Her Story
About Deborah
I have been in business administration for 26 years. I graduated from accounting back in the 2000s and immigrated from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts. Being a Hispanic woman, it was a challenge for me, but I never gave up. I continued knocking on doors and went back to school, taking marketing and management on top of my accounting bachelor's degree because nobody was believing in a woman being in business administration. But my passion for what I was believing was more than what everyone wouldn't believe, and I continued walking in education and knocking on doors until finally I had the opportunity to work in what I love. Doors keep opening every day, and walking with God's hands, I am where I am today, where I can have my family, my kids financially free, and see them also following their dreams, working hard, studying, and believing in themselves. Currently, I serve as CFO at Stavros, a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities, overseeing operations that move $10 million yearly and maintaining those doors open to help people and provide employment to more than 100 people. I also run my own accounting office. Additionally, I opened an online fashion boutique for women 15 years ago, inspired by my two daughters' passion for fashion. My older daughter went to pageants starting at 3 years old and was top 20 for Miss USA. Throughout my career, I've been constantly working in accounting, finance, marketing, and helping entrepreneurs in the community build and maintain their businesses through seminars and marketing support.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Deborah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my character and my persistence of never giving up. When I came here 26 years ago from Puerto Rico as a Hispanic woman, it was a challenge for me. But I never gave up. I continued knocking on doors and went back to school, taking marketing and management on top of my accounting bachelor's degree because nobody was believing in a woman being in business administration. My passion for what I was believing was more than what everyone wouldn't believe, and I continued walking in education and knocking on doors until finally I had the opportunity to work in what I love. Doors keep opening every day, and walking with God's hands, I am where I am today.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never lose your dream. When I came here 26 years ago from Puerto Rico and being a woman, Hispanic, it was a challenge for me. But I never gave up. I continued knocking on doors. I went back to school. I took marketing and management on top of my accounting bachelor's degree because nobody was believing in a woman being in business administration. But my passion for what I was believing was more than what everyone wouldn't believe, and I continued walking in education and knocking on doors until finally I had the opportunity to work in what I love. Doors keep opening every day, and walking with God's hands, I am where I am today, where I can have my family, my kids financially free, and see them also following their dreams, working hard, studying, and believing in themselves.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, honestly, because it's been so many years and so many doors that I opened, I don't see any big challenge in myself. My name is pretty well known in my community, so those kinds of doors are already open. And at the same time, it's a happiness for me because I can feel that other people can walk through those doors that, at one point, they were closed for me. So now they're open for others.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honestly, responsibility and truth are the most important values to me.
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