Her Story
About Sonia
My journey into asset management began about four years ago, though I've been working as an executive assistant for 15 years now. What really inspired me was a temporary role I had at a construction company where I met so many people and touched so many different lines of the business. That experience led me to dive deeper into asset management, specifically on the commercial side. Today, I support teams not just in the U.S., but also across Latin America, including Mexico, Peru, and Santiago, Chile. I work with high-profile investors from around the globe, and the U.S. is such a predominant industry in this space. I actually started my career as a marketing assistant at Metabo Corporation, a German power tool company that's now part of Hitachi. When the CEO's executive assistant retired unexpectedly, he started giving me little projects and helping him navigate through his emails. That relationship, that connection, that confidentiality of things - I felt so comfortable pursuing it, and it led me to continue this journey. I went to school for marketing, and I think the combination of that and being a people person has really helped me excel in this role. As an executive assistant, I do everything from deep dives and benchmarking to strategizing new processes. It's a non-stop role - from the time I get up, I'm already thinking about how to make processes more efficient, reading emails from executives, and identifying what we're going to prioritize today. Thursdays are my home office day where I can decompress from the past few days, and Sundays I use to refresh and see what's in the pipeline for the rest of the week. To me, the greatest satisfaction is seeing the success of others from the effort I've done behind the scenes that no one knew about. Their success becomes my success, and that's what makes me so passionate about continuing this journey as an executive assistant.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sonia
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My mentor has been my team. Speaking directly with vice presidents, getting involved in meetings, and understanding what's important - that's been my guidance. The most meaningful lesson I've learned is about the importance of having great relationships with investors and creating a good, positive environment. Because without a relationship, there's no business. You can have the greatest offering, greatest solutions, but the most important part is to build a good relationship and a good profile with your clients.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Besides being confident, be comfortable in your role. Have passion for seeing the success of others, and most important, just love your job, love what you do. Because without it, every little task that comes last minute will feel draining. Foster a good, positive environment. I think nowadays, it is so critical with so much competition in the market that without fostering not just the integrity, but the passion of what you're doing, it would not make you successful in the role.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe challenges come along almost every day, especially now with this high tech of AI. But to me, that personal touch of who you are would never be an obstacle from all these challenges that are occurring. We live in this amazing world where you never know what we're going to end up with in the next 10 years - what's the new invention, what's the new technology that will make you feel frightened and concerned. But the more you continue building relationships and fostering that good work environment, that would never be a blockage within your career. Your personality, your drivers - those would never be a blockage from your success and staying within the industry.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is the most important value to me, along with accountability. I believe in being proactive and understanding the needs of others and ways you can support them. I'm a person that always goes above and beyond, and their success becomes my success. Being an executive assistant is a broad role, and sometimes we do things underneath the spotlight - not in the spotlight. It's to see that you have been able to succeed, to see the success of others from your effort that was done behind the scene that no one knew. That's the greatest satisfaction in what has made me so passionate about continuing this journey as an executive assistant.
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