Her Story
About Daisy
Daisy Castro serves as a Management Analyst in the city manager's office for Lake Elsinore, California. With more than a decade of experience in government service, she began her career at the Superior Courts of California before spending seven years at a school district and recently transitioning to municipal government one month ago. In her role, Castro assists with policy creation, such as developing an e-bike ordinance and safety course for students, monitors budgets to support community programs, and works to make government information transparent and accessible to residents. A first-generation college and graduate student, she earned her bachelor's degree from Cal State San Marcos, where she participated in the AmeriCorps Justice Corps program interning in family law at the courts, and she recently completed her Master's of Business Administration. Castro attributes her success to the advice to do it and do it scared, emphasizing empathy in serving communities and advocating for residents, students, and litigants. Her long-term goal is to become an attorney and establish her own law firm.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Daisy
01What do you attribute your success to?
Do it and do it scared. As a first-generation college student and graduate student, it's easy to feel unqualified or that you don't belong, but knowing your strengths and passions will make you stand out.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do it and do it scared. Especially as a first-generation everything, don't get in your head about not being qualified or not belonging due to background or age.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Start as early as possible, volunteer in your local communities, reach out to local government, courts or school districts. Learn everything you can, learn about the community, and go for it. Do it and do it scared. Remember you have every opportunity you set your mind to, even if you have to work twice or three times as hard.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest difficulty is getting information accessible to the communities. Communities often feel they don't have the information they need. On the government side, it's about making information transparent and accessible so people understand it and it assists them.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy. It's important to remember, especially when you're sometimes so far removed from the people that you're serving, to be empathetic towards the situations that people bring, and not get so caught up on the minutiae. Behind the numbers and data are real people with real issues.
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