Finding my own path…

Careers aren’t always linear; but what matters is having a goal, and pursuing it.

I wasn’t very goal-oriented when I was younger, but once I started college, I learned the importance of setting and pursuing goals. With my grandfather and father both CPAs, accounting felt like the natural choice, even if I didn’t fully realize then how it would shape my career.

Upon graduation, I joined a CPA firm and pursued my CPA certification – that was my first major goal. As a young CPA/consultant, I attended audit committee meetings, supporting my directors and partners presenting audit results and recommendations to management. Those experiences planted a bigger goal in me: one day, I wanted to sit on the other side, as part of management, listening to external auditor’s recommendations and helping shape management decisions.

After many years into public accounting and a few CPA firms later, I realized the traditional partner track, a linear path ingrained in CPA firms, wasn’t for me. I had bigger ambitions of moving into a company where I can contribute to management decisions, so I pivoted to industry and joined the internal audit department of an electric utility research company.

When I joined, the internal audit team reported to Legal and Compliance. As I learned more about the IA function and its charter, I recommended aligning audit under Finance with functional reporting to the Audit Committee, a change that was ultimately adopted. After a CFO transition and further reorganization, I was given expanded responsibilities, including managing direct reports (one a former peer and senior to me, which was a challenge I successfully navigated). I eventually became Head of Internal Audit, reporting functionally to the Audit Committee Chair and administratively to the CFO. In this role, I attended board meetings, engaged with external auditors, advised management on strategic decisions, and participated in annual planning while preserving audit independence. Goal achieved: I was now part of management, sitting on the other side of the boardroom table where I once presented as a CPA consultant.

But even reaching that milestone didn’t mean the road was easy. Like any career, mine has had its share of setbacks, challenges, and moments of self-doubt. What mattered was finding ways to adapt, learn, and keep moving forward.

After leaving CPA practice and working in the electricity industry, I set a new goal: move into technology. When my husband and I relocated to Silicon Valley, I wanted to be in the heart of innovation, and I achieved that by joining VMware’s Internal Audit department. While I had led the IA department in my prior role, at VMware – a much larger company in terms of scale and revenue – I was one of several audit managers. The advantage was joining at a pivotal time, as the Internal Audit function was undergoing transformational changes in scope of work. I worked closely with the Head of Americas Internal Audit to develop our annual risk assessment approach and audit plan for both the Americas and globally. It was an exciting period where I gained invaluable experience and deepened my knowledge of technology.

Over the next several years in Internal Audit, with opportunities to travel across the U.S. and abroad, I realized I wanted more than just auditing a business unit and recommending changes – I wanted to help execute them. VMware’s rotational “Take 3” program gave me that chance. I joined the GTM Transformation team, working across Product BUs, Marketing, Sales, and Sales Ops/Analytics to shape and deliver our GTM strategy. This role not only shifted my career direction but also significantly increased my earnings, allowing me to build my financial nest egg much faster. While the learning curve initially felt like drinking from a firehose, I soon realized the work was straightforward, though often made to look more complex than it really was. As of 2025, I’ve been in marketing and sales enablement for nearly four years – another career goal achieved: trying something different, earning more, and building my nest egg.

I believe we each own our careers. Others can guide us, enable us, or open doors along the way, but ultimately we’re the ones steering the path. I also think it’s important to hold some of our plans close, not because they exclude others, but because they’re still unfolding. I share what I can, but the full vision is mine to carry forward.

My story isn’t about a linear career path or chasing titles, it’s about building a fulfilling career through continuous learning, growth, and the courage to take on new challenges. Just as in ultrarunning, where I push myself to go farther, tackle harder terrains, and endure through the unknown, my career has been defined by resilience, adaptability, and mental stamina. The parallels are clear: both require endurance, persistence, and the will to keep moving forward when others might stop.

This journey isn’t a roadmap, but if there’s any key takeaway, it’s this: don’t be afraid to set new goals, even if they take you off the ‘expected’ path. The most meaningful growth often comes when you step into the unknown and outside your comfort zone. And just like an ultramarathon, my journey is far from over. The road ahead is still being written, one step, one challenge, one achievement at a time.

 

—- Author’s Note:

I wrote this during a long airport layover after visiting a friend in MN. The delays left me restless, but then I realized, I wasn’t traveling for work. While colleagues were at our big convention, I had the gift of time to reflect on my career.

I’ve worked 28 years: 12 in public accounting, 12 in Internal Audit (energy and tech), and the last 4 in Marketing/GTM. For a long time, I hid my age, not only because people might assume I should already be in C-suite, but also out of fear of age discrimination, especially when starting something new, whether an industry, focus area, or function, without years of experience behind me.

What I’ve realized is that fulfillment for me comes in middle management, leading, contributing, and still having the balance to pursue my passions outside of work. Running and sports have been a constant thread, and training for endurance races keeps me grounded, resilient, and energized.

It may not be the traditional definition of success, but it’s mine. And it’s been a rewarding ride.

I’m posting this to my running blog to capture the moment, and maybe I’ll share it on LinkedIn later.