Her Story
About Demi
I originally wanted to own a restaurant and was really passionate about it. I worked in the restaurant field for over 10 years, bartending in Baltimore and serving as a key employee at Maggiano's Little Italy. I got into business admin at school but found it boring, so I decided to switch it up and learn the back end of an organization through accounting. I loved the story that accounting told and really enjoyed how debits and credits balance. I realized it was an influential field that gives guidance and provides a lot of insight for individuals. I started volunteering really early and loved the nonprofit work. I didn't want to be just another corporate cog - I wanted to help with public good, public safety, and public health. I wasn't really into programmatic work, so I thought nonprofit accounting would be it, and it was helpful. Now I work with nonprofits and associations, jumping from client to client based on whatever needs are outlined by their management, employees, and the public. I help bring structure to organizations built by volunteers, showing them there's structure, software, and internal controls available. I also organize in my community with DC Dyke March, managing their accounting information and helping them allocate funds appropriately to organizations at the end of their march. It's great to work in accounting and see the big picture, the smaller picture, and then the smaller microcosm that I can actually influence.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Demi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think a lot of it sometimes is fear of failing, honestly. A lot of marginalized groups really have no choice - it's everything or nothing. Our parents kind of just beat it into us. Sometimes I get scared that that's what all my drive is. But then, at the end of the day, I think it's always just my loved ones. That's the only reason I'm actually successful. Their grace, their kindness allows me to be empathetic, allows me to see everything from another point of view. It allows me to kind of be human about everything. I've seen so many people be so successful, and the best ones are just the most human - the people that understand error, the people that know that you're trying. And I love that.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think it's something that I try to instill into my staff all the time. Everyone in all these job descriptions are always asking for you to be a self-starter, to do this and that. But I think sometimes all they really want to tell people is that you have the agency to make whatever change you see, or believe in, or are passionate about, and all you have to do is literally do it. It's hard for people to see that and orient themselves to 'I can do that.' People always ask for permission, they look for 100% complete guidance. I think that's what I like about accounting as well, because everything's nuanced - there's assumptions and nuances. Even with humanity, you have to understand all of it. I would just tell them: you have agency, and you don't have to wait for anyone to tell you what to do.
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