Her Story
About Diana
I manage a CPA office for Pereira and Company, where I've been for a little over 2 years. My background was in manufacturing and warehousing in Dalton, Georgia, the carpet capital of the world, and I also worked at Amazon. While pursuing my degree in business administration from South University online, I realized I needed to step out of my comfort zone and move into something more corporate. I actually found this position through a Craigslist listing, which sounds sketchy, but when I came for the interview, the owner Hubert Pereira, who has been in the CPA business for 20 years, saw something in me even though I didn't have managerial experience at the time. He has become my mentor and really pushes me to grow. My main area of expertise is administrative work, keeping everything tidy at the office, managing files, keeping everything organized with our tax clients, and making sure the office is stocked with paper during tax season. I'm currently working on getting my certificate in bookkeeping so I can help out with that on top of managing. My boss wants me to eventually learn to do taxes as well, but I'm taking it one step at a time so I don't overwhelm myself.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Diana
01What do you attribute your success to?
I definitely attribute my success to the fact that I drove myself, because I didn't have a lot of privilege growing up and I kind of came from a little bit of dysfunction. When I had my kids, I just was like, I have to do my best to be the best, to give the best. And then I just went for it. So, I guess you could say my kids. They are my motivation to break the cycle and create a better life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of my supervisors at Amazon told me that if I wanted to get far, I needed to not be complacent, and I needed to not be comfortable. She said that when I learned something and I had it down pat, that meant I needed to learn something else. That advice really stuck with me and has driven me to keep pushing myself and expanding my skills rather than staying in my comfort zone.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that they need to really just have that mentality of get it done. Like, I'm capable, I can do it. There's nothing that can't be done. And just go for it. You have to believe in yourself and your abilities, and not let anything hold you back from pursuing what you want to achieve.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I feel like one of the most valuable things in both aspects is just that family, that trust, that family dynamic, because you can have it at work, too. You can trust your coworkers enough to where they feel like family. That sense of connection and trust is what makes both my work environment and personal life meaningful and successful.
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