April 11, 2025 • 28 mins
Step into the remarkable journey of Melissa Terito, a dynamic guest who transitioned from a fulfilling teaching career to become a partner at a top CPA firm. In this episode, we explore how she navigated her career pivot, embracing the internal nudges that drove her towards a new path in accounting. With a deep appreciation for the skills acquired through her teaching background, Melissa discusses the unique ability to translate complex ideas into relatable concepts, a skill that serves her well in the financial industry.
Listen as she shares candid insights on the fears and challenges associated with her transitions, from how mentorship played a crucial role in her development to her newfound leadership aspirations. As she reflects on the importance of resilience, discipline, and physical well-being, Melissa inspires us to not only seek personal growth but to also mentor those who follow us. Join this engaging conversation, highlighting how embracing changes can lead to significant personal and professional fulfillment.
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your own pivot stories with us!
Guest Bio:
It all begins with an idea. Melissa, or Missy to her friends and family, is the woman with all the ideas. Melissa attended Louisiana State University and graduated in 2005 with a degree in Education. After four years of teaching high school math, she returned to LSU part-time to see if she would enjoy the accounting profession. Something about it stuck and she resigned from teaching.
She was hired at Faulk & Winkler as an intern in the pension department, completed the courses to sit for the CPA exam, and received her CPA designation in 2012. Melissa’s brief career in the classroom was invaluable in positioning her to be a mentor in the CPA profession as well as giving her the communication skills to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues. In 2020, Melissa started a podcast – Louisiana Ladies – wherein she speaks to local (mostly) female members of the Baton Rouge community. Many are entrepreneurs, some are domestic engineers, all are inspiring. She chats with them about their story, it is lighthearted and fun, and has a steady following with over 20k downloads.
In 2022, Melissa began her public speaking debut about Boundaries in the Workplace, something she is very passionate about, and has curated perfectly over the years. Melissa resides in Baton Rouge with her husband Patrick and their two dogs. They appreciate the local culture and flavor of the city, especially the culinary offerings. Away from the office, she enjoys reading, riding her Peloton, playing pickleball, traveling, and spending time with her five adorable nephews.
Connect with Melissa:
Website, LinkedIn
Connect with Theresa and Ivana:
Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants
Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing
SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everybody and welcome to today's episode of
Step Into the Pivot.
We are welcoming a wonderfulguest today, so excited to talk
to her more.
I love your accent, melissa.
Melissa Torito, welcome to theshow.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thank you.
I love your accent too, Eva.
It is my second drawl.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Does yours also become thicker if you're tired
or upset?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Mine is more noticeable if I'm, you know, in
a particular emotional state Uh,it does also that and if I've
had a little too much wine.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Melissa.
Also, we do know that yourfriends and family call you
missing.
Yeah, um, and we might, uh, wemight, slip into that.
Uh, as the conversationcontinues, you have been
described as the woman with allall ideas.
You have, um, background inteaching, you're an educator,
(01:06):
you are a very importantcontributor to the retirement
services industry, you do a lotof different things and you
translate a lot of different.
You know you translate a lot,and one of the things that you
do is and I mean thatmetaphorically, obviously, and
we'll see as we dig in you know,I think you help people really
communicate, and one of the waysin which you communicate ideas
(01:28):
is through your amazing podcastthat Teresa and I were so
blessed to be on LouisianaLadies.
And you are you know what I'mnoticing not only a woman of
ideas and with ideas, but you dotake them into action and you,
you know, practice what youteach and you are out there
(01:49):
authentically and it's just sucha joy to have you here on the
show, marisa.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I'm excited to be here.
Thank y'all.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, so Melissa and I have known each other for a
while very similar backgroundsin some cases but what I really
want to start with as we startthis conversation is you were a
teacher in your past life.
And I know several of my friendsare teachers or were teachers
and it is one of the mostthankless jobs in a lot of ways.
(02:22):
To be honest, it should beamazing One of my very good
friends.
She always says that she wouldenjoy being a teacher so much
more if all the children wereorphans.
