A first-generation student with her heart set on a career in finance, Mayra Gomez didn’t see a lot of women leaders in business when she was growing up.
That changed when she joined Cal State Fullerton’s Women’s Leadership Program.
“That was the first time in my life I saw women in business leadership roles. They were so successful in their careers, and I think that really helped me build my confidence and know that I can be there one day,” said Gomez.
The Women’s Leadership Program in the College of Business and Economics prepares students to succeed in top leadership positions by providing them with individualized mentorship from a certified career coach and opportunities to network with industry leaders and develop their business skills through immersive seminars.
Today, Gomez is one of those leaders, serving as a finance program manager for Google.
Working at one of the largest tech companies in the world, Gomez is in charge of improving the organization’s financial processes. She leads national and international projects that focus on studying, revising and improving operations, so that Google’s financial programs run smoothly.
“Cal State Fullerton helped me identify what I wanted to do after I graduated and helped me gain the leadership skills I needed to succeed in my career,” said Gomez ’18 (B.A. business administration-business economics and business analytics).
Opportunities to Become a Leader
Gomez has always been fascinated with numbers and finance.
“Coming from Oxnard, California, I was very interested in understanding what makes an economy successful, and how to generate economic growth and wealth,” she explained.
To expand her classroom experience, she took advantage of campus opportunities that not only bolstered her business portfolio, but also helped her build an important network of industry professionals.
She graduated in 2018 with a full-time job as an engagement financial adviser analyst for Deloitte — all thanks to a connection she made as part of the college’s Business Inter-Club Council.
“While I was working with the council, I met a student who had just gotten a job at Deloitte. During the next recruiting cycle, she encouraged me to apply,” said Gomez.
After landing her first job with Deloitte, Gomez moved on to a finance transformation consultant position with KPMG US, where she worked with clients to improve their financial processes and implement new technology.
During her undergraduate career, Gomez was involved in the university’s Sales Leadership Center, where she gained crucial sales experience, networked with corporate partners and graduated with a certificate of professional sales. She said the center taught her valuable skills like how to think strategically about branding and how to advocate for herself when it comes to professional growth opportunities.
Gomez also saw herself grow as a leader through her work with the CSUF Economics Association, where she gained experience managing a team, overseeing large-scale projects and motivating others to achieve a common goal.
“Mayra’s strong intellect was evident to me from the start. However, I most admired her strength of character. She always took full responsibility for her own learning, and I am not at all surprised that she has achieved success in her professional life,” said Andrew Gill, professor emeritus of economics.
Inspired by the Women’s Leadership Program and the impact that it had on her career in business, Gomez plans to continue working with the program in the future to meet with students and share her experiences.
“I didn’t have a lot of resources before I got involved in this program. When I graduated, I really wanted to come back and help others,” she said. “It means a lot to me to use my education and experiences to support others on their journeys.”