Her Story
About Laura
Laura Aldermeshian is a Manager at Capital One, where she leads project management initiatives within the strategy and operations space, with a particular focus on HR-centric work, such as the build and launch of one of the company's largest enterprise associate platforms. With 15 years of professional experience in, she launched her career in management consulting before transitioning into talent acquisition, where she was responsible for hiring consultants and, later, engineers while helping to build out technology and operations teams. During her 7.5 years thus far at Capital One, her responsibilities have expanded to include strategic talent initiatives, support for OKRs and KPIs, chief of staff duties, and intranet modernization efforts, aimed at preparing the organization for AI adoption. Laura earned her bachelor's degree from American University, where she double-majored in Political Science and Law and Society, graduating Magna Cum Laude with University Honors and Dean's List recognition in 2012. She also spent a year as a visiting student at the University of Oxford's Lady Margaret Hall, an experience that sharpened her critical thinking and argumentation skills and broadened her exposure to cross-disciplinary learning. Throughout her career, she has been recognized with several team and individual honors, including the HR Winners Circle Award at Capital One and multiple performance awards during her time at Booz Allen Hamilton and Slalom Consulting. Laura credits much of her professional success to her ability to solve problems, link dependencies across teams, and draw out the best in the people she works with, all while staying accountable and following through on complex initiatives. She is guided by a strong set of values, including collaboration, patience, persistence, and a commitment to continuous learning, and she views emerging technologies like AI as a major opportunity that organizations must approach thoughtfully and intentionally in order for it to be sustainable and enduring. Outside of work, Laura supports philanthropic efforts focused on expanding outdoor access and preserving natural spaces, and she enjoys skiing, surfing, studio fitness classes, live theater, and traveling, with the goal of visiting every continent.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to strong problem-solving skills, my ability to connect the dots across teams and dependencies, and my commitment to bringing out the best in the people around me. I hold myself and my teams accountable, follow through on commitments, and stay focused on helping complex projects succeed, even when the path forward isn't always clear.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is the importance of patience and persistence, especially when facing setbacks or challenges. I've learned to maintain my confidence through difficult moments and keep moving forward rather than letting temporary obstacles define my trajectory.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this industry to be patient and persistent, because career growth doesn't always happen on the timeline you expect. Setbacks shouldn't undermine your confidence. I'd also encourage them to keep learning, build strong relationships across teams, and stay intentional about their own professional development.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see AI as one of the biggest opportunities in our field today, particularly for improving how teams and organizations operate. At the same time, I believe leaders need to develop a better understanding of where and how AI should actually be applied. My approach is to be intentional, balanced, and sustainable in adopting new technology, rather than implementing it everywhere simply because it's available.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Accountability, collaboration, patience, and persistence are central to how I operate, both professionally and personally. I also place a high value on intentionality, continuous learning, and helping others reach their full potential.
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