Laura Carrick transforms small businesses while advocating social change

Photo courtesy Laura Carrick

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Laura Carrick always knew she was meant for bigger and better things. Her creativity and passion for learning have launched her into major leadership roles in companies that help her give back to the community. Her international career transforming small businesses into profitable giants is only just beginning. Carrick is a marketing strategist with a vision for greater access to education and gender equality.

Carrick’s humble beginnings in Hobart, Australia, gave her cause to dream big. Her parents encouraged her creativity and traveling spirit, and she was able to see some of the biggest cities in the world at a young age. Living in New York City became one of her life-long goals. After gaining some work experience and trying on several different hats, Carrick decided to go back to school and start forming a true career path. She earned a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and graduated with honors, a Diploma in Commercial photography, and a Diploma in Graphic Design. Armed with these skills, Carrick found her first major leadership position that shaped her current goals.

As Head of Brand and Partnerships at HoMie & REBORN Social Enterprise, Carrick successfully expanded the group’s reach and elevated it to national recognition. HoMie Clothing is a non-profit organization that aids homeless youth in Melbourne, Australia. In her role at the organization, Carrick secured a multi-year profitable partnership with global streetwear label Champion and a streetwear clothing collaboration with Disney. HoMie still has an ongoing relationship with Disney after the collection sold out on pre-order.

Carrick also led a campaign for Homelessness Awareness with comedian and television personality Tommy Little that raised over $100,000 for HoMie’s social impact programs. Her work with the organization led them to win a Victorian Premier’s Design Award and an Australia Good Design Award. HoMie was featured in Vogue Australia, GQ Magazine, and a segment on ABC News Los Angeles during Carrick’s tenure. Her passion for social change was fueled by her experiences at HoMie, and her next position revolved around her desire to make education more accessible to young people.

Assuming the role of Head of Marketing and Communications at Shillington Education in New York City in the aftermath of the pandemic was a challenge, but Carrick rose to the occasion. Enrollment had seen a significant decrease because of COVID-19, and Carrick was called in to turn the tide. She implemented a growth marketing strategy that doubled enrollment both online and on-campus within a year and saw profits that overtook pre-pandemic numbers. The complete revival required Carrick to assemble a new marketing and sales team and design a new student acquisition strategy. Shillington was named one of the best graphic design schools in America alongside prestigious colleges like Pratt and RISD by Graphic Design USA in 2023 while Carrick was working her magic. Her marketing strategies included a New York subway campaign that increased website traffic by 25% and the creation of The Shillington Post, a print publication distributed in New York, London, and Australia.

Carrick’s creativity and business acumen have made her a sought-after marketing strategist in one of the biggest cities in the world. Her career is already prestigious and has only just begun. Carrick’s goals are closer than ever to coming to fruition, and she is determined to reach them.