Her Story
About Sarah
Sarah Chabayta is transitioning from business management into wealth management. After four years in her previous field, she decided to pivot and has been preparing by studying for certifications in finance. She graduated from Arizona State University with a business communication degree and earned her SIE certification this past year, with plans to complete two additional certificates. In her new role, Sarah will begin as an assistant for financial advisors, supporting their day-to-day operations and helping create structure for the team while she gains further qualifications to provide financial advice herself. She also works with the nonprofit AYA Art Co, where she helps manage operations and has grown the team to twice its size in recent months. Her inspiration for entering finance comes from growing up in the Middle East and witnessing female family members lack autonomy over their finances, motivating her to promote financial literacy especially for women. Sarah attributes her success to her family and grandmother, who modeled bravery, strength, and a commitment to knowledge and breaking barriers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family, and my grandma, because she showed me what it means to be a brave, strong, outspoken woman who values knowledge, and always becoming smarter, and always breaking barriers. I credit my success to her and my younger self for always believing in myself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to always dream big, and especially as a woman, be confident. Know to take up space in that your voice matters. Being a woman, sometimes it's harder to be taken seriously, so taking up space and having confidence in your abilities, and to trust yourself, and to dream big. Go for it. I don't have to have everything figured out.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be humble. Always learn, always be willing to learn, have that confidence in your ability, and entrust yourself that even though something's new, and it might be hard. Just work your way through it, and never lose the end vision of the woman you want to be.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now with this career transition is really entering a new industry, especially one that has a lack of female presence, just understanding the ropes and getting my footing, and getting my foot in the door, really, and just pivoting directions. I'm in a way, starting over, career-wise, from what I've been building the past couple years, which can be scary.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value integrity in all the work that I do. I value making an impact with in whatever role that I hold, when whatever conversation I'm having with any person, inside or outside of the business. Creating value and impact where I go, definitely.
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