Year abroad inspired him to design new major

A few weeks after Benny Klein graduates with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and psychology, he’ll begin working for Parthenon Capital in Austin. But that wasn’t always the plan. 

“I was a biology major and taking premed classes for my first two years,” said the Morehead-Cain scholar and Durham native. “But I started to feel like it might not be the right path for me.” 

So when a friend told Klein that they were taking a gap year after their sophomore year, it got his attention.  

“I didn’t realize that was even an option,” said Klein. “I wanted to know what else was out there and explore other opportunities. I was ready to try a new major, and so I thought, ‘Let’s pause the shot clock.’ And I spent a year abroad.” 

Klein spent his summer after sophomore year as a research intern with Island Innovation in The Azores, Malta, and Ireland as part of his Morehead-Cain track. He then traveled to Israel and Egypt to organize a youth delegation to a climate change conference. That spring he studied abroad in the Czech Republic, the U.K. and Germany, taking classes on subjects he had always been interested in, like business and organizational leadership. 

“We missed so many milestones entering college during COVID-19,” said Klein. “But the pandemic showed me time isn’t linear; plans can get off track and that’s OK. I realized it didn’t matter if I graduated in four years, and this felt like the right thing to do.”  

When Klein returned to Chapel Hill, a mentor encouraged him to pursue designing his own major within the interdisciplinary studies department. Klein created his new organizational leadership and psychology major, weaving together his multiple interests and classes taken abroad. The change also led him to what he calls one of the most impactful experiences of his college career: his role as a student assistant with Operational Excellence.  

“Once I came back, my mentor suggested I meet with the Operational Excellence team and learn about the work they do across campus,” said Klein. “Right away I was hooked. The work they do — from analyzing University operations to problem solving to helping teams improve —is exactly why I designed my major. I asked if there was a chance to work with them for the summer.” 

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Klein celebrated his second anniversary with the team in April. 

“Carolina means so much to me. How cool is it to leave here having had the chance to work with so many different groups on campus and try to make the place we all care about just a little bit better? I’m so grateful for the experience, and it absolutely helped prepare me for the working in the business world.” 

Another way Klein has been prepping for the future: interviewing some of Honors Carolina’s accomplished alumni for the “Business of Purposeful Living” podcast, which he’s hosted since January 2024.  

“Talking with so many amazing alumni helped me not only learn about careers I’m interested in but allowed me to form relationships that will go far beyond the podcast itself,” he said. 

As he prepares for his chapter in Austin, Klein is reflecting on his time in Chapel Hill. 

“What I came to appreciate most about Carolina is how accessible everything was. If I had an idea — to design my own major, host a podcast or contribute to campus change through Operational Excellence — there was always someone willing to listen and help make it happen,” said Klein. “To be graduating from here is truly a privilege.”