A Deputy Director's reflective journey on leadership, personal growth, and overcoming self-doubt by embracing opportunities before feeling completely ready and asking the transformative question: "If not you, then who?"
Her Story
About Carmelita
Carmelita Gusman serves as Deputy Director in the pension system industry, a position she has reached after 7 years of experience managing investments, portfolios, budgets, and finance while also overseeing administrative functions. Her background in accounting and finance, paired with a passion for mentoring and developing others, has shaped her growth as a leader. In her current role, she draws on both her technical expertise and people-centered leadership approach to develop her team, strengthen the organization, and ensure members and retirees receive the service and support they deserve. Her entrepreneurial journey is equally personal. In 2021, Gusman founded C&Y Accounting Services, an accounting firm inspired by a dream she originally shared with her mother, who passed away from cancer in 2010. What was once envisioned as a business they would build and run together has become a meaningful way for Gusman to carry that dream forward. She plans for C&Y Accounting Services to become her primary focus when she eventually retires from public service. Gusman earned her master's degree through Western Governors University and completed the CSAC Executive Cohort as well as the National Society of Leadership and Success programs. She is a member of the Modesto Leadership Group through the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, where she collaborates with local leaders to identify community needs and develop a fundraising initiative designed to make a meaningful impact in the community. Gusman attributes her professional success to hard work, resilience, confidence, and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone. She has learned to turn criticism and doubt into motivation, trusting in her abilities while continuing to challenge herself and grow. A lifelong curiosity and commitment to learning have given her the confidence to pursue new opportunities and continually raise the bar for herself.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Carmelita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. I’ve always had a bit of a “tell me I can’t, and I’ll show you I can” mentality. Rather than letting criticism or doubt define what I’m capable of, I use it as motivation to work harder, keep growing, and challenge myself. I’m also grateful for the people who have believed in me, challenged me, and helped me grow along the way. My family is one of my greatest sources of motivation, and my faith keeps me grounded. I believe in continuing to learn, asking questions, and taking on new challenges. To me, success isn’t only about what I accomplish—it’s also about the people I help, the people I develop, and the positive impact I make along the way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“Never stop learning” and “If not you, then who?” You don’t have to know everything to take the next step—you have to be willing to ask questions, learn from others, and trust yourself enough to step into new opportunities. Some of my greatest growth has come from taking on challenges before I felt completely ready and learning along the way. “If not you, then who?” reminds me not to wait for someone else to step forward when I’m capable of doing it myself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe in yourself and don’t underestimate the value you bring to the table. Be curious, ask questions, seek out mentors, and don’t wait until you feel completely ready to take the next opportunity. Some of the greatest growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. You can be ambitious and kind, confident and approachable, and have high expectations while still leading with compassion. Most importantly, stay true to your values and remember that success isn’t just about how far you go—it’s also about the people you help and the impact you make along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is meeting increasing expectations with limited resources while keeping pace with legislative and regulatory changes and rapidly evolving technology, including AI. At the same time, these changes create opportunities to modernize processes, improve member services, and invest in our people. My leadership experience has reinforced the importance of looking beyond day-to-day operations and thinking strategically about how we prepare our organization for the future.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, accountability, compassion, service, and people are at the heart of everything I do. I believe in doing what is right, following through on my commitments, and treating people with respect. Whether I’m serving StanCERA members, supporting my team, running my small business, C&Y Accounting Services, or being there for my family, I want people to know they can trust me, depend on me, and that I genuinely care.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Carmelita
If Not You, Then Who? Learning to Step Forward Before You Feel Ready
Embracing Growth, Leadership, and the Courage to Ask "If Not You, Then Who?"
There is a question I have learned to ask myself throughout my career: If not you, then who?
It is a simple question, but it has challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, trust my abilities, and pursue opportunities even when I did not feel completely ready.
My career has been built on a foundation of accounting and finance, but over the years, it has grown into something much bigger. Today, as a Deputy Director in public pension administration, my responsibilities extend beyond numbers, budgets, investments, and operations. Leadership has taught me that some of the most important work we do is developing people, building trust, creating opportunities for others, and preparing an organization for the future.
I did not get here because I always had all the answers. I got here because I was willing to learn.
One of the best pieces of advice I have received is, "Never stop learning." I have carried that with me throughout my career. I believe you should surround yourself with people who know things you do not, ask questions without being afraid of what others may think, seek feedback, and remain curious.
Some of my greatest professional growth has happened when I accepted an opportunity before I felt completely prepared for it. There will always be a reason to wait: I need more experience. I need another credential. Someone else probably knows more than I do.
That is when I remind myself: If not you, then who?
Turning Doubt Into Motivation
Hard work and resilience have played a significant role in my success. I have also developed a bit of a "tell me I can't, and I'll show you I can" mentality.
Criticism and doubt are inevitable, particularly when you are growing or taking on greater responsibility. I have learned that I cannot allow someone else's perception of me to determine what I believe I am capable of accomplishing.
That does not mean ignoring constructive feedback. Good leaders need feedback. It means learning the difference between feedback that helps you grow and doubt that causes you to shrink.
Confidence, for me, has not meant knowing everything. It has meant trusting that I can figure things out, surrounding myself with good people, and being willing to keep learning.
Leadership Is About People
As my career has progressed, my definition of leadership has changed.
Leadership is not simply having a title or being the person who makes the decisions. It is creating an environment where people can grow. It is setting expectations while providing support. It is recognizing potential in someone and giving them opportunities to develop it.
You can be ambitious and kind. You can hold people accountable and still lead with compassion. You can have high expectations while remaining approachable.
I want the people I work with to know that I expect their best because I believe they are capable of it-and that I am invested in helping them succeed.
Building Something of My Own
My professional journey also includes something deeply personal.
In 2021, I established C&Y Accounting Services, an accounting firm rooted in a dream I once shared with my mother. We were supposed to build and run the business together, but she passed away from cancer in 2010.
Starting the business years later became a way of carrying a piece of that dream forward.
Today, C&Y allows me to use my accounting and tax experience to help individuals and small businesses while building something of my own. When I eventually retire from public service, I plan for the business to become my primary professional focus.
That experience has reminded me that our paths do not always unfold according to the timeline we imagined. A dream can change, be delayed, or take a different form and still be worth pursuing.
Success Is More Than a Title
My family has always been one of my greatest sources of motivation, and my faith keeps me grounded. Both have influenced how I define success.
Success is certainly about setting goals and being proud of what you accomplish, but I believe it is also about the impact you have along the way.
Did you help someone grow? Did you make something better than you found it? Did you treat people with respect? Did you follow through when people were counting on you? Did you have the courage to try something that scared you?
Those questions matter to me.
Integrity, accountability, compassion, service, and people are at the heart of how I try to live and lead. Whether I am serving members and retirees, developing my team, running C&Y Accounting Services, participating in my community, or simply being there for my family, I want people to know they can trust me, depend on me, and know that I genuinely care.
Step Forward
If I could leave other women with one message, it would be this: Do not wait until you feel completely ready.
Ask the question. Apply for the position. Take the class. Start the business. Volunteer for the project. Find the mentor. Walk into the room even when you are unsure whether you belong there.
You will not know everything, and you do not need to.
Be willing to learn. Be willing to be uncomfortable. Believe in what you bring to the table, and do not let criticism or fear decide how far you are willing to go.
Sometimes the opportunity you are waiting for begins when you stop asking whether you are ready and start asking yourself:
If not me, then who?
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