But you know, that's all.
That's a whole anotherconversation.
But you decided to leaveteaching and become an
accountant.
Can you kind of talk about thatjourney a little bit and why
(02:43):
you made that huge pivot,because that's a big change for
you.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, it's.
You know I'm going to try tomake this real quick, all right,
but it was a longer journeythan me just saying OK, I'm
going to leave teaching.
Right.
My whole life I had wanted tobe a teacher but for some reason
, when I started at LSU here inBaton Rouge, I started in like
pre-dentistry, so clearly I didnot really know what I wanted to
(03:09):
do.
I mean, I'd be a terribledentist or any medical thing.
But I ended up pursuingsecondary education with a
concentration in math and, quitefrankly, I'm good at math.
It's easy for me.
My grandfather had his PhD instatistics.
He was in an executive positionat LSU.
Unfortunately he passed away atI was six and he was probably
(03:30):
not even 60 yet.
But that math gene kind offlows through to all the
grandkids and so I always likedmath and I always would tutor.
So I started teaching and itwas just.
It was real weird.
In my first year I was justloving it.
It was what I wanted to do.
I taught at a great school herein Baton Rouge.
I really did have good students.
(03:52):
I had good parents, goodadministration.
About the third year though Idon't know how to explain this
other than I got the itch towant to do something different.
And it was a weird feelingbecause and I tell people this
in all honesty I was notmiserable teaching.
I wasn't burned out fromteaching.
(04:13):
I didn't hate teaching.
I just felt like, even thoughteaching is a calling, I felt
like I was personally andprofessionally called to do
something else, but I didn'tknow what.
So that was tough for this typeA personality that kind of
likes to figure things out.
And so I went through like ayear of exploratory phase of
(04:35):
asking people what they did.
And you know, do you like it?
Are you challenged?
Because teaching has its ownchallenges.
But those were not thechallenges that I necessarily
wanted, right?
Like I could sit here and tellsomebody what the quadratic
formula is, over and over andover again, right?
So it became a little bitrepetitive to me.
(04:56):
But one of my good friendsessentially it was we're still
good friends today we talkedtogether.
She went back to school topursue an accounting degree and
a CPA license, and so I calledher and that's really what
started me going down the path.
And my last year, my fourth andfinal year of teaching, I was
like you know what?
(05:16):
What do I have to lose.
I'm young.
I still think I'm young, but Iwas young then, I was like 27.
And I knew I could go to LSU andtake a couple of classes and
I'm not a big risk taker, right,that wasn't a lot of risk to me
.
Took a couple of accountingclasses, of course I loved it
and everybody's like well,accounting's not math, I'm like,
but it's still numbers, okay,and I'm still solving a problem,
(05:39):
and so that was really it.
I knew at that point that itwas time for me to leave, and
Baton Rouge is a big small town.
So I had some connections atthe CPA firm that I'm at now and
they hired me in their 401kdepartment and I walked in this
first day and had no idea what Iwas doing.
So that that's really it.
(06:01):
I just was looking forsomething different to do.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
You fell into it, just like most of us do, right.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
As we all do, and then we don't get out of it.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
That's right, because it is so interesting and
there's so much to do and somuch to explore and so many
different skills you can use tobe really good at it.
It's you know.
I would love to highlightsomething.
When you talked about that itand how you're owning that, you
weren't miserable, but you werelistening.
(06:33):
Oh, my goodness, what a greatexample.
This is something I teachpeople, so I just want to use
this opportunity here to pauseand look at this together.
I feel like this is that momentwhere you're starting to tell
yourself something and you arecatching it when it's still in
whisper form and often weoverride these.
(06:55):
You know, now it's a nudge, I'mfeeling okay, it's not really.
I don't experience a lot of,you know, discomfort right now
with my situation.
I'm not suffering, but I'mlistening.
Something's talking so coolthat you were able to hear it
because we get these messages.
They're kind of soft, so oftenwe disregard them, don't listen.
(07:18):
Then they're going to getlouder.
