Tabassum Asif

I attribute my success to the opportunities that life has given me and my determination to make myself count in this world. I immigrated here to the U.S. with my two children, and the encouragement of learning, combined with my desire to achieve and make myself counted, were my main driving forces. I didn't want anybody to introduce me by something else, but by myself. That desire to be recognized for who I am as an individual, not defined by others or my circumstances, has been fundamental to everything I've accomplished. The opportunities I've been given, paired with my commitment to never quit and always keep learning, have shaped my journey and my success.

The best career advice I've ever received came from one of my friends, and it has stayed with me throughout my journey. She told me that anyone can steal anything from you, but your skills and whatever you learn is part of you. Nobody can take it from you, anywhere. This advice resonates deeply with me because it reinforces my belief in the power of continuous learning and personal development. It reminds me that the knowledge and skills I acquire become an inseparable part of who I am, and that's something that can never be taken away, no matter what circumstances I face.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to keep yourself updated because everything is changing, and you cannot just say you know everything. Keep your eyes open and seize the opportunity. Never say no if something is presented to you. You should never say no to any opportunity given. You should take it, at least, and then decide if you are good for that or not. Sometimes you don't find success right away, but you will definitely learn. In this kind of industry, you cannot rely on just one area of knowledge. You need to have both the knowledge of computers and software, and the knowledge of finance to make your place in the industry. Learn the softwares as much as you can, and learn how the process of finance works. If you have a background of how taxes work, how financial situations work, and you have the knowledge of using different softwares like Power BI, AI, and CRM, then there are opportunities for you.

In my field of economic development and finance, the biggest opportunities lie in learning software and understanding how finance works. If you have a background of how taxes work, how financial situations work, and you have the knowledge of using different softwares like Power BI, AI, and CRM, then there are opportunities for you. In this kind of industry now, you cannot say that only finance work, or only having insight into how softwares work is enough. You have to take both parallel. You have to have the knowledge of computers and the knowledge of finance to go along with making your place in the industry. The challenge is that you need to continuously update yourself because everything is changing rapidly, and you cannot just say you know everything.

The values most important to me are to never quit and always learn. I believe that learning never goes to waste, and even if at this point I got to learn new things, I would definitely do it. People have asked me in interviews what my healthcare certifications are helping me in finance, or what my sociology is going to give me while working in economic development, but any learning never goes to waste. Right now, I'm doing my PMP, and I feel very fulfilled and excited about it. I love doing it. So I think learning is one of the best values I hold. Never quit, never be hopeless, never stop learning. If you follow these principles, you will find your way. The challenges I've faced have taught me that one of the biggest obstacles is listening to others who are not happy with your achievements, and the other is yourself when you procrastinate. But if you are thrilled and excited, you can do anything.