What’s your role in the firm, and how do you make a difference?

I am an audit partner with a keen interest in learning and development. I believe that to be a successful firm, we need to invest in developing the leadership and professional skills of our staff. This will result in stronger future leaders, who stay at the firm and in turn help develop others.

Who is/was the biggest influence in your business life and how did s/he shape who you’ve become?

When Gayle Whittemore merged her nonprofit practice into our firm in 2004, she became not only a mentor to me, but also a sponsor. She opened my eyes to the amazing world of nonprofits, encouraged me to develop my professional skills and gave me opportunities to use them. Now I am leading the Nonprofit Practice at the firm, involved in numerous nonprofits and am the president and chief philanthropy officer for GHJ Foundation.

Describe the best thing about GHJ and why it matters to you.

Many companies do not make a real commitment to the hiring and advancement of women; it is not part of their culture. But I am happy to say that at GHJ, our women count.

What issues in our community do you care most about, and how does that motivate you?

There are far too many women in Los Angeles County experiencing homelessness. Many factors may drive a woman to the streets – domestic violence, lack of affordable housing, job loss and unemployment, lack of a social support network, mental illness, physical disability or substance abuse. At the Downtown Women’s Center, we know housing first is key to an individual’s successful transition out of homelessness and 95 percent of the women we serve remain housed permanently. I am proud to be part of the solution.

If I weren’t an accountant/consultant, I’d be a __________________. Why?

An archaeologist. Influenced by my Italian grandmother, who was passionate about the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, and who could spend hours in museums and archaeological sites, I used to think I’d like to be an archaeologist. I studied Greek and Roman Literature and Philosophy at the University of Cape Town, but that is as far as I got. I do, however, love traveling in Italy!