Kristin Seeberger
Director, Marketing Communications
Company Name: T. Rowe Price
Born in Monterey, California and was a Navy brat until age 13. Middle and high school were spent on a farm in central Virginia • Wanted to be a veterinarian but switched gears after high school art teacher encouraged me to pursue my ‘hidden talent’ • Received BFA in communication design, minor in photography from Virginia Commonwealth University • Worked for various publications and small boutique design firm for a couple of years before deciding to pursue my masters • Received Masters of Design from University of Cincinnati • Fulbright Grant, University of Industrial Arts Helsinki, Finland • Moved to Baltimore and started to work for T. Rowe Price in 1992 as one of the company’s first graphic designers • Baltimore AIGA Board member for 7 years; 2 years as President • Currently director of firm’s enterprise marketing communications group, which is comprised of 45 people in the areas of 1) creative (creative directors, designers, writers), 2) account management and 3) proofreading. We work as creative and strategic partners with our internal clients to attract and retain assets, and additionally ensuring that our brand identity is managed effectively
What is the best thing about working in-house?
Two things—the people and the culture. The people at T. Rowe Price are wickedly smart, talented, collaborative, and intellectually curious—all attributes that make every day challenging and full of opportunities. The culture is highly collaborative, but at the same time rewards individual achievement.
What types of projects does your department do?
We are organized around teams dedicated to five business lines. Each team of designers, writers and account managers immerse themselves in the business they support, moving from being an executional partner to a strategic partner. Collectively we work on communication strategies and plans, print collateral, advertisements and direct mail, interactive and web, branding and identity, and environmental graphics.
What keeps you motivated and inspired in your job?
The challenges and complexity of the investment management business and developing a high-performing team to support it.
What do you consider the biggest success of your in-house career?
Building a team from the ground up that is respected across the firm for its contributions to the business and to the brand. We also have also won 98 design and industry communications awards in the past three years, which is wonderful external validation of our efforts.
What are you currently reading, watching and listening to?
Watching:
• Maybe catch the antiques roach show with my boys, 11 and 7 years old. Friday night is movie and pizza night at home and we have recently been on a foreign movie streak (Cave of the Yellow Dog, The Chorus—are two recent ones that come to mind).
Reading:
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable and The Chocolate Cake Sutra: Ingredients for a Sweet LifeListening:
• At home, my sons’ electric guitar and drum playing and my husband’s dobro playing • In the car this week, M. Ward, Richard Shindell, Biscuit Burners, Reeltime Travelers, Martha Scanlan, Greencards (I’ve had to do lots of driving)[/membership]
