Stella Baban – Accounting, Financial Advisor

I am Stella Mar Baban, 39 years old. I am a wife and a mother of 2, a boy aged 9 years old and a girl aged 11 years old. I am a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Management Accounting in Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. I worked my way through college. I was a student assistant at the university where I studied. I was happy to experience such. Aside from being free from my tuition and miscellaneous fees, I was prepared to face the real world after college since my work was supposed to be for a full time employee. I learned to be dependable, reliable, multitask, because everything in the office was entrusted to me.

One month after graduation, I was hired as an Accounting Staff handling Accounts Payable in one of the malls in our city. I worked there as a contractual employee so after 1 year, I transferred to another company as Accounting Staff again handling Accounts Receivable in one of the big hospitals in our city. I thought I was already in my comfort zone but being young, I aimed to work for a company that can offer excellent benefits. I decided to apply to another industry. I applied as a Sales Specialist in one of the multinational pharmaceutical distributor industries. I had no experience in Sales yet when I was hired. Maybe the interviewer saw a potential in me and they were vocal that they hire for attitude because skills can be learned if we are willing to learn. Being a fast learner, resourceful, and dynamic I was able to learn the skills and adapt to my new working environment. Thankfully, I was able to work with the company for more than 7 years.

While working in Sales, I got married and had 2 kids, I realized that I had to be with my kids, see them grow, and guide them. In sales, I traveled from one town to another like 3 days in a week, driving alone. It came to my mind that my kids are still young. I must find a job which can give time flexibility, that I can be able to manage my own time, that I can work at my own pace, that I can be able to allot much time with my kids and at the same time be able to work.

I am currently a Financial Advisor. If I will be asked why I applied as a Virtual Assistant or to work virtually, I would say I am happy being an FA now but sometimes it is quite exhausting because most Filipinos are not yet prepared for life’s uncertainties, like having life insurance, critical illness, and the like, closed deals is not 100% or not even at 50%. I am still happy talking to people and sharing its value and importance. There are some who will really reach out to us, those who want to learn more and to get a policy. What I am happy about is that I can be able to stay at home with my kids which is my priority for now since they are growing up. I am able to provide the time that my kids need and provide the things that they need.

I believe that skills can be learned but attitude cannot. If you are a fast learner, resourceful, dynamic, reliable, and put your heart in everything you do, being new in a working environment, or even in a new field would be easy for you to adjust and to learn.

For a copy of Stella’s resume please click here.