Carrie Friedrich
Only a few months into her time at The Richmond MBA, Carrie Friedrich has a newly developed perspective on the value of pursuing an MBA and has high hopes for her future success. Juggling a demanding full-time work schedule at Capital One Financial Corporation while continuing her education allows her to apply the knowledge she learns in the evenings to her career the following day.
A 2010 graduate of the University of Georgia, Friedrich has spent the years since her graduation holding several positions within Capital One’s brand marketing department. “I began my career in a brand strategy role which gave me broad exposure to the tried and true marketing best practices used to grow our organization’s portfolio of new customers,” she said. This role allowed her to build a foundation with which to transition into a role on Capital One’s digital commerce and innovation team and most currently onto the customer experience design team.
“Our team is on a mission to create brand-defining customer experiences rooted in customer insights,” she said. “We focus on designing the pivotal experiences a customer has with a financial institution.”
Because her undergraduate studies were focused on journalism and mass communications, once in a corporate environment Friedrich recognized a need to gain a more holistic view of the business context. “Given the highly collaborative nature of so many companies, I feel an MBA will help me to further develop my business acumen and provide me with the confidence to enter any business problem with a toolkit of knowledge, resources and experience. In our rapidly-evolving world and ever-changing business landscape, it is important for me to continue to fine-tune my professional competencies in order to keep up.”
Along with the knowledge she is acquiring in the classroom, Friedrich is looking forward to opportunities outside the classroom, such as C-Suite Conversations and the MBA Women’s Association events, to grow her network and learn from industry professionals. The international element of an education is also very important to her. “Richmond's focus on international education, primarily through the International Residency course, was a key driver in my decision to attend. I firmly believe we can learn so much from the different cultures and business practices around the globe,” she said.
When she finds time away from her studies and career, Friedrich enjoys participating in a number of pro bono efforts in the Richmond and Washington, D.C., areas. In volunteering her professional skills, two experiences in particular have made an impact on her, the first with the Visual Arts Center in Richmond and the second with the Heart of America Foundation in D.C. Her work with these organizations allowed her to assist with causes and missions she is passionate about while connecting with her community.
While Friedrich looks forward to her future courses and time at Richmond, she is reassured every day that she made the right decision to continue her education. “A few months into the program, I continue to reaffirm that my decision to pursue an MBA at Richmond was the right one. The caliber of students and supportive professors has already left a lasting impression on my experience thus far.”