Life gets more uncomfortable,situations get more, you know,
complicated, and then the voicegets louder and louder.
But like, good for you forcatching it in form, like in
dental whisper form, as youreflect back on the changes and
the decisions that you made andthen you know, here you are now.
(07:41):
You're in a place where, quoteunquote, you don't know what
you're doing.
Can you highlight some of thehard aspects of it?
Hardest?
You know things that had to dowith this.
You know new space, leaving theold space.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So I will say that one of the hardest things for me
was so when you were teachingand you were a teacher, your
mindset is still a little bitmore of the school, like I mean,
you're not in school but youare still.
Your calendar is stillassociated with all of the
holidays and you know I don'tknow how else to put this it
(08:22):
took some coaching by my mentorfor me to have more of a
business-framed mind and thatculture than teaching.
So I feel like if people wereto ask me what's hard and what
we do is so technical, theywould think that that's the
answer.
But that's not really theanswer.
That was that hard Becauseguess what, that's still hard
today because the retirementindustry is constantly changing.
(08:46):
But what was hard was a mindsetshift in terms of I'm no longer
a teacher.
Here's kind of businessetiquette.
Learning the business side ofthings was the hardest part for
me and I will be honest andwe've all taken exams I'm so
glad I passed that CPA exam.
(09:07):
That was a very proud momentfor myself.
I'm not going to lie, that washard.
Taking and passing the CPA examand having to take about 60
hours at LSU, that was hard.
It was a big time commitmentwhen I go back and think about
it.
And at that point I was married, my husband and I do not have
(09:28):
any children, but I mean reallyI was studying every night or I
was working all day and going toschool at night.
That was actually hard.
I think I got.
I don't know if I just kind ofwent through the motions or I
was just so driven at that timeto get that done.
But like if somebody told me Ihad to do that now for two and a
half years, I'd be like no, I'mnot going to do that.
(09:50):
You know, that was hard.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
You know, I know that you're an athletic person and
that you value, you know theimportance of physical exercise
and that you practice I don'tknow what the correct verb is
play, practice, enjoy,pickleball.
What came up for me as you weretalking about the exam is how
much stamina is required whenwe're doing something like this.
(10:13):
You know, between the three ofus we probably have a lot of
experience with all kinds ofcertifications and industry
exams, and some of the hardestaspects of you know of those is
the physical challenge of likethe.
You got to sit there and sitafter sitting and learn and what
yeah, I mean it's a staminagame too, and you have to figure
(10:37):
out how to take good care ofthe body while you're having
creating room for, you know,learning the new concepts.
Does that resonate with you,melissa?
Like what a challenging thingit was from that standpoint too.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Oh, yes, and so I will tell you.
This is I'm a big proponent inmoving your body and you know,
probably to the point where Iannoy people, right, probably
like a year or two into teachingI never really I know, this
isn't a podcast about physicalfitness, but it does parlay into
your mental well-being.
(11:10):
You know, about a year or twointo teaching, I started lifting
weights and I startedexercising.
I started running.
I no longer run, startedlifting weights and I started
exercising.
I started running.
I no longer run.
But, and even when I wasstudying for the CPA exam, even
when, even now, that is anon-negotiable for me, it is a
stress reliever for me, it'sthat is me time for me, like
that, like working out orplaying, like that's not that's,
(11:33):
that's not a chore for me, thatis me time.
And I think what it did was itultimately gave my brain.
It gives your brain a mentalbreak to keep going.
In full disclosure, though,when I was sitting for the CPA
exam, I was about two years intothis and, looking back two
(11:54):
years into it, this industry washard.
I almost feel like it's gottenharder.
I don't know if that's just myposition or all of these changes
, but again.
I don't know if I would havethe stamina now after all of
that, because I wasn't adecision maker when I was here.
I should put it like that.
I wasn't making decisions, Iwas learning the technical piece
(12:17):
of it, I wasn't managing people.
So, in full disclosure, that'sa different environment.
Y'all know that.
I mean that's just a differentenvironment than a business
owner mentality.
