“The surest path to your next opportunity is doing a good job at your current opportunity.” 

That sage advice from John C. Asbury, CEO of Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (the parent company of Atlantic Union Bank), was just one insight that he and members of his management team shared with RMC upperclassmen at their Glen Allen headquarters last month. 

Joined by President and Chief Operating Officer Maria Tedesco and Chief Human Resources Officer Clare Miller for a talk on career advice and business, they welcomed students at a site visit that was part of the Access C-Suite program, arranged by the Edge Career Center. 

An evolution of a program once called Access CEO, these visits expose students to a wide variety of executive positions and give ambitious upperclassmen the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with local executives.

The trio of Atlantic Union Bank executives gave insights on their background, the history and growth of their company—the largest regional bank in Virginia and Maryland—and fielded questions from students eager to stand out in the job market.

The visit was one of several Access C-Suite sessions this year, across a variety of industries. Previous site visits included CarMax, Gather, the Markel Group, Genworth Financial, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

“I am incredibly proud of our Access C-Suite program and the unique opportunity it provides students to engage with top-level executives while envisioning their own pathways to success,” said Cathy Rollman, Associate Executive Director of the Edge Career Center. “This academic year, students had the remarkable chance to interact with leaders from a wide range of organizations—from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.”

“It’s really allowed me to better understand what is needed to get to that position one day, and what employers want from college graduates,” said Ashlyn White ’25, a business management major. “It’s been a really wonderful experience, and I’m really thankful that I participated in it for two years.”

White, who felt the experience boosted her confidence and networking skills, was particularly impacted hearing from women in executive positions like Tedesco and Miller at Atlantic Union Bank. “That representation, and to learn from them, has been great. And I hope one day that I get that opportunity too.”

The executives shared advice on a wide range of career topics. On the subject of leadership, Asbury asserted that good leaders operate more from influence than authority. And both Tedesco and Miller emphasized the importance of culture in a workplace—from the perspective of both the employer and the employee.

“Consider opportunities where you can show up as your authentic, human self,” Miller told the students.

Rollman says the program will continue and even expand in 2025-2026. She hopes to build on the momentum with potential spin-off initiatives, including a Women Executive Panel.