Voice of Experience: Yesenia Scheker-Izquierdo, Partner, Financial Services Practice, KPMG LLP, and Co-President and Co-Founder, Women’s Executive Circle of New York

This week The Glass Hammer is celebrating Hispanic professional women – each day this week we’ll feature a profile of a Hispanic woman breaking the glass ceiling.

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

After graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in tax, Yesenia Scheker-Izquierdo started as an intern at KPMG’s Miami office. Now a partner in KPMG LLP’s Financial Services Practice, she recalled, “Being born in New York, I always had in my mind that I would move back to New York after college. But I had started working for a very senior real estate tax partner based in Miami who became my mentor and I continued to work with him for many years.”

She added, “But five or six years into it, he retired from KPMG, and I took that opportunity to move to New York.”

In 2005, Scheker-Izquierdo transferred to the New York office and joined its Financial Services – Alternative Investment practice. “It afforded me an opportunity to join a practice that was expanding. My goal was always to become a partner,” she said. And she counts becoming a partner in the New York office among her highest professional achievements.

Additionally, she said, she is proud of her ability to build a new career after moving to New York. She explained, “Moving to New York meant starting over. I didn’t know anyone, and had to build a book of business and find new mentors and sponsors.”

One of the ways she did this, she said, was through networking. “One of the things I decided to do was co-found the Women’s Executive Circle of New York (WECNY) as a way to build my network.” WECNY is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of accelerating the advancement of women from diverse backgrounds to executive positions of leadership.

Currently Scheker-Izquierdo is involved with KPMG’s Alternative Investment practice’s growth initiatives. “It’s an exciting time to be part of this practice and our firm,” she said.

Lessons Learned

Scheker-Izquierdo said one of the lessons she’s learned over the years is the importance of remaining flexible and open to change. She recalled, “As an intern in Miami, KPMG had a campus website, and I was asked for an article on how I’d define success. I didn’t realize then how significantly my definition of success would change over time.”

Considering the challenges that some women face in the workforce, she said, “Work life balance is the obvious answer, but I would argue that women (and men) have to determine their own priorities, and then manage them in a way that helps them achieve success in their career.”

“Sometimes fear prevents women from pursuing their career goals. Sometimes it’s not having all of the facts they need to make good decisions. You have to learn to see past those things to have a rewarding career.”

Scheker-Izquierdo said it is also critical to find help along the way. “You have to make sure you have a mentor and a sponsor, and to be open and authentic – so that they can help you determine whether the things that are holding you back are perceived or real.”

Women at KPMG

In 2003, KPMG established its Women’s Advisory Board, and later that year, the Women’s Advisory Board established KPMG’s Network of Women (KNOW), to drive its women’s strategy, deliver programs, and strengthen strategic alliances at the local level. KNOW now has about 60 chapters across the country with nearly 2,600 members, and it has since served as a model for women’s initiatives established by KPMG International member firms around the world.

“When I first got to New York I joined KNOW’s local Leadership Council right away. KNOW helps in supporting, retaining and advancing our women. It was a great way to build my network and get acclimated in New York.”

Scheker-Izquierdo also chairs KNOW’s Board Placement Task Force to bring awareness to the benefits of board service. “This is an initiative that is important to me. I believe it provides women and men an opportunity to build important skills that will always benefit them throughout their careers. Early involvement will help solidify your preparedness if you are interested in a non-profit or for profit corporate board position later.”

In addition, she is participating in KPMG’s Executive Leadership Institute for Women, a program designed to help women achieve leadership excellence and develop in areas such as “effective influence, personal resilience, and building your brand by thinking about what you want your legacy to be,” she explained. The program, which is also conducted in several other cities in addition to New York, was established by KPMG and is open to executive women from other industries, with five KPMG women partners in this year’s New York class of 30.

“It’s a year-long program that allows you ample time to reflect and strengthen your ability to implement a leadership platform, while building your network,” she said.

In Her Personal Time

Scheker-Izquierdo is a mother to two little ones – an eight-month-old daughter and a three-year-old son. A former marathon runner, she still enjoys running whenever she can.