So I do think that the timingprobably worked in my favor at
that particular point to be ableto successfully study and
complete the CPA exam.
Because, look, the CPA exams,like the exams that you guys
(12:40):
have taken, you know, put thetime into it, you know that's it
.
And you got to be disciplinedto put the time into it, just
like you got to be disciplinedto work out and you got to be
disciplined to run a business.
To me it goes back todiscipline.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
No, I love that you say that and I love that you
talked about the physicalfitness aspect, because we talk
a lot about that, how that ispart.
Whether you meditate, whetheryou just do something to move
your body, whatever works foryou, but having something that
you can focus on is so important.
So I love that you talked aboutthat.
You know, and you're right,like taking those exams is is so
(13:18):
exhausting and you have to dothat.
So clearly you did well,clearly you were doing well in
this business.
In 2016, I think you wereapproached to become a partner
in your firm and I think aswomen and maybe not just as
women, but I think you didn'trecognize that maybe you had the
skills to do that or be thatbusiness owner.
(13:42):
So can you talk a little aboutwhat pushed you that way?
And I think it was a person, amentor.
You mentioned a mentor.
Can you talk a little aboutthat experience?
Because I think it's soimportant that sometimes we
don't listen to those people whoare trying to advise us and,
you know, really try to help usor see what we're capable of
(14:03):
that we can't see in ourselves.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Absolutely, I will tell you this.
So my predecessor's name isDavid.
Him and I still keep in touchand I'll say this, and even if
he listens to this, he knowsthis he was a tough man to work
for because he held people to ahigh standard, but I had so much
admiration and respect for himthat, at the end of the day, if
(14:33):
he believed in me, it inherentlyjust made me believe in myself.
I don't really know.
It's just, you know, like hehad started the CPA firm.
He had started the TPA practicewithin the CPA firm, and I mean
truthfully you know we talkedon Louisiana Ladies about
imposter syndrome I mean David'stelling me for three years he
(14:56):
needs somebody, he needs asuccession plan.
He thinks I'm a succession plan.
He told me that the day heinterviewed me, not that I'm a
succession plan, but he waslooking to retire, and I'm like
I'm just trying to get hired.
Okay, I need a job at thispoint.
Um, I have preached this though, teresa.
Um, that having an advocate anda mentor and it could be at any
(15:21):
point in your career is justparamount, right?
So you know a part of me did Iwant to make David proud?
Yes, but his belief in me andthe fact that he pushed me, he
made me get comfortable withbeing uncomfortable, which is
probably the biggest thing thathe taught me that you're get
comfortable with beinguncomfortable, which is probably
the biggest thing that hetaught me that you're going to
(15:42):
go into situations that aregoing to be uncomfortable, but I
know that you can handle itright Over time, though I will
say and this probably wasn'tsuper evident to me until maybe
2013 or 2014.
Evident to me until maybe 2013or 2014.
(16:05):
You know, again, I came intothis industry really thinking
that I've got to be the best atthe compliance testing.
I've got to be the best at plandesign and truthfully and I'll
tell people that I'm not thebest at that I've got people on
my team that are really good atit.
But it took me a long time toidentify what could be called a
unique ability, for lack ofbetter words and once I was able
to identify that and thenrealize how that could put me on
(16:29):
a trajectory for leadership,but that I mean that's probably
a five-year journey for me toeven get there.
You know, I always joke.
I tell people in high school Ididn't get into National Honor
Society because they asked mewhat my leadership qualities
were and I put that I didn'thave any.
Okay, so you know cause to me Iwasn't a leader.
Now my friends joke.
(16:49):
They're like, uh, missy, you'vebossed people around your whole
life.
I'm like, well, I know, Ididn't.
I guess I just didn't reallysee that in me.
But you know, that's really,that's really what it is.
But sometimes we need somebodyelse to tell us that we can do
it and to and to push us.
You know, my personality alsolends itself to be, you know,
good, bad or ugly, I don't knowhow you want to put it.
(17:10):
I'm stubborn as all get out.
