Main Responsibilities Of A Functional Owner, Finance Operations At PowerSchool

I ended up working through my time in college. Looking back, this approach helped me start making connections in the professional sector early on. It also allowed me to build experience on my resume.

I started my professional career at Blue Shield of California shortly after transferring to Sac State for my undergrad. Working full-time while also going to school full-time was difficult, but it helped me fine-tune my time management skills and ensure I met deadlines on both fronts.

It also allowed me to utilize Blue Shield's education reimbursement benefits, which helped me avoid student loans. I was fortunate to have fantastic leaders at Blue Shield who helped me grow professionally and saw my potential.

I started at Blue Shield as a member-level processor, an entry-level position focused on data entry. After nearly two years, a new multifunctional team was being set up. I was given the opportunity to lead this project and serve as an interim supervisor.

This was my first leadership position, and I was setting up a new team, which was a bit stressful. Adding to that, I was also starting my graduate degree. I graduated with my undergrad in December and began my graduate degree in January. I was promoted to interim supervisor in February, so a lot was happening simultaneously, but I thrived on that chaos.

This experience provided visibility with senior leadership, especially after successfully setting up the team and transitioning into the permanent supervisor role. I continued with Blue Shield for about a year and a half after that before shifting gears.

I remained in the healthcare sector, transitioning to DXC Technology, which later became Gainwell Technologies. They do contract work with governments, particularly for Medi-Cal, providing tech support and customer service. I was hired to set up a team for Medi-Cal RX pharmacy representatives.

This team was needed due to new legislation requiring trainers to prepare providers and members for changes with Medi-Cal RX. I was there for about a year before moving to Adventist Health for a management position within their HR team. I enjoyed my brief time there but realized shortly after joining that it wasn't the right position for me.

I was looking to make a career change, and around that time, a former leader from Blue Shield reached out about an opportunity at PowerSchool. This was a completely different sector from healthcare, which had been my focus for my degrees. It was a bit scary to move away from what felt like a clear path in healthcare.

Transitioning into education technology was one of the best decisions I've made. I love the sector, the constant change, and the energy it brings. I'm happy to be here and excited about my current position, where I partner with many people and work on diverse projects. It keeps me engaged and everything a little different, which I really enjoy.