Aurora Pascua

I would say a big part of my success came from being given opportunities. I was surrounded by different leadership teams that truly focused on supporting employees and helping people grow.

When I joined the credit union, we had a CEO who strongly believed in promoting from within and developing employees.

The management team paid attention to people’s strengths and created an environment where employees were encouraged to learn, contribute, and shine. Because of that culture, I was exposed to many different areas of the organization and was often encouraged by managers from other departments to apply for openings.

I started as a teller and eventually progressed through card services, IT operations, human resources, and ultimately IT management. Having the opportunity to learn so many different sides of the business gave me a very broad operational perspective that still helps me today in my consulting work.

I’ve always believed that systems and processes are important, but people and leadership make the biggest difference. Having leaders who invested in their employees played a major role in my growth and success.

The best career advice I ever received came from my manager in the IT department. She was a great mentor and was always willing to share what she knew. One of the biggest things she taught me was the importance of documenting everything and creating systems that help people succeed. She had checklists for everything. Our department was locked, so the janitorial company couldn’t come in, and we kept forgetting to take out the trash. Eventually, she even added “take out the trash” to the checklist. That always stuck with me because her mindset was simple: if something keeps getting forgotten, create a process that helps make sure it gets done. That practice stayed with me throughout my entire career. Even now, I document everything. Anything that needs to be done monthly, yearly, or even every few years goes into my task manager so it doesn’t get missed. I still remember her jokingly saying, "If you get hit by a bus tomorrow, someone should be able to cover your job from the documentation you left behind." That philosophy has shaped how I work with every client. I document processes, recurring tasks, workflows, and the reasons behind them so that operations can continue smoothly and consistently. That advice has been invaluable in my consulting work and is still a major part of how I approach systems, operations, and business support today.

I would encourage young women to stay open to learning new things and not be afraid to try different roles. Some of the most valuable experience I gained came from stepping into positions I had never done before and learning how different parts of the business worked together.

I would also say that organization, communication, and consistency really matter. Technical skills are important, but being dependable, willing to learn, and able to help keep things organized can take you very far.

You also don't have to feel completely ready before taking on a new opportunity. Many times, other people saw potential in me before I saw it in myself. Being willing to ask questions and continue learning makes a big difference.

Technology and software will always change, but being adaptable and having the ability to support people will always be valuable.

One of the biggest challenges I see is that businesses are adopting more software and technology than ever before, but many still struggle with implementation, organization, and process management. A lot of companies invest in powerful systems, but without the right workflows, documentation, and ongoing maintenance, the software alone does not solve the problem.

There are so many tools available now that can help small businesses streamline their workflows. But automation works best when the process is already organized and clearly defined. Otherwise, technology can sometimes create more confusion instead of making things easier.

Honesty and a willingness to help others are very important to me. I also think it’s important to recognize that none of us know everything.

I believe in being a constant student. I don't think anyone ever fully knows everything, and I think being willing to listen, learn, and grow is important both professionally and personally.

I also believe the way we treat people and the example we set through our actions matters just as much as the work itself.