And if somebody's going, youknow if I'm.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
So let's see, so you're self-aware, you are kind
of moment by moment, day by day,consistently working on
personal development.
You are open to learning andcurious.
You are brave, and then youhave a lot of subject matter
expertise.
You keep learning.
You have, you know, tested alot of things.
(17:46):
Um, you have, you know, testeda lot of things.
Uh and uh.
Okay, so I'm hearing a lot ofleadership qualities here.
Teresa, can you define that foryourself and for us now?
Very so, please.
Uh, you were gonna saysomething.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
No, I was gonna say, yeah, I think she has a lot of
those qualities.
I was definitely agreeing.
I loved your recap list,honestly.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Yeah, so you know, conscious leadership is an
actual, it's a school of thought, it's an approach, it's a model
, it is something teachable.
And what I love doing is, youknow, pointing out when someone
is a conscious leader and maybethey don't even, you know,
mention that or talk about it intheir day to day, but, like,
hey, melissa, did you know thateverything you just shared to us
(18:26):
about yourself, like that's adefinition, basically, of a
conscious leader, so someone whois, you know, available inside
and out, for you know thequalities of, you know, going
first and trying and discoveringthings and turning around and
saying, hey, come on over here.
Well, we can do this together,let's you know.
So this, the combination ofsome of the things that you were
(18:53):
talking about that are to makea good teacher.
And you know how I introducedyou as a translator.
I think you have this qualityof being able to translate
difficult ideas and concepts and, yeah, please, it looks like
this is resonating, so tell us.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Well, when you said that it was, it's so interesting
to me it is, and I would havenever, ever thought this because
I didn't know much about theindustry when I started, like
Teresa said, fell into it likeeverybody else, and then you
don't leave right.
But my teaching background, andprobably my tutoring background
even in high school, when Itell you that comes in handy in
(19:26):
this particular industry,because teaching is ultimately
translating, you're takingsomething.
No matter if you're teaching12th graders or you're teaching
kindergartners, you know at somepoint you're translating.
And so I will say this I havetwo other ex-teachers on my team
within the Sentinel departmentand I'm not actively taking them
(19:50):
from the teaching professionbecause we need teachers, but
they're good TPAs because of thenatural ability to be able to
translate and explain thingsright, and over time even I
realized that that was a skillthat I had, that not everyone
(20:12):
walking into this professionnecessarily has, and that's not
a bad thing.
It can be coached.
But I really think I took forgranted the fact that.
You know, when I talk tosomeone, it comes naturally to
me to want to explain it to them, for them to want to feel
comfortable.
I think that comes back from myteaching background and I
(20:33):
actually did a presentation atASPA where we were doing, you
know, we did a role play on howto explain it to a client.
I was the client.
I had so much fun being verythe difficult client to Justin
Venestro.
Okay, I was very difficult, butone of the things him and I
talked about is we'retranslators.
You know, like to me, I canrattle off something like 401A4.
(20:55):
Me and Teresa know what thatmeans, but nobody else knows
what that means.
You know, or do they can'treally want to know that level
of detail.
So I think that it's a it's animportant skill to have, but it
did take me a while tounderstand that that skill could
really help in this particularcareer was a very positive thing
.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Well, a couple of things.
Number one I don't thinkanybody else cares what you know
but I love talking about it,though I know.
And then you know.
The other thing I was going tosay is you know, don't feel bad
about taking those teachers.
I had a really good friend whowas a teacher and she came to me
and she goes can you give me ajob?
And I was like no, you're anamazing teacher.
And she goes.
(21:34):
I'll tell you, I understandwhat you're saying.
She goes, but I'm leavinganyway.
So, I'd love for you to give mea chance, and you know I did,
and you said she is amazing atthis job because, right there,
they're amazing.
Teachers are amazing.
Honestly, they, they, theydon't get really enough credit.
(21:56):
Okay, they don't.
So as we wrap up, so you've,you've had these pivots.
You've had these amazing pivots.
You're doing really well.
How are these a step forward?
What's next for you?
What do you?
What do you see?
