Image Alumni '15 Education BS, Minneapolis College of Art and Design Current Career Associate Digital Producer for HBO Location Brooklyn, New York In a couple sentences, describe what you do for work and how you feel about it.I'm a producer on the digital and social media marketing team at HBO, producing campaigns for different shows and digital entities like HBO.com. I love my job because I'm part of the creative process from start to finish. Another fun part of my job is getting a glimpse into the film/TV industry and supporting shows that I love!Why did you choose the bachelor of science program? Was it the right choice?I wanted something that combined both my creative side and natural type-A personality. An art school with an entrepreneurial program really intrigued me, especially the opportunity to work with real-life clients and gain beneficial experience. Favorite project you worked on for a client?One of the many favorite projects I worked on at MCAD was within an advertising course. I project managed a pitch for a campaign for Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation. We partnered with the agency Edelman in New York to create a pitch that targeted a new audience. I was one of the lucky few to be sent to New York to pitch to the client! Can you briefly describe one or more of your internships?I interned at Gap Inc. in between my junior and senior years. I was an intern on the digital and social media team in New York and had a blast learning about the processes of social content creation and social marketing. Being in retail and fashion was really exciting to me. What advice do you have for current MCAD students?Take your time and soak up everything during college. Become friends with others in all the different majors. MCAD is your first network.Did you receive any scholarships? If so, how did that impact you?I received the Presidential Scholarship and it definitely had an impact on deciding if I would be going to MCAD. Best thing you ever got from the free shelf?A Lacoste umbrella—I kept it in my car for rainy days. Name your one biggest takeaway from MCAD?My biggest takeaway is to take initiative. If something's not happening, just do it. LinkedIn 2025 Cut/Paste Publication FeatureBri Heu ’15 never thought of herself as a business person until she understood, “Business is actually creative, and creative is actually business.” This insight has guided her from her beginnings in St. Paul to a thriving career in brand strategy, and more recently ownership of a new Brooklyn pizza shop that has garnered rave reviews.Throughout her childhood Heu moved frequently, never feeling a deep connection to any one place. It wasn’t until a college recruiter introduced her to communications and advertising that Heu started to see where she belonged—as an entrepreneurial studies major within an art and design school. Her decision to attend MCAD wasn’t easy, particularly when it came to the financial risk and not knowing anyone in a creative career. But her mother encouraged her: “It’s SO you!” This vote of confidence from an immigrant parent made a lasting impact, she explained.At MCAD Heu looked up to faculty giants, like Nancy Rice ’70, who helped open her eyes to career possibilities. Upon graduation, Heu made the bold decision to move to Portland, Oregon, sight unseen, to join a top creative agency. Despite the discomfort of living with a complete stranger in a less-than-ideal neighborhood with no friends, Heu had made the right decision; she developed a deep love for brand strategy.One year later, Heu was laid off, but rose to the occasion by using her severance to move to New York. Once there, “I networked my butt off,” Heu recalls. That hustle paid off. She found herself working at some of the most respected creative and branding agencies, collaborating with major companies, including Steve Madden, Walmart, and Coca-Cola. The key to her success was knowing how to collaborate with designers, who can help shape the brand’s vision. Today, she is thriving as a strategy director at Farrynheight in New York, where she is not only building a career, but also enjoying the role of coaching others.Within the last two years, she and her boyfriend opened La Flor, a popular pizza shop in Brooklyn. Heu turned to her MCAD network, enlisting the help of fellow alumni, including Frank Mondragon ’16, to contribute design to the project. The result is a true collaboration with her MCAD family.One of Heu’s professors, Boriana Strzok ’08, once told her, “In your career, you should always be uncomfortable.” Heu took those words to heart. But building community along the way matters too. Her unexpected school spirit, having once felt disconnected, has been a moving force behind her success.