Changing the Game

Nora Elsayed stands next to a brick wall In just her first two years at Carolina, Nora Elsayed ’25 has made it her mission to foster a more inclusive UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and work toward a business world that looks more like the world it serves.

She’s a leader in the Business School’s first Black Affinity Group. The Business School’s inaugural Black Women in Business event in February 2023 was her idea. She’s a member of the Minority Business Students Alliance and serves on the Community Equity and Inclusion Board for the Undergraduate Business Program.

Elsayed, a Kenan Scholar, is working on a program to expose the Business School to more low-income middle and high-school students who aim to be first-generation college students, like Elsayed herself.

Beyond academics, Elsayed is the founder of Evenin’ Out the Playing Field, a program to encourage more minority representation in white-dominated sports.

Evenin’ Out the Playing Field is inspired by her own time as one of the few Black players on her high school’s field hockey team.

At Evenin’ Out the Playing Field’s first free clinic in November 2022, the day after the Carolina women’s field hockey team won its 25th ACC title, about 30 children of color signed up to learn more about field hockey. They tried on equipment and held sticks for the first time.

Elsayed’s work for equity and inclusion is just getting started. She wants to help companies reshape work culture and become more diverse as she pursues a career in business.

“I want and need to be actively fighting for something,” said Elsayed. “I can’t just stand by and watch. Changing the world from a business point of view and a sports point of view has been so important for me because I know that it matters right now, and it’s going to matter for a lot of people who come after me.”

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