You know what?
What did you get out of thesepivots?
What?
What would you like to share?
Speaker 2 (22:11):
So I would say that every time I've, every time
there was a pivot, there wasalso a little bit of fear of
said pivot.
And if said pivot was going towork, you know, was it going to
work, I mean, I'd be lying if Isaid I wasn't fearful, that I
was going to try this wholeaccounting thing, then TPA thing
I didn't know anything about.
And what if I felt the same wayI did about teaching, you know?
(22:32):
But to me I've just been givenso many opportunities that I'm
very grateful for that.
You know, what's really, what'snext for me is to continue to
pursue some public speaking onthe side of what I'm continuing,
what I'm doing.
You know, I love the salesaspect of what we do.
(22:54):
I love meeting new people.
I'm not real good sittingbehind a desk for a couple hours
, just to be 100% honest.
So you know, that's really whatI see.
But also, what difference andthis is not to be cliche, but
what difference can I make inthis industry?
That was one of the reasons whyI accepted a position on ASPA's
(23:15):
Leadership Council, because Ifeel like I would have a voice
when it comes to that.
And honestly, teresa, and Ithink that you resonate and even
a same with you.
As I'm getting in my mid 40s.
There's younger women that Iwant to mentor and take under my
wing, and they might bebusiness owners there.
(23:35):
You know, that brings me somuch joy to be able to mentor
someone, to give them the pushthat I was given, to push them
out of their comfort zone andwatch them succeed.
So that's really where I'm atright now, and I mean I'm
posting to LinkedIn a lot.
Okay, I'm very proud of myLinkedIn.
I just want that's my proud ofmyself moment.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
No, no, no and I love that because I agree with you,
that's been one of my biggestjoys is really mentoring others
and really being able to helpthem and give advice and, you
know, push them in a directionthat really works for them.
So I I so appreciate you thatyou said that and I so
appreciate you being here today.
Even though, what are yourfinal thoughts?
Speaker 1 (24:19):
I love the blending.
I see that in both of you andMelissa.
I really want to presence thathere the blending of, like um,
mentoring and sponsoring andadvocating, and you know, let's,
let's do more of exactly that.
Like it is important tounderstand the difference
between when we're mentoringsomeone and then when we're
being in a sponsor mode and whenwe're advocating for them
(24:42):
behind their back and and you dothat regularly.
But I just I love the you knowthe blending of that.
You can be different thingsthrough the same person.
You know you and not things.
You can be in different rolesand different.
You know, in these differentstepping into these different
opportunities, when do the samething for yourself too.
You know there's going to be amoment when you're recognizing I
(25:04):
need to be.
You know you're recognizing Ineed to be really disciplined
and focused right now and maybeI'm not so excited about being
at the desk, but that's what'scalled for.
And then I'm listening.
I'm like my body's souncomfortable right now.
I'm going to go and do that onmy non-negotiable and move the
body.
Then I'm going to let myselfreally prioritize on my calendar
that I am an extrovert.
(25:26):
I love being out there.
I love, you know serving theindustry by.
You know communicating and I'mjust pointing out like I love
having this conversation aboutyou know, is it sales, is it
service?
Is it at the end of the day?
You know it's, it's you showingup authentically responding to
what the moment calls for.
So thanks so much for modelingthat for us and teaching about
(25:49):
it.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Thank y'all so much.
This podcast made me feel realgood about myself.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Good, Well, we're hoping it did so and we're
hoping your story makes othersfeel really good about
themselves.
So that's what's important tous.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
And that's why I like to share it.
To be honest, you know thatwe're, I think, sometimes, when
people look and when I say it Iwas a teacher and now I'm a
partner within a CPA firm and abusiness owner I just somebody
told me she goes, you justglossed over that and I was like
, oh yeah, it was scary yeah no,no, it's totally true.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
We tend to do that, but I'm glad that you're talking
about it.
You're amazing.
Melissa Torito, Thank you somuch for being here with us
today on Step Into the Pivot andto our listeners, remember, if
you have a pivot, step into it.
