Karin Cochran

Karin Cochran is a Professor of the Practice of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and Executive Director of the STAR program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. She holds dual roles in academia and executive leadership, focusing on strategy implementation, organizational transformation, and consulting. Previously, she served as Chief Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, overseeing a $1 billion merger of state agencies, and held senior roles at Deloitte Consulting and BlackRock.

Education:

• MBA, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
• BA in Asian Studies, Hamilton College

Research & Expertise: Cochran specializes in strategic planning, M&A integration, and leadership in complex organizations. Her work bridges public-sector transformation and private-sector consulting methodologies, with deep expertise in healthcare systems, consumer goods, and retail industries. She leads STAR, a program pairing students with real-world corporate consulting projects.

Advising & Impact: Through STAR, she mentors MBA and undergraduate students in delivering actionable business solutions. Her career includes corporate strategy roles at Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC and board service on North Carolina’s Supplemental Retirement Board (2013-2018).

Labs/Teams: Directs STAR Program operations, fostering collaboration between academia and global businesses.