Crista Lopez
KPMG LLP
Los Angeles, CA USA
"I am excited every day to teach my staff and motivate them to learn and continue on their career path, and I have learned that I need to do the same for myself as I grow as a professional."
Career Roadmap
Crista 's work combines: Numbers, Education, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
James A Foshay Learning Center
Bachelor's Degree
Accounting
University of Southern California
Graduate Degree
Accounting
University of Southern California
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Accountants and Auditors:
Bachelor's Degree: Accounting
Graduate Degree: Accounting
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I applied to colleges! Half of my household didn't believe I should go to college, but I applied anyways and they supported my decision regardless of their misconceptions.
2.
I changed my major a total of three times. I started as an engineering major and quickly realized that it wasn't my path. I changed it one more time before I landed on accounting.
3.
College was hard to navigate without a support system. So I became involved with a program that motivated me to keep working, mentoring, and helping others. So much so I decided to work in higher-ED.
4.
I decided to get a PhD to become a professor and motivate students to join professional careers! As such, I forewent looking for any full-time jobs.
5.
I found out later that the accounting schools I was looking at required work experience. With the year almost over, I decided to do a master's program, so that I could get another change as a job.
6.
After a while, I would do my day to day job but I was having trouble being motivated. So I became more involved at my firm and it helped me reconnect with what I was missing.
7.
Now I am excited every day to teach my staff and motivate them to learn and continue on their career path, and I have learned that I need to do the same for myself as I grow as a professional.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Friends:
There is no place for someone like us in the places where you want to be.
How I responded:
I was disheartened. My friends were supposed to encourage me as I followed my goals, but their words made it seem like all of the work that I had put in was worthless; I had wasted my time following unachievable goals. I felt unseen, powerless, and humiliated. Even now, it can feel like an uphill battle due to the lack of representation and role models at times. Unlike before though, I know I can find a place, by creating place of inclusivity for others and myself.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When I started college, I didn't know how to navigate classes, nor what I should be doing to succeed. I felt lost, incompetent and lonely. So I reached out to friends and organizations on campus with students like me. Together we figured out our path