FINANCE GRAD ADVANCES AT FEDERAL RESERVE
Laura Noble, originally from St. Louis, has had quite an eventful life since graduating from Missouri State with a finance degree in 2009. Two weeks after graduation, she went to work for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City as part of their Management Leadership Development Program. During her time in the program, she was able to rotate through different analyst roles at the Bank. Apparently she made quite a positive impression on her superiors, as she was promoted to Staff Supervisor in the Technology Solutions Business Unit (TSBU) in January 2012.
In her role as Staff Supervisor at the TSBU, Laura oversees the general and project analysts who support the Application Delivery Services (ADS) area of the Bank. Noble’s group is responsible for budget development, cost and metric analysis, documenting and updating policies and procedures, and additional ad hoc analytical support.
When asked what she likes about her current position, Laura says “I enjoy several aspects of my job. Many of the standard tasks assigned to a general analyst require strong problem solving and analytical ability. I have always enjoyed performing research and solving puzzles, so this aspect strongly appeals to me. In addition to the standard tasks, I’ve had the opportunity to work on several ad hoc projects, such as coordinating the bi-annual Employee Perspective survey and implementing/configuring new recruiting software for the (Federal Reserve) System. With the many ad hoc tasks that are assigned to me, I am constantly challenged. As I’ve moved in to supervision, I’ve greatly enjoyed the challenge of motivating my team and sharing the strategic vision with them. Helping my staff develop in their careers has also been very rewarding. Through all my roles at the Bank, I can honestly say I have enjoyed coming to work every day since I started.”
Noble says that many aspects of her MSU training have proven extremely valuable in her career thus far; most notably the complex assignments without definitive answers. “The business world doesn’t have a definitive right or wrong answer, and I felt well prepared for that as a result of my MSU training. At the Bank, I am often tasked with researching and analyzing data in order to make a recommendation; completing many complex assignments through my coursework was excellent preparation,” says Laura.
When asked about MSU professors that helped and mentored her during her time at MSU, Noble named Associate Professor Stephen Haggard. “He was the one who recommended I apply with the Bank. His classes were also very challenging which prepared me well for my career after graduation.” Laura also mentions Professor Kent Ragan, who is also the FGB Department Head. “I was able to participate in the first ‘revived’ New York Study group with Dr. Ragan; I really enjoyed the experience of visiting several NYC firms and learning more about the city.” When asked for what piece of advice she would give current FGB students, Noble says, “Work hard and make the most of your time at MSU. Get as much experience as you can in working on complex assignments, working on teams, and taking part in extracurricular activities (or a job).”