From Teen Mom to Finance Leader: My Story

If you had told me years ago that I would one day be a college graduate, help lead the operations and financial functions of growing companies, build my own business, and dream of becoming a CFO, I probably would have laughed.

Not because I didn’t have dreams.

But because, at one point in my life, those dreams felt impossibly far away.

I became a mom at a young age.

Like many young mothers, I suddenly found myself carrying responsibilities that most people my age weren’t thinking about yet. While others were focused on what came next, I was focused on providing, surviving, and figuring out how to create a better future for my daughters and myself.

There were seasons when life felt heavy.

Seasons filled with uncertainty, self-doubt, financial stress, and the constant pressure of trying to be everything for everyone.

Yet deep down, there was always a voice telling me that my story wasn’t over.

I grew up in a bilingual household with parents who came from Sinaloa, Mexico. Spanish was spoken at home, and English was spoken at school. As a first-generation American, I learned early that hard work wasn’t optional—it was expected.

My parents sacrificed so much to create opportunities for our family, and those sacrifices became one of my greatest sources of motivation.

I wanted more.

Not just financially.

I wanted growth.

I wanted confidence.

I wanted freedom.

I wanted to prove to myself that my circumstances did not determine my future.

So I kept going.

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work inside organizations experiencing rapid growth and expansion, giving me a front-row seat to what it truly takes to scale a business.

In Portland, Oregon, I worked in production, logistics, and human resources for an organization supporting more than 500 employees. The experience taught me how critical systems, communication, accountability, and operational efficiency are when managing a growing workforce.

Later, I joined a rapidly growing corporate company in Austin, Texas, where I served as a Corporate Accountant. During my time there, I witnessed the complexities that come with significant growth, including financial reporting, operational scalability, cross-functional collaboration, and the importance of building systems that support expansion. It was one of the experiences that deepened my understanding of how finance impacts every area of a business.

Most recently, I have been deeply involved in the operations, finance, and administrative functions of a young construction company in Washington State that experienced remarkable growth.

As the business expanded, so did my responsibilities.

I became involved in financial reporting, payroll, human resources, compliance, purchasing, contract administration, vendor negotiations, safety programs, systems implementation, process improvement, and operational support. I learned firsthand that growth is exciting, but it also creates challenges that require strong leadership, sound financial management, and scalable systems.

Looking back, I can see a common theme throughout my career.

Whether supporting hundreds of employees, contributing to a rapidly growing corporate organization, or helping navigate the growth of a construction company, I was consistently drawn to environments where businesses were expanding and evolving.

Those experiences taught me that finance is about much more than numbers.

Finance tells the story of a business.

It reveals opportunities, highlights risks, guides decision-making, and creates the foundation for sustainable growth.

What began as an accounting career slowly evolved into something much larger: a passion for business growth, leadership, operations, and helping organizations reach their next level.

One of the greatest privileges of my career has been working closely with business owners and CEOs during periods of growth and expansion.

Most people see the finished product.

They see the successful company, the title, the confidence, the accomplishments, and the authority.

What they don’t see are the sleepless nights, difficult decisions, unexpected challenges, financial pressures, employee issues, customer concerns, and countless fires that must be put out behind the scenes.

Because I worked closely with leadership, I had a unique perspective that many people never get to experience.

I witnessed the resilience required to lead.

I saw the weight of carrying payroll responsibilities for employees who depend on their jobs to support their families.

I watched leaders navigate uncertainty, make difficult decisions with incomplete information, and continue moving forward despite obstacles.

I learned that leadership is often far less glamorous than it appears from the outside.

The strongest leaders I have worked with were not people who had all the answers.

They were people who continued showing up when things were difficult.

They adapted.

They persevered.

They solved problems.

They took responsibility.

And they kept moving forward.

Those experiences profoundly shaped my understanding of business, leadership, and success.

They taught me that every growing company has challenges.

Every leader experiences doubt.

Every business encounters obstacles.

What separates successful organizations is not the absence of problems, but the willingness to face them head-on and continue building despite them.

Watching leaders navigate growth gave me an appreciation not only for the financial side of business, but for the human side as well.

Behind every financial statement is a story.

Behind every revenue goal is a team.

Behind every successful company is a leader carrying responsibilities that most people never see.

Those lessons continue to influence the way I approach leadership, business growth, and the future I am building for myself.

At the same time, I continued pursuing my education.

I wrote everything down, and wanted to learn more. I took online courses, I read and listened to books, eventually after many years, finished and became a collage graduate in business.

Life was busy.

Work was demanding.

Family responsibilities never stopped.

But I refused to quit.

One class at a time.

One assignment at a time.

One semester at a time.

That degree represents much more than education.

It represents perseverance.

It represents late nights, early mornings, sacrifices, and faith.

It represents every version of myself that refused to give up.

Today, I continue to dream bigger than ever.

I am passionate about leadership, business growth, personal development, financial education, and helping others recognize their own potential.

I am building Labereee as a place where women can grow their mindset, strengthen their confidence, and pursue bigger visions for their lives.

I believe success is about more than money.

Success is becoming the person you were created to be.

Success is healing.

Success is growth.

Success is believing that your past does not get the final say.

When I look back at the young mother who was simply trying to make it through one day at a time, I feel immense gratitude.

She didn’t have all the answers.

She didn’t know exactly how things would work out.

But she kept moving forward.

And because she did, I am here today.

Still growing.

Still learning.

Still dreaming.

And still believing that the best chapters are yet to come.

If you’re reading this and feeling discouraged by where you are right now, let this be your reminder:

Your current circumstances are not your final destination.

Keep going.

One day, you’ll look back and realize that every challenge was preparing you for the life you’re building now.

Bendiciones Bella.

Con cariño,

Berenice aka Labereee