Her Story
About Sofia
Sofia Chalbaud is currently a university student double majoring in international business and accounting at the University of South Carolina, with her bachelor's degree expected to be completed in May 2028. She recently completed a two-month internship with Deloitte in Venezuela within a finance group, where she performed accounting tasks, learned to use SAP for data entry, handled bank reconciliations for Venezuelan and American banks, and translated terminology between Spanish and English. During her internship, an earthquake led to a pause in office work, during which she volunteered daily gathering medical assistance and clothing for those in need. Sofia is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting professional fraternity, and Lazo, her Latino organization, for which she creates a newsletter to support fellow students transitioning into the corporate world. She also volunteers with her former school, San Ignacio de Loyola, assisting with school supply gathering and distribution. Sofia attributes her success to leaning on others and emphasizing teamwork, drawing from her Venezuelan cultural background while adapting to American work environments. She values integrity, growth, resilience, patience, and humility in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sofia
01What do you attribute your success to?
Leaning on others and not trying to do everything alone. Teamwork with multiple inputs leads to the best results. Being able to work with others is very important, especially coming from Venezuelan culture into American individualistic culture.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
No doesn't mean no, it just means that maybe it's not the right time or the right path. There's going to be another door that's going to open for you, and just because one closes it doesn't mean that there isn't a billion more to knock on. From professor Dr. Ostergaard.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Try to find and hone primary technical skills in accounting, finance or marketing alongside international business. Don't lose hope because there are a lot of options. Research what you want and gain experience. Find balance between work and life.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Plenty of opportunities in international small business or accounting. Don't become anxious about the future or the hard job market. Enjoy the present, don't compare yourself to others, and swim in your own lane. Pivot if needed and hone skills.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Professional: Integrity (doing the right thing even when no one's watching), growth (renovating yourself), resilience. Personal: Patience and humility.
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