Mia Curb
Mia Curb is a highly accomplished executive assistant and retired U.S. military veteran with more than two decades of experience supporting senior leadership in both military and corporate environments. She currently serves as an Executive Assistant at the Freeman Company, where she provides high-level support to the Chief Operating Officer of the audio-visual division. Known for her professionalism, discretion, and operational expertise, Mia plays a critical role in ensuring executive efficiency, managing complex priorities, and supporting strategic initiatives within the organization.
Mia’s career foundation was built during her 21 years of service in the U.S. military, where she rose through the enlisted ranks to retire as an E8 in 2019. Throughout her military tenure, she served as a trusted executive assistant to ship captains and admirals, supporting high-level operations and mission-critical initiatives. One of her most notable experiences included working alongside Navy SEALs, where she completed rigorous Blackwater training and earned recognition for both her physical performance and administrative excellence in a male-dominated environment. During her final years of service, she also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, demonstrating her commitment to growth and preparation for life beyond the military.
Following her transition to the civilian sector, Mia continued to build a strong career supporting C-suite executives at organizations such as King Aerospace and Simmons Bank before joining Freeman. Her success is rooted in the values of hard work, honesty, and trust—principles she developed early in life and carried throughout her career. A strong advocate for professional growth, she encourages others, especially women entering administrative and corporate roles, to find their voice, stay determined, and pursue continuous development. Mia’s journey reflects resilience, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in every role she undertakes.
• Officer of the Deck Certification
• Blackwater Training Certificate
• Northwood University
Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA, Business Administration and Management
• Northwood University
Associate of Arts - AA, Business Administration and Management
• Award for Performance and Administrative Work with Navy SEALs
• Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Issued by Secretary of the Navy · Jul 2014
• Meritorious Service Medal
Issued by Secretary of the Navy · Jun 2019
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the way I grew up and the people around me. I came from an environment where I didn't have much, but all around me were people like my mother, my aunts, my brothers, cousins, and people I went to church with who, despite not having anything, continued to work hard and get us what we needed in life. I wasn't grateful at the time growing up, but when I became an adult, I realized how valuable working hard was and how much you can achieve through hard work. Their hard work inspired me as I got older to continue those same values, but I took it up a notch. Instead of just working hard, I wanted to work hard and achieve better. My mother did the same thing for many years and worked hard, but I wanted to work hard just like her and go above average. Her hard work and my family's hard work led me to achieve what I am today.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from a captain of the ship USS San Diego. I was working in a male-dominated career in the military, and I've always been an overachiever. There was this very difficult certification called Officer of the Deck that I wanted to achieve, but I worked in admin and didn't get a lot of time on the bridge department. I sat down with the captain one day and asked what I could do coming from an admin background to achieve that goal. He told me, 'Mia, anything that you put your mind to, you will achieve.' That statement stuck in my head for the rest of my career. It led me into everything I do in life, whether that's finding a job, tackling the next position, going up for promotion, or interviewing. Whatever you put your mind to, you will achieve. If your mind is right, you will achieve the goal that's at hand.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is that anything you put your mind to, you will achieve. Your mind is the key. If your mind is right, you will achieve the goal that's at hand. This principle has guided me throughout my career and applies to everything, whether it's finding a job, tackling the next position, going up for promotion, or interviewing.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenge in my field right now is finding my voice and making sure it's heard. In my role as an executive assistant supporting C-suite level leadership, we're often put in administrative roles where we're taught to sit back and listen, but not be voiceful in what we do. That can be very challenging because that's how we are taught. But I've found it very important to make sure your voice is known and to find a seat at the table. You're already there at the meetings, so why not voice your opinion or give your feedback to some of the concerns that are being brought up to senior leadership? The challenge is finding your voice and making sure that you know your voice matters.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are honesty and hard work. As a woman, I deeply value both honesty and the commitment to working hard in everything I do.