Carrie Friedrich, GB'15

“Follow your head, follow your heart or follow your gut, but always follow through.” This is the personal motto by which Carrie Friedrich, GB’15, lives. After several years in Richmond, Va., working in the financial services industry, the North Carolina native will move this month to San Francisco, Calif., to begin her new job at LinkedIn, the business-focused social networking company.

Friedrich described her forthcoming position. “At LinkedIn, I will be a product marketing manager on the consumer identity team. Our group is responsible for driving awareness, usage and engagement for consumer-facing products while overseeing website features such as the LinkedIn profile, search, endorsements, the ‘People You May Know’ section and ‘Who’s Viewed My Profile.’ I am looking forward to the opportunity to gain experience in the consumer Internet space and to utilize meaningful marketing efforts to help LinkedIn’s large member base maximize the value of their experience.”

She added, “LinkedIn has always been my go-to resource for building my professional brand. It is a tool that is part of my daily routine. I always check to see what great new things my family and friends are up to professionally, what top executives are talking about and to catch up on new trends in the industries and companies I follow. My passion for the tool coupled with the stories of others’ experiences working at LinkedIn made it clear the position and culture would be a great fit. I’m nervous but very excited for my new life on the West Coast.”

Friedrich looked back on her time at University of Richmond. “The Richmond MBA has been instrumental in giving me the business acumen and confidence I needed to go through the LinkedIn interview process and to take this next step in my career. Most importantly, The Richmond MBA has provided me the opportunity to interact with students, professors, guest speakers and local business executives to provide wonderful perspective on a variety of industries. I learn best by interacting with others, hearing their stories and asking questions; the people I have interacted with at Richmond have taught me so much to prepare me for this big move.” 

Looking forward, she hopes to have a hand in helping others reach their potential. “I enjoy and look forward to the chance to mentor new associates to help them hit the ground running in a fast-paced organization. I’ve been so lucky to have amazing mentors as I continue to build my personal brand, and I hope to share with others the same support, advice and inspiration they have given to me.” 

Friedrich concluded, “I always want to feel like I’m learning and contributing in a meaningful way to the things about which I’m passionate, and I strive to be the best version of myself every day. There is a quote that has stuck with me over the years. ‘If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ This has resonated with me more and more as I anticipate what LinkedIn has in store, and I can’t wait to embark on this adventure.”

Photo: Friedrich at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif.