Carrie Harring, MBA

Carrie Harring accepted her first full-time position — advocating on behalf of New York State physicians before state lawmakers — the same week she received her bachelor’s degree from Russell Sage College.

“Right out of undergrad, I was given the chance to prove myself,” she said. “I took advantage of that and jumped in, asking questions along the way.” 

Just five years later and now with an MBA from Sage, she is a senior legislative associate at the government affairs firm Hodes & Landy, and one of the rising stars on City & State New York’s 40 Under 40 list of influencers in state politics.

Carrie’s work on high-profile issues like raising the legal tobacco purchasing age to 21, expanding access to vaccines, and developing policies to improve health care access, affordability, and outcomes helped her stand out for the recognition. 

Sage, she said, helped her see the possibilities for a career at the intersection of government and public health.

“My experience was probably similar to other students coming out of high school,” she said. “I liked health, biology. I assumed that meant I had to go into clinical practice.”

She chose Sage for its Physical Therapy program, but a few semesters in, switched to Sage’s business program, where she studied health care administration. 

“I had great professors, great mentors,” she said. “In talking with them, I felt like I could take the guardrails off. I didn’t have to pick a defined career. I could follow my passions, do what I’m good at, and the cards will fall where they’re supposed to.”

When Carrie was ready to begin an MBA, she returned to Sage. 

“I was working full time. I needed a program that would fit my schedule,” she said. “And I knew, from having good relationships with the School of Management, that I could explain my career goals and then tailor the program to me.”

With her MBA complete, Carrie has her sights set on her next professional milestones: to get involved in business development at her firm, and to make partner.

She said she remembers scanning job postings after she switched majors as an undergrad, and seeing positions like the one she holds today advertised.

“Wait a minute, that’s it!” she thought back then.  

Carrie trusted that if she followed her interests as a Sage student, her career cards would fall where they are supposed to — and that is exactly what happened. 

“I love doing this,” she said.