Hello everybody and welcome to today's episode of
Step Into the Pivot.
We are welcoming a wonderfulguest today, so excited to talk
to her more.
I love your accent, melissa.
Melissa Torito, welcome to theshow.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thank you.
I love your accent too, Eva.
It is my second drawl.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Does yours also become thicker if you're tired
or upset?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Mine is more noticeable if I'm, you know, in
a particular emotional state Uh,it does also that and if I've
had a little too much wine.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Melissa.
Also, we do know that yourfriends and family call you
missing.
Yeah, um, and we might, uh, wemight, slip into that.
Uh, as the conversationcontinues, you have been
described as the woman with allall ideas.
You have, um, background inteaching, you're an educator,
(01:06):
you are a very importantcontributor to the retirement
services industry, you do a lotof different things and you
translate a lot of different.
You know you translate a lot,and one of the things that you
do is and I mean thatmetaphorically, obviously, and
we'll see as we dig in you know,I think you help people really
communicate, and one of the waysin which you communicate ideas
(01:28):
is through your amazing podcastthat Teresa and I were so
blessed to be on LouisianaLadies.
And you are you know what I'mnoticing not only a woman of
ideas and with ideas, but you dotake them into action and you,
you know, practice what youteach and you are out there
(01:49):
authentically and it's just sucha joy to have you here on the
show, marisa.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I'm excited to be here.
Thank y'all.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, so Melissa and I have known each other for a
while very similar backgroundsin some cases but what I really
want to start with as we startthis conversation is you were a
teacher in your past life.
And I know several of my friendsare teachers or were teachers
and it is one of the mostthankless jobs in a lot of ways.
(02:22):
To be honest, it should beamazing One of my very good
friends.
She always says that she wouldenjoy being a teacher so much
more if all the children wereorphans.
But you know, that's all.
That's a whole anotherconversation.
But you decided to leaveteaching and become an
accountant.
Can you kind of talk about thatjourney a little bit and why
(02:43):
you made that huge pivot,because that's a big change for
you.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, it's.
You know I'm going to try tomake this real quick, all right,
but it was a longer journeythan me just saying OK, I'm
going to leave teaching.
Right.
My whole life I had wanted tobe a teacher but for some reason
, when I started at LSU here inBaton Rouge, I started in like
pre-dentistry, so clearly I didnot really know what I wanted to
(03:09):
do.
I mean, I'd be a terribledentist or any medical thing.
But I ended up pursuingsecondary education with a
concentration in math and, quitefrankly, I'm good at math.
It's easy for me.
My grandfather had his PhD instatistics.
He was in an executive positionat LSU.
Unfortunately he passed away atI was six and he was probably
(03:30):
not even 60 yet.
But that math gene kind offlows through to all the
grandkids and so I always likedmath and I always would tutor.
So I started teaching and itwas just.
It was real weird.
In my first year I was justloving it.
It was what I wanted to do.
I taught at a great school herein Baton Rouge.
I really did have good students.
(03:52):
I had good parents, goodadministration.
About the third year though Idon't know how to explain this
other than I got the itch towant to do something different.
And it was a weird feelingbecause and I tell people this
in all honesty I was notmiserable teaching.
I wasn't burned out fromteaching.
(04:13):
I didn't hate teaching.
I just felt like, even thoughteaching is a calling, I felt
like I was personally andprofessionally called to do
something else, but I didn'tknow what.
So that was tough for this typeA personality that kind of
likes to figure things out.
And so I went through like ayear of exploratory phase of
(04:35):
asking people what they did.
And you know, do you like it?
Are you challenged?
Because teaching has its ownchallenges.
But those were not thechallenges that I necessarily
wanted, right?
Like I could sit here and tellsomebody what the quadratic
formula is, over and over andover again, right?
So it became a little bitrepetitive to me.
(04:56):
But one of my good friendsessentially it was we're still
good friends today we talkedtogether.
She went back to school topursue an accounting degree and
a CPA license, and so I calledher and that's really what
started me going down the path.
