Lauren Ward
Senior Account Manager
B.S. in Marketing

Graduating from Franklin University was a real accomplishment for me because, like most students who attend Franklin, I was going to school while working full time – and I still managed to earn all A's and just one B.

When I was transferred to Columbus for work, I wanted to find a university that would complement my work, not get in the way. I chose Franklin because of the flexible class schedules and the convenience of the Westerville location. Also, I’d started school at a traditional college in St. Louis, and I found that Franklin’s transfer of credits was generous. I chose to major in Marketing because it interested me.

Right now I am a Senior Account Manager, having been promoted a couple of times since I started at Franklin. My job involves one-on-one communication with clients on high-level issues, sometimes delivering bad news. I deal with a well-heeled, well-traveled clientele, and the diplomacy required of me is a large portion of doing my job well. It’s a challenging position, and I’d say that the communication skills I learned at Franklin have definitely helped me develop more confidence and professional refinement.

The overall Franklin experience was very positive for me. For example, I found the one-point-of-contact Student Services Associates were really helpful compared to the other college I attended, where I seemed to get transferred around a lot whenever I had a question. Also, the Marketing Capstone class was great – a tough class, but worth it. The professor made me feel really good about my efforts. He was encouraging, sincere and always approachable. Another factor in my success was the really nice computer labs at the Westerville location. I was able to get a lot of work done there without being distracted by other stuff, as is the case sometimes when I study at home.

As the oldest of seven kids, it’s important to me to set a good example for my five brothers and one sister. Franklin’s manageable schedule helped me show them that, with a little time management, you can enjoy life while still doing well at work and school.