Influential Woman · Private Investment Fund

Francesca Arzola

Executive Assistant, Leon Capital Group

Dallas, TX

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's degree in Political Science Degree Texas A&M University Degree Master's in Business Administration (in progress) Degree Texas Women's University Degree Master's in Management (in progress)

Her Story

About Francesca

I'm an executive assistant at a private investment fund family office, where I've been for two months now. My journey to this position took two years of persistent job searching after working in software sales at a startup that went under. During that time, I worked part-time as a personal assistant while applying to countless jobs and going to numerous interviews. I was very firm on the salary I was looking for and exactly what I wanted, and there were times where I wanted to give up and just settle, but I'm actually very happy with waiting it out because I got what I wanted salary-wise and I'm in the industry I was looking for. My key responsibilities include calendar management, booking travel, ad hoc duties like ordering gifts and hand-delivering important documents, and supporting a handful of very busy executives. I'm also taking on special projects like working on the company website and helping to change the entire layout, which is awesome experience in areas like marketing. Since the company is growing really fast and they need help in different areas, I wear different hats and help out wherever help is needed. I value being proactive and moldable, staying open to feedback and learning rather than being stuck in my ways, because these executives are in their positions for a reason and I try not to take anything to heart while being very flexible and proactive.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Francesca

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to never giving up and sticking to my objectives and values. During my two-year job search, I was very firm on the salary range I was going for, and some of the jobs I was interviewing for said that's not what they were looking for, or they wanted to diminish my work, but I knew what I was worth and what I could bring to the table. So just sticking with my objectives and my values of what I could bring, and then in the end, somebody will see that potential and value that you have. I also believe in being proactive and moldable. Life is about learning and being moldable and flexible, and that's what I try to be. I don't take anything to heart and try to be very flexible and proactive, because obviously these people are in their position where they are for a reason.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is to just never give up and stick to your motives and objectives. I thought about settling during my job search, and I was very firm on the salary range I was going for. Some of the jobs I was interviewing for said that's not what they were looking for, or they wanted to diminish my work, but I knew what I was worth and what I could bring to the table. So just sticking with my objectives and my values of what I could bring, and then in the end, somebody will see that potential and value that you have.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say just never give up and stick to whatever you're looking for. Keep at it, because somebody in the end will see your value and potential, and then it will all work out in your favor. It took me two years to get to where I was looking for, and I was thinking about settling, but I just kept persevering because I knew my value, I knew my potential, and what I was worth. In the end, somebody will see that value and potential in you and take on that risk. So definitely just never give up.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now involve being able to multitask and wear different hats. Since I work at a family office and the company's growing really fast, they need help in different areas, so I help out wherever help is needed. I'm taking on a few projects, like working on their company website where they want to change the entire layout, which I never expected. That's awesome experience to learn the back end of that, which ties in with marketing. So just wearing different hats and wherever help is needed, doing the best that you can.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, collaboration, adaptability, and ethics and honesty.

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