Her Story
About Erika
I've been with the same land surveying company for 13 years, and it's been an incredible journey. I came into this field from a medical assistant background, but honestly, medical just wasn't for me. When the opportunity came through family to help almost start up this company, I took it, and I haven't looked back. My main focus has always been customer service, though I help out other departments and really do a little bit of everything. What I love about land surveying is that while it's more consistent than the medical field, it's never stagnant. Every day brings a new challenge, something new to figure out, and opportunities to be a better teammate, employee, and leader. I'm very fortunate with the company I work for and the people I work with. I'm in a managerial position now, and my approach is always solution-oriented. I've learned from Disney employees that you won't have every answer, but as long as you offer to help to the best of your capacity, that's all you can really ask for. When there's an issue at a property or I'm going to be late on a file, I tell the client straight up what the problem is so we can come together and find a solution. I don't think there would be a shift in my career because I genuinely love what I do.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Erika
01What do you attribute your success to?
I'm a stubborn person, so when you tell me that I can't do something, I'm gonna do it. A lot of it also comes from my husband. My husband is more of an overthinker, where I'm a little bit more impulsive. So he definitely brings me down and centers me, and allows me to see things from a different point of view, and so I'm able to digest situations, or not be so hot-headed, or ready to fire and ready to jump. So a lot attributes to my husband, my stubbornness, and just really the love that I have for what I do. When I received the message from influential women, it was so inspiring and really lit a fire under my butt. It made me realize, okay, yeah, I do belong, and this is what I'm meant to do.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Learn it all. My advice is to be confident, and just try your best, and just be a sponge, and absorb it all in, and get your footing in, set into the ground in your position, and don't let anyone try to knock you down.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is definitely the most important value to me. There's a saying in Spanish that translates to 'advise soldiers, don't get injured in battle.' What that means, more specifically work-related, is that if I'm going to be late on a file, or if there's an issue at a property, I need to tell the client straight up what the problem is so that they can prepare, they can help us get documentation, or we come together and find a solution for it, but it doesn't catch them blindly or off guard. Another important value is just trying not to take things so serious. At the end of the day, I am a person with feelings, and I am a human. I've learned with age and with time that when someone is upset, it's not directed at Erica Sanchez the person, it is to the entity that is this company. I always just try to remind myself that we are all part of the same team, with the same goal at the end of the day. I can't take it personal, I can only do my best. And if my best isn't good enough for someone, then I try to help them somewhere else, or get them to someone who can.
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