Her Story
About Sughra
With over 25 years in finance and accounting, my journey has been built on growth, learning, and adaptability.
I began my career at, where I spent nearly 22 years developing my foundation in finance. Starting as an Assistant Financial Controller, I was fortunate to have Stuart Carlitz, former president of BIA, who allowed me to grow, learn, and advance into leadership roles early in my career. Fresh out of college, having someone trust you, guide you, and give you opportunities across different areas of finance and operations can truly shape your entire career, and I will always be grateful for that mentorship and opportunity.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in leadership roles across finance and HR, and today I work as Regional Financial Controller at, overseeing operations across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.
As a single mother of three daughters, I’ve learned the importance of resilience, hard work, and never giving up — values that continue to shape both my personal life and professional journey.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is working with diverse teams across the globe — from Australia and the UK to the Caribbean and North America. Coming from Pakistan myself, I truly value learning from different cultures, perspectives, and ways of working.
My expertise is in financial reporting, auditing, and process improvement, and I’m currently focused on helping lead our transition into the SAGE ERP system.
What I’ve learned throughout my career is simple:
Never stop learning. Never underestimate yourself. Stay open to growth, no matter how experienced you become.
That mindset has been the key to my success, and I continue to carry it forward every day.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sughra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my willingness to learn and my openness to communication.
I’ve never believed in limiting myself or thinking something is beyond my ability. My mindset has always been simple: there is always a learning curve, and you have to stay open to it. Even now, in a senior role overseeing assistant controllers and CPAs, I continue to learn from others — sometimes it’s revisiting basic Accounting 101 concepts I learned years ago but haven’t used recently.
For me, growth comes from staying curious and never assuming you know it all. I strongly believe you can learn from everyone — whether they are more junior or more senior. If you stay open to the idea that someone else may have a better perspective, you continuously grow.
Communication has also played a big role in my journey. I am very open, very transparent, and I value dialogue. As my girls often say, I “love to talk,” but more importantly, I believe communication builds understanding, trust, and better decision-making.
At the core, my success comes down to two things: never stopping learning and never closing yourself off to new ideas.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the finance and accounting industry is simple: believe in your ability to grow, even when you don’t feel fully ready yet.
You don’t need to know everything on day one — or even year one. What matters most is your willingness to learn, ask questions, and stay open to feedback. Every role I’ve held has come with a learning curve, and I’ve learned that growth happens when you stay curious instead of afraid.
Don’t limit yourself by thinking “I can’t do this.” Replace that with “I will learn how to do this.” That mindset alone can take you very far
Also, don’t underestimate the value of communication. Speak up, ask questions, and share your thoughts. The best ideas don’t always come from the most senior person — they come from people who are engaged and willing to contribute.
I also draw inspiration from strong historical figures such as Fatima binte Muhammad, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, who is remembered for her strength, resilience, and dedication to her family and responsibilities. Her example reminds me of the importance of strength, patience, and grace.
And finally, never stop learning from those around you — whether they are juniors or seniors. Every person you work with has something to teach you if you stay open to it.
Finance is not just about numbers — it’s about confidence, curiosity, resilience, and continuous growth.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in finance and accounting right now is the pace of change — especially with new systems, automation, and evolving reporting expectations. Staying accurate while adapting quickly is a constant balance.
ERP implementations like SAGE bring great opportunities for better efficiency, standardization, and reporting, but they also require strong coordination, training, and change management across teams.
At the same time, finance is shifting more toward real-time insights and business partnering, which is a great opportunity for professionals to move beyond reporting and add more strategic value.
Overall, it’s a challenging but very exciting time for the finance profession.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me in both my work and personal life are respect and mutual understanding.
Mutual understanding means recognizing that others may think differently, and making the effort to listen, understand, and treat every perspective with respect. It is never about an “I know it all” mindset.
I also value open communication and being approachable, because I believe everyone has something meaningful to contribute.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · New Jersey
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.