Carly Thomas

My Graduate Story

I currently serve as a Director at Victory Capital Management, where I lead responsible business initiatives across our organization. My multifaceted role allows me to wear many hats - from serving as the firm's subject matter expert on ESG integration and responsible investing to chairing key governance committees. As an active member of our management committee, I contribute to strategic decision-making at the higher levels of the organization. I collaborate with investment franchises, relationship managers, and senior leadership to develop and execute our responsible business strategy while responding to evolving client demands in this space. Beyond core responsible business responsibilities, I'm actively involved in investor relations and earnings activities and contribute to strategic corporate initiatives including M&A. This position allows me to merge my past experiences in past positions into a fulfilling role where I can support meaningful organizational change.

A Day in my Life

What truly energizes me about my role is that no two days are the same. The dynamic nature of my position means I'm constantly engaging with different aspects of our business and stakeholders. Some days find me at my desk deeply focused on supporting RFPs to win new business and collaborating with our teams to articulate their responsible investment approach. Other days, I'm visiting our Investment Franchise offices throughout the US, pitching to prospective clients and supporting them in developing new solutions that align with client sustainability objectives. I'm also frequently out in the community, particularly at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) where I lead our strategic partnership. Quarter-end brings a different rhythm entirely, as my focus shifts to supporting earnings materials and working with the marketing team to ensure our materials reflect our latest responsible business processes, achievements and initiatives.

My Journey to Victory Capital

During my final year of university, I dedicated significant time applying for graduate schemes. Despite having no professional experience, I managed to secure a spot in Nationwide Building Society's graduate programme. At Nationwide, I rotated throughout the business and found my natural home in the Treasury department. I initially supported investor relations before expanding my role to include various sustainability responsibilities. Over six years there, I worked my way up to a Senior Manager position. I then transitioned to the buy side, joining Insight Investment. In 2022, when my husband received an opportunity with his long-term employer in the US, I became eligible to work in America. Through effective networking, I was fortunate to connect with Victory Capital, which led to my current role.

My Birmingham Experience

My chemistry education shaped my professional development in several fundamental ways: Developing a Strong Work Ethic: I wasn't naturally gifted at chemistry, but my passion for the subject drove me to work harder. This experience instilled in me a genuine understanding of what dedicated effort looks like and what can be achieved through persistence. This dedication and work ethic has been instrumental in helping me reach my current position. Building Analytical Capabilities: My chemistry degree provided me with a strong analytical foundation that has proven invaluable throughout my career. The discipline taught me structured thinking and attention to detail, skills that are essential in any professional environment. Organisational Excellence: The degree demanded exceptional organizational abilities as I constantly balanced various laboratory assignments, research projects, and exam preparation. Managing these competing deadlines effectively prepared me for juggling multiple professional responsibilities. Beyond the Classroom: Some of the most valuable skills I developed came from extracurricular activities. My involvement with the Carnival RAG Society was particularly formative, where I honed crucial collaboration, networking, and interpersonal skills. These experiences taught me how to build meaningful professional relationships, a capability that ultimately helped me secure my position at Victory through networking years later.

Birmingham's Impact

The university's support services were instrumental in my professional development and career preparation. I'm particularly grateful to the faculty in the School of Chemistry for their unwavering support and guidance throughout my degree and during my job application process. Their personalized mentorship helped me identify and leverage my strengths while developing areas for improvement.

My Top Tips for New Students

Based on my experience, here are my top tips for students graduating today:1. Embrace Networking Early and Often2. Value Transferable Skills Over Specific Knowledge3. Develop True Grit4. Prioritize Organizational Skills5. Look Beyond the Obvious Career Paths

The best part of my chemistry course

Looking back, what really made my chemistry degree special was the mix of hands-on lab work with great people and the professors were genuinely passionate and helpful. I loved that the school whilst established wasn't too big, most of the professors knew who you were. I also loved being able to pick different electives to explore what interested me most.

My biggest achievements whilst studying at Birmingham.

My biggest achievement during my chemistry course was managing to graduate with a 2:1 degree and a job offer in hand despite facing significant personal medical struggles throughout my time at university. There were moments when I genuinely wasn't sure I'd make it through, but the unwavering support from the School of Chemistry made all the difference. My professors and department staff showed remarkable understanding and flexibility when I needed it most.