Olivia Zanfardino
Analyst
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Played with a lot of toy blocks and wanted to be an architect as a kid.
Studied engineering at a community college, didn't graduate.
Landed my first government job drawing electrical maps in AutoCAD (learned at the CC).
Worked for multiple government contractors as an administrative assistant. Learned SAP and finance.
After a few years of military service, developed an interest in water during volunteer traveling.
Realized getting back into the workforce was getting harder so I finished my bachelors degree.
Joined a college water conservation team and sought an internship with the sponsoring company.
Applied everything I had learned over the years to the new environment.
Education
High School
American School (Home School)
American School (Home School)
Bachelor
Business Administration and Management, General
University of Phoenix-Southern California Campus
Business Administration and Management, General
University of Phoenix-Southern California Campus
Career
Analyst
I help businesses implement technology solutions to meet their needs.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Technology
Government
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
At work I attend government council meetings to learn about water policy and distribution. I listen to large panels of CEOs, professionals, farmers, business owners and city representatives from the state discuss managing the business affairs of water sales. There are a diverse number of classes to attend that help me stay relevant on topics like water science and office tech. I then work on teams to apply data to improving business programs, technology, finances and operations.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for professionals
Begin learning how business budgets are calculated, made, and talked about. Basic mathematics tied to understanding of technology is a great combination that helps you read and report a wide variety of business data. You can learn a lot by studying the analytic pages of your social media accounts, US Census reports, and annual reports of any public business. Then practice making charts and pictures that reflect the actual numbers. Accuracy is key to this field.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"Girls should not study engineering. No one is going to hire you if you look different. Education corrupts the mind. You shouldn't live alone or travel. The military is bad. You need me. You don't need me. God doesn't like you IF..."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Drugs / Addiction
First-Generation College Student
