Her Story
About Stephanee
I've been working in my field for the last 8 years, starting in banking where I focused on implementations and owned the product of OFAC, FinCEN, and ACH compliance. I was recruited by my current company to work in supply chain and regulatory compliance, which was a natural transition given my compliance background. My main areas of expertise are project management and implementation. In my role, I manage relationships with different clients, making sure their technical requirements are properly articulated and that the deliverables we promised are put out on time. I serve as the neutral third party in the equation, ensuring our enterprise technical program managers have what they need to configure and implement systems while making sure client outcomes are delivered and customers are satisfied with the software. When regulatory changes come up, I advocate on behalf of clients. My most notable professional achievement has been solidifying the role of a technical program manager in my early 30s without going the traditional route, but really learning my way through. I'm also the assistant director at a daycare and am being groomed to take over the family business. I'm currently working on getting into law school because I want to put myself in a position to be a front line for someone else and be a voice for others, especially in these days and times.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stephanee
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being myself authentically and being a people person. My parents are entrepreneurs, so I've never seen my parents work for anyone else, and I always knew that if I went the route of corporate, I'd have to get myself up there quickly because I don't want to really answer to people like that. Having that self-determination and confidence instilled as a child, and being able to just know that the world is my oyster and I can make of it what I want, has been foundational. I really focus on being myself authentically and being able to just be a people person and lead with that, because that's honestly what's guided my career. I haven't had to apply for a job in I don't know when, and it's really just word of mouth of who I am and my integrity. When you take care of people and engage people, everything else will work itself out. I'm Stephanie all day, every day, because that's the best person that I could be. Having self-awareness and confidence will write your ticket any day. Being me has literally opened doors.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Honestly, I haven't received career advice that I follow because I think that everyone is so focused on what they do and how they do it, it becomes their identity. I try to get away from asking anyone advice when it comes to my trajectory because I know who I am and I know my purpose. I've seen how careers really just change people when their career changes and they're not able to do what they're known for doing, and it kind of just crushes them. I honestly shy away from anyone giving me advice because it's always so centered on getting to the next level, when people don't really understand that when you take care of people and engage people, everything else will work itself out. The best advice I can share is what a personal banker once told me when she approached me while I was shopping with friends. She said she wanted to interview me because 'I can't train your personality. I can teach you everything you need to know about banking, but I can't train someone to have your personality.' That stuck with me, and being me has literally opened doors.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are authenticity, integrity, helping people, and being a voice for others. I believe in being myself all day, every day, because that's the best person I could be. My integrity and who I am as a person have guided my career through word of mouth. I'm extremely passionate about anything that helps the community, uplifts others, and advocates for others. I think it's really important to see yourself and have compassion in others, but also be a voice and not just sit back and watch things happen. In the current climate, this has really motivated me to not only have a voice but actually put something behind that so my voice actually matters, which is why I want to attend law school. I want to put myself in a position to be a front line for someone else. I also value self-determination, confidence, and the belief that the world is my oyster and I can make of it what I want. When you take care of people and engage people, everything else will work itself out.
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