Harnessing the Power of Connection:
The Steady Ascent of Sonia Pascual
"I try to be there when clients want to tell me a positive story about something they did on the weekend or something not so positive that happened to them. I always make the effort to be there and listen… to connect."
As far back as
she can remember, Sonia craved order and balance. Numbers, with their defined
rules and the satisfaction of "everything adding up," felt right to her—as did
forging deep connections with those around her.
Her
self-proclaimed "obsession with perfection and structure" is what pulled her
toward a career in tax and accounting. And her innate ability to build strong,
loyal relationships accelerated her success in the space.
Sonia earned her
first accounting degree in her home country of Cuba. Soon after, at the young
age of 23, she moved to the United States with a desire to advance her career
while immersed in the South-Florida culture.
"Like most
immigrants, when I got here, I did what I had to," Sonia recalled. "While
waiting for my green card, I worked wherever I could—supermarkets, shops, any
job that kept me afloat while I waited to go back to school."
Before enrolling
in Florida International University (FIU), Sonia's Cuban undergraduate degree
had to be evaluated to identify additional credits required. That took about a
year, but once she was admitted to FIU, she was off and running…again.
Over the next
several years, she earned her U.S. undergraduate degree in accounting, a Master
of Accountancy, and her CPA license—all by her 30th birthday.
Her early
professional life began in a small full-service CPA firm where she held the
title of tax associate and did "a little bit of everything"—bookkeeping,
payroll, and tax returns for individuals, partnerships, and corporations.
Her big pivot
came when a close friend told her about an opportunity within an international
tax firm. The complexity, the variety of clients and industries, and the chance
to serve Latin American families in her native language clicked instantly.
"From the day I
interviewed, it made sense; it felt right. That's where I was supposed to be,"
Sonia recalled, and she has never looked back.
"I love it. I'm connecting with individuals, families, and businesses in so many industries—and I can speak my native language with Latin American and Spanish clients while working in the U.S."
It was during
this time that Sonia mastered her unique gift: Making people feel heard and
understood from the very first conversation. And not merely by translating
language, but by bridging culture and creating deeper connections.
Sonia is the
leader who listens just as intently to a client's weekend recap as she does to
complex tax questions—all while holding a high bar for quality and deadlines.
It's this distinct ability to connect with others via intentional and dedicated
listening and inquiry that have been key in her steady ascent and building a
long, loyal list of clients.
It's also the
part of the job that energizes her.
"What really
drives me is networking…connecting with people. We have people from so many
backgrounds and nationalities, and we all get along so well. That's a
reflection of what we give to our clients and others we work with."
Sonia thrives on
building relationships with clients, referral sources, attorneys, and bankers.
Understanding who clients are, where they come from, and the complexities that
shape their businesses is what keeps her motivated—serving as the trusted advisor
who knows her clients well enough to address their needs in ways that truly
fit.
When she has the
chance, she also loves visiting clients in their home countries to experience
their culture firsthand and create unbreakable bonds.
Sonia Pascual
knows what it means to build a fulfilling career from the ground up, anchored
from the start by a strong educational foundation.
Her advice for others seeking to do the same? In essence, it's about being who you are and embracing your own "gifts":
"Trust your instincts, enjoy the process, and have fun—even when it's hard. It's in those moments that we do our best listening and build those connections that last a lifetime."
