Her Story
About Karina
Karina Holguin is a financial advisor with four years of experience in the finance industry. As a first-generation college graduate from Colorado State University, she earned her degree in finance and business administration before completing rigorous licensing to obtain her securities licenses. She works at a Fortune 500 company, where she is the youngest professional in her office and one of only two Latina women on the team, a role she views as a significant accomplishment due to the importance of representation. Karina's day-to-day involves meeting with clients and community members through genuine conversations to understand their stories and relationship with finances, alongside administrative responsibilities. She attributes her success to her mentors and managing partners who believed in her potential. Karina values community, trust, and loyalty above all, and she advises staying authentic and genuine in all interactions. She encourages young women entering the male-dominated finance field to create their own paths, follow in the footsteps of other women advisors, and work not only for themselves but for those who will follow.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Karina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I am very appreciative of my mentors and my current managing partners as well. Without those people who saw something in me that I could not see in myself, I would not be where I am today. It's amazing what your village can do when they believe in you.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Being able to stay authentic to yourself and genuine with everybody that you meet will get you farther than pretending to be something else will ever get you. People can always sense when you're genuine, and I think it's a compliment when they open up to you, and they trust you in terms of sharing their life experiences with you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Strive and create a path that we are meant to be in. Especially in the finance world, it's obviously very male-dominated, but representation is everything. If we follow in the footsteps of other women advisors and mentors, we can continue to fill that space and utilize that space in the best way possible. Continue to do it not just for yourselves, but those coming after you as well.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest thing would be shifting the mindset within my community and underserved communities to having a relationship with a financial advisor and what that means. Showing internally that the value is there, and that we can support the community and provide resources, but also showing those people that it is beneficial to have somebody guide you through personal and business finances.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
First and foremost, community. I value community a lot. I think also trust, loyalty. I think those would be the biggest ones.
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