MEET THE PROFESSIONAL
August 2019
Linda Rasamny
Ms. Linda Rasamny is a Finance Business Unit Lead at OST, Inc. where she provides leadership and guidance on the company’s finances, accounting, strategy, pricing & cost analysis, budgets and forecast functions.
Over the course of her career, Linda has become a Finance Leader with over 17 years of experience across diverse markets and industries. Beyond her extensive experience in the US market she has served on the Board of Directors of leading retail chains established in the Latin America & Middle East markets. Over the course of the last 13 years she has brought her experience into government cost accounting; providing leadership to drive processes which achieve profitable fiscal performance.
Linda is a supporter of professional networking and our mentoring program within our community. We are very excited to feature her as our professional in this month’s “Meet the Professional” series.
Below are a few questions to help facilitate this interactive connection. At the end of the page you will have an opportunity to post your own questions for Linda.
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Describe your current Occupation & Degree/s and Universities.
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacin (URBE), Venezuela
Please list any awards/recognitions/honors:
I have achieved professional certifications in the areas of finance, taxation and government contracting and multiple performance awards.
Discuss a moment or turning point in your life that led you to your career path:
It is funny but it almost feels like accounting chose me! As a child I was very passionate about pursuing a career in journalism, little did I know that at some point my professional passion and perspective would take a complete turn. Upon graduating high school, by coincidence (or destiny), I took a gap year from studying and joined my family at our shoe retail chain. My father started his latest business about 5 years prior and my brother was now starting to take the reins and pushing aggressively towards growth. As can be imagined our organization began to grow rapidly, quickly becoming one of the largest shoe retail chains in the Maracaibo metropolitan area. The business had a gap in the accounting operations, and I went “all in” with this accounting thing, sure that I would head back into journalism once we had everything stabilized. Life had other plans, I soon discovered that I was really quite good at working with numbers, I felt fluent with the seemingly numerical language of business. As I helped guide the business to further success, I felt a strong sense of accomplishment and knew then that this was the career for me. The following year I enrolled in the university’s accounting school.
Discuss a role model or mentor who influenced your career choice:
My parents were my biggest motivators, providing us with everything that we longed for as children. My father, ever the Businessman and Entrepreneur, taught me that success is achievable through patience, hard work and an eye towards opportunity. He emigrated to Venezuela at a young age and, with this philosophy and his characteristically endless patience, created his breaks. He navigated his prospects and transitioned from employee to management and eventually to entrepreneur, opening 4 successful businesses of his own. Most people that get to know me see my father; I take this as an immeasurable compliment.
My mother taught me that I could accomplish anything in life and that it would take perseverance and grit. Most importantly she taught me that motherhood is not a disability. Though for her, opportunities were not endless – she still found them. As my father was progressing his career, she seized on an opportunity and started her own cake bakery all while continuing to raise her family. My mother had many passions and instilled in us an appreciation for finding our own. She was fond of fashion and would take us to her weekly sewing classes, instructing us in countless artistic endeavors at home. The culinary world was also a part of her, it almost was her. We would spend hours together in the kitchen baking and cooking to our family’s delight – even when she became vegetarian. Here too she instilled a lesson, once you put your mind to something you commit, but you never force your choices on others. She has been a devout vegetarian for over 25 years, while never guilting the family for not following suite. To her credit, she did expand our pallet over the years.
My parents aggressively championed our education, engraining in us that through learning and observation we understand the world. This love of learning and observation are guiding principles that I continue to leverage today. My husband, who was raised similarly, and I strive to instill these values in our children. We want them to crave exploration through learning, to have a constant drive for knowledge; understanding that there is always more to learn and more to observe. Though Joe’s passions are around STEM and the arts, and mine are in business and culinary, our goal is the same, to have our children become productive members of society and our culture wherever their passions take them.
Do you recall any specific challenges you encountered and overcame?
Getting over the fear of breaking into a new industry/language/country was very challenging. I emigrated to the U.S. in 2005 after getting married; leaving behind a well-established accounting career and growing family business in Venezuela. As I acclimated to my new country, I began looking to continue my career, my first interviews in the states were complete failures. Loving a challenge, I soon found myself taking courses along with a temporary position as an accounts payable specialist to improve my marketability. I never gave up! I continued to develop the skills I was lacking to enhance my career. The perseverance paid off -soon I was being pursued by multiple organizations, OST being one. The opportunity to join a young, growing and energetic company spoke my language and I once again went “all in”. The drive and determination bestowed on me by my parents continued to pay dividends. I seized on opportunities for growth and advancement, eventually becoming the youngest member of the organizations executive team routinely sitting in – and heading C-Suite meetings and presentations.
For many career-driven women (myself included) and as mother of 3 boys I am faced with the challenges of being their best mom and giving the best of me at the office. I’ve been fortunate enough to grow my career while enjoying my family; the support and motivational role of my husband Joe has been crucial to overcome this challenge.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
I see myself continuing to grow as a financial & business professional, joining the C-Suite at a senior level and enjoying my time as a mother. My goal is to extend my leadership experiences and help lift other women and mothers in their pursuit of excellence in their careers.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
In order to succeed in accounting or business and most any career in general, you must find love in what you do. I know that sounds odd, loving accounting, numbers, ledgers and meetings?? Trust me, this can and will develop over time as you find success – and if you have the drive. At the beginning, in accounting, you will find that the day-to-day work requires a lot of investigation, math and attention to detail. As you progress through your career you will be exposed to new ideas and teams and if you “put yourself out there” your creative side will be given a chance to flourish. Opportunities to provide guidance and advice will arise often leading to leadership roles, which require a great deal of creativity! Leadership roles in accounting and in other segments of business will present themselves if you keep pushing forward, you must be open to them and not fear the challenge. Most importantly, I want to remind my fellow mothers and ladies in business, you can do anything – life has prepared you for far more than any business or career could throw at you. Use your energy and your life experience, grab those opportunities and never let go!
Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of your field:
Nothing gives me more joy then spending time with my family and enjoying outdoors and my favorite hobby is cooking. I really have become my parents.
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