DeWinter Associates welcomes the division's newest Executive Recruiter, Natalie Valdez. We've asked Natalie to answer a few questions regarding her past experiences and goals for the DeWinter Group. Make sure to take a look and welcome Natalie to the team!
Email: nvaldez@dewintergroup.com
Phone: (415) 316-0702
Q&A WITH NATALIE VALDEZ
How long have you worked in accounting & finance? Recruiting?
I started my career at PwC and spent about three years in audit focusing on financial services clients. Thereafter I spent about six years in the fund accounting & operations space and worked my way up the ladder to manager & vice president before making the career change to recruiting.
How were you introduced to the recruiting industry?
I was a recruiting champion for PwC way back in the day (2008) and spent a lot of time "identifying" candidates for full-time and internship positions. It was super fun and I never realized it could be something I could do later down the line in my career.
Why do you look forward to working within accounting & finance talent acquisition?
My whole passion lies in the fact that I'm helping individuals in a career space that was once my own. I want to make people feel comfortable having real conversations about accounting and getting to know what's important to them. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
If you were to provide advice to peers in accounting and finance seeking to develop their careers, what would it be?
My advice to them would be... don't ever get too comfortable or complacent in a role. Once you feel like you aren't developing or moving forward in your career, it's time to start looking for that new fresh opportunity to challenge yourself. Always shoot for the stars, even if they look unattainable and out of reach!
How did you first learn about the DeWinter Group?
The amazing Nathalie Ha and I had an hour-long meeting one Sunday morning while I was visiting SF and still living in LA. We kept our relationship strong a year later when I picked her brain over lunch about recruiting and DeWinter and decided to make the jump.
What are 3 words to describe the DeWinter Group (or your impression thus far)?
Collaborative, Fun and Hardworking!
How do you plan on developing the DeWinter Group? What are your goals for the coming year?
My goal this year is to create as many deep connections as I can with the candidates I meet and leverage my own career experience to provide real life examples of what it's like in the accounting world. I'm also excited to learn from my colleagues and one day become an expert in the market.
How do you plan on practicing the DeWinter Group's Mission Statement: 'We Build Our Network One Relationship at a Time'?
I plan on having more face to face contact and initiate real conversations with candidates about what they value in their career. I feel like relationships always hold more weight when there's a deeper connection rather than feeling like just another acquaintance.
How do you plan on balancing your career at the DeWinter Group and free time?
My goal is to set priorities for myself and expand my network in the bay area. That said, the work life balance at DeWinter is much easier than when you're a manager in the accounting world, no more crazy deadlines or quarter-end deliverables!
If you woke up and had 2,000 unread emails and could only answer 300 of them, how would you choose which ones to answer?
I'm pretty good at filtering out the urgent emails and prioritizing by time stamp. I'm also a folder snob so I love filing away my emails!
FUN QUESTIONS
Where are you originally from? Los Angeles! Specifically the Inland Empire.
What's your favorite thing to do in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley? Walking! In Southern California, you're limited to your car and driving in traffic so I have a new found love of walking for days and finding all the hidden coffee shops & restaurants!
What did you originally want to be when you grew up? A teacher & dancer!!
What’s your favorite ’90s jam? This is hard, but I LOVE 90's hip hop, so I gotta say Warren G - Regulate. I can rap the entire song.
