¶ … laptop on the tray table in front of me. Business class roominess is so much more conducive to getting work done, I think, as my spreadsheet application opens. Legs casually crossed in front of me, cranberry juice at my side, I review my work on the company's financial statements. It's been a great quarter for my pet venture, which I launched just a year ago. It hasn't been entirely easy but once I received my MBA from the University of Florida, my career mushroomed. After working for many years with such prestigious companies as Shell and Motiva, I launched my own business venture based on the knowledge and skills I gleaned over the years. Looking down at the vanishing earth beneath our airliner, I reflected on what it took to get me where I am now.
In 2001 my first big break arrived when I landed my first position with Motiva Enterprises. Based out of Houston, I completely immersed myself in the financial operations...
On a daily basis I was in contact with clients to reconcile and analyze contracts. Therefore, in addition to improving my fundamental skills in accounting, financial management, and budget analysis, I learned a great deal about how to forge and maintain healthy business relationships. Developing amicable working relationships with external customers came easily to me: already multilingual, I was able to interact with people from a wide range of positions and backgrounds. The two years I spent as an exchange analyst for Motiva offered innumerable challenges and prepared me fully for my MBA and my eventual entrepreneurship.
Next, a promotion within Motiva drew me further toward my career goals. As data analyst I shifted focus to the distribution aspect of the oil refining business and worked primarily with Motiva terminals on the Gulf Coast. Another layer in my…
