Her Story
About Anna
Anna Sanchez is an early-career professional in finance and data analytics with a little over a year of experience. She was drawn to the field through her longstanding interest in investing, the banking industry, and the connection to analytics. Prior to focusing on finance, she worked as a claims specialist in unemployment insurance during the pandemic. Anna is currently pursuing a degree in data management and analytics at Western Governors University after attending community college for a couple of years. She originally considered software engineering but shifted her focus to data analytics due to her enjoyment of researching and problem solving. She is expected to graduate in the summer of next year. Anna has been involved with Management Leadership for Tomorrow since 2024, where she has gained valuable career advice on building projects and networking. She also participated in the Global Mentorship Initiative, crediting mentor Kartek Krishnan at Microsoft for advancing her technical skills. In her field, she notes challenges such as keeping up with rapid changes like AI while balancing growth and regulatory compliance in finance.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Anna
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Throughout my academic career, I've joined several programs that have been really instrumental in my growth, one of them being Management Leadership for Tomorrow. Some of the advice I remember is just constantly working on projects related to something you're interested in can really help you expand your skill set and figure out what kind of career you want to do, and also just not being afraid to expand your network and reach out to people who are in positions you want to be in.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My greatest piece of advice to young professionals is just not being afraid to network. Going to school alone is great and all, but just be active in organizations in your school, go to conferences, just keep in contact with people, because you never really know where your next opportunity might be.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Keeping up with the industry with AI and everything constantly changing, being able to adapt and know what tools you want to work with. Within finance, one of the biggest challenges is being able to grow and adapt while also following rules and regulations. Finding that balance is the most challenging aspect.
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