within the Union. This has an impact on the Union’s culture that goes far beyond analysis of its financial outlook.
“The diversity in our office helps us be empathetic, and contribute in ways that are unexpected,” said Ali, who is Business & Finance Director. For example, Ali has helped lead the Union’s development of a Culture of Respect Statement, which emphasizes inclusivity, fairness, and community building.
The team contributes to the culture of the Union by bringing worldly experiences to the building, which contributes to fun and camaraderie among Union staff.
“Through our travel and our personal experiences, we have developed softer skills and open-mindedness that we all bring to the Union,” Ali said. “It helps us contribute beyond dollars and cents.”
New Addition to a Union Family
On October 20, 2021, Berengére Phillips, Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and her husband, Jason, welcomed their son Benton Adrian-Deyn Phillips. Brenton was born at 12:49 pm and was 20 ¾ inches long and weighed 7lbs 15oz. Brenton, Mom, and Dad are doing well, and big sister Scarlett is STILL running the show!
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And the Winner is…
On November 17th at 7 pm in the FPG Carolina Union Great Hall, Fraternity & Sorority Life Staff and Student Leaders will be recognizing their student leaders, chapters, and community supporters at the 2021 Fraternity & Sorority Life Recognition Ceremony.
During the ceremony, they will also formally recognize their Spring and Fall 2021 Order of Omega Inductees, along with their Fall 2021 recognition application winners, and the efforts of community supporters. They are looking forward to a wonderful evening celebrating the successes of their community leaders and partners!
Applications are Open!
The Application for the 2025 cohort of the NC Fellows Program opened on November 3 and will remain open through January 14.
Founded in 1967, the mission of the North Carolina Fellows Program is to reimagine traditional understandings of leadership by engaging in meaningful dialogue, creating a supportive community, increasing self-awareness amongst its members, and encouraging positive change.
The NC Fellows Program selects 25 first-year students per year to embark on a unique leadership development journey during their time at Carolina that includes both curricular and co-curricular components.
The link to apply is: https://go.unc.edu/NCFellows2025
You are Appreciated
On October 29, the Carolina Union celebrated its first “Client Appreciation Day” in the West Lounge. The momentous occasion was marked by approximately 300 guests to the Union spinning the prize wheel and winning prizes. The prizes ranged from Halloween-themed treat bags to fanny packs to Carolina Forever t-shirts. To go along with the prizes were music, fun, and lots of smiles. Bonita Brown, Carolina Union Guest Services Manager and one of the event organizers, said, “It felt like coming back home from a long absence.”
“Client Appreciation Day” is not a one-time event. There will be more coming in the future. Noelle Oxboel, Union Operations Manager and another organizer of the event, stated “The people that use the Union are the reason we are here. There is no Union without them, so it is important that we show our appreciation. We are the center of campus and campus life, and we want everyone that walks through our doors to feel welcome and to know we are glad they are here.”
*If your department would like to partner with the committee for an upcoming appreciation day, please contact one of the committee members.