Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/834093
t m c » p u l s e | j u n e 2 0 1 7 11 Q | What brought you to Houston? A | I graduated from college with a degree in account- ing and a desire to work in the tax department of one of the Big 8 firms—Big 4 these days. Unfortunately, they only hired people with graduate degrees, which is why I signed up for the Master of Taxation program at UTEP. A few months into the program, the IRS came knocking at my door—not because I was delinquent on my taxes, but because they were looking to recruit recent graduates into a new program they just started in Houston. I was torn because I always prefer to finish what I start. Ultimately, I finished my first semester and packed my bags to move to Houston. I figured that the experience I'd gain in the IRS program in one year would take me two years to learn in the classroom. I was right; the training I received was phenomenal. At the end of the program I was selected as one of the top three trainees. I sent my resume to two of the Big 8 accounting firms. I received offers from both firms and chose Ernst & Whinney—Ernst & Young or EY today—where I worked for about four-and-a-half years. Q | Was it challenging to raise your son, Je, in the midst of a demanding career? A | Jeff was born when I was at Ernst & Whinney. I took a few months off and when I went back to work it became very challenging for me to meet the demands of my clients, the firm and my family. I remember spend- ing my lunch and dinner hours driving home to breast feed my baby, grabbing a quick bite and then rushing back to the office. Back then there were no lactation rooms for mothers to pump milk. My insensitive boss would tell me, 'There are 24 hours in a day, Denise.' After months of this very hectic schedule, my hus- band and I decided it was better for me to stay home with our son. I truly loved being home with my son, but after eight months I became somewhat bored with my routine. I could only play tennis so many times a week, go to the zoo and ride the train, etc. One day, my husband received a call from a head- hunter. My husband was not interested in changing jobs, but he said: 'My wife is really bored at home and driving me crazy. Do you have any jobs for accoun- tants?' As luck would have it, he did. At Nabisco. The timing was perfect because Jeff was attending a Montessori school and loved it. I took the job at Nabisco, where I found a better work-life balance which allowed me to spend more time with my family. Q | You received an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. Why was that such an important decision for you? A | Having a young son and a full-time job made getting my master's degree very challenging. But I knew that if I wanted to advance my career, I needed a better understanding of all facets of the business world. The University of St. Thomas gave that to me. By this time, my son was almost four. Our family routine became rather hectic again and, unfortunately, two semesters into the MBA program my husband and I divorced. I could have dropped the program altogether, but I recognized that this MBA would be our path to greater opportunities down the road. So I forged ahead, but it was not without short-term sacrifices including, at times, missing my son's activ- ities, and always being the first parent to drop off my son at school and the last parent to pick him up after school. There was a lot of emotional guilt. This guilt was worse than the Catholic guilt I felt for missing church on Sundays. Q | In 2015 you were named one of the most influential women in Houston by Houston Woman Magazine. In 2016 you won one of the Houston Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business Awards. This year, you were one of eight Outstanding Women in Banking and Finance honorees by the Women's Resource of Greater Houston. What helps you excel, professionally and personally? A | For me, balance includes self-care, so that my body, mind and soul are being refreshed daily. I do this by making deliberate choices about which opportunities to pursue and which to decline; recognizing that at times home takes priority over work and vice versa but, at the end of the day, it all balances out; and forming a strong network of behind-the-scenes emotional supporters. Q | You worked with Nabisco until they closed the Houston plant. Since then, you have been with the Texas Medical Center. Can you describe that shift in your life? A | I have been fortunate to serve as CFO at the Texas Medical Center (TMC) since 2004. When I first arrived, TMC was in the middle of diversifying its assets. TMC purchased the Nabisco cookie factory, where I was the controller for 12 years until the factory was sold to TMC. TMC's CEO asked me to send him my resume. A few days later he called me and said, 'Kiddo, I'd like you to come work for me.' I thanked him and asked him what I would be doing if I accepted. I asked this question because I knew they already had a controller and a CFO. He said, 'I don't know, kiddo, just come on board and we'll figure it out.' Here I am a single mom and this job offer is, 'we'll figure it out?' Then, a few days later I received a call from TMC to offer me a job as Business Manager, a position that was created just for me. This new job took me completely outside of my area of expertise into three areas that I had absolutely no experience in, including commercial leasing, marketing and business development. I accepted with some trepidation but I realized this was an opportunity to try something new. By being willing to learn a completely new side of business, it allowed me to get my foot in the door at the greatest medical center in the world. Q | You have such a strong commitment to community outreach and charity. Where does that come from? A | When I was a student at UTEP and I saw what I saw across the border, I thought to myself: when I finally have the time to be able to do more for society, I'm definitely going to do it. Once Jeff went to college and I had a little bit more flexibility at the office and started meeting new people, I just made the time for it. You just have to decide it is time, and you just do it. It's like brushing your teeth or working out. (continued) Castillo-Rhodes speaks at the 2017 Wrapped in Red Luncheon, benefiting the American Red Cross. She co-chaired the event. For me, balance includes self-care, so that my body, mind and soul are being refreshed daily. I do this by making deliber- ate choices about which opportu- nites to pursue and which to decline ...