And my last year, my fourth andfinal year of teaching, I was
like you know what?
(05:16):
What do I have to lose.
I'm young.
I still think I'm young, but Iwas young then, I was like 27.
And I knew I could go to LSU andtake a couple of classes and
I'm not a big risk taker, right,that wasn't a lot of risk to me
.
Took a couple of accountingclasses, of course I loved it
and everybody's like well,accounting's not math, I'm like,
but it's still numbers, okay,and I'm still solving a problem,
(05:39):
and so that was really it.
I knew at that point that itwas time for me to leave, and
Baton Rouge is a big small town.
So I had some connections atthe CPA firm that I'm at now and
they hired me in their 401kdepartment and I walked in this
first day and had no idea what Iwas doing.
So that that's really it.
(06:01):
I just was looking forsomething different to do.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
You fell into it, just like most of us do, right.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
As we all do, and then we don't get out of it.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
That's right, because it is so interesting and
there's so much to do and somuch to explore and so many
different skills you can use tobe really good at it.
It's you know.
I would love to highlightsomething.
When you talked about that itand how you're owning that, you
weren't miserable, but you werelistening.
(06:33):
Oh, my goodness, what a greatexample.
This is something I teachpeople, so I just want to use
this opportunity here to pauseand look at this together.
I feel like this is that momentwhere you're starting to tell
yourself something and you arecatching it when it's still in
whisper form and often weoverride these.
(06:55):
You know, now it's a nudge, I'mfeeling okay, it's not really.
I don't experience a lot of,you know, discomfort right now
with my situation.
I'm not suffering, but I'mlistening.
Something's talking so coolthat you were able to hear it
because we get these messages.
They're kind of soft, so oftenwe disregard them, don't listen.
(07:18):
Then they're going to getlouder.
Life gets more uncomfortable,situations get more, you know,
complicated, and then the voicegets louder and louder.
But like, good for you forcatching it in form, like in
dental whisper form, as youreflect back on the changes and
the decisions that you made andthen you know, here you are now.
(07:41):
You're in a place where, quoteunquote, you don't know what
you're doing.
Can you highlight some of thehard aspects of it?
Hardest?
You know things that had to dowith this.
You know new space, leaving theold space.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So I will say that one of the hardest things for me
was so when you were teachingand you were a teacher, your
mindset is still a little bitmore of the school, like I mean,
you're not in school but youare still.
Your calendar is stillassociated with all of the
holidays and you know I don'tknow how else to put this it
(08:22):
took some coaching by my mentorfor me to have more of a
business-framed mind and thatculture than teaching.
So I feel like if people wereto ask me what's hard and what
we do is so technical, theywould think that that's the
answer.
But that's not really theanswer.
That was that hard Becauseguess what, that's still hard
today because the retirementindustry is constantly changing.
(08:46):
But what was hard was a mindsetshift in terms of I'm no longer
a teacher.
Here's kind of businessetiquette.
Learning the business side ofthings was the hardest part for
me and I will be honest andwe've all taken exams I'm so
glad I passed that CPA exam.
(09:07):
That was a very proud momentfor myself.
I'm not going to lie, that washard.
Taking and passing the CPA examand having to take about 60
hours at LSU, that was hard.
It was a big time commitmentwhen I go back and think about
it.
And at that point I was married, my husband and I do not have
(09:28):
any children, but I mean reallyI was studying every night or I
was working all day and going toschool at night.
That was actually hard.
I think I got.
I don't know if I just kind ofwent through the motions or I
was just so driven at that timeto get that done.
But like if somebody told me Ihad to do that now for two and a
half years, I'd be like no, I'mnot going to do that.
(09:50):
You know, that was hard.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
You know, I know that you're an athletic person and
that you value, you know theimportance of physical exercise
and that you practice I don'tknow what the correct verb is
play, practice, enjoy,pickleball.
What came up for me as you weretalking about the exam is how
much stamina is required whenwe're doing something like this.
(10:13):
You know, between the three ofus we probably have a lot of
experience with all kinds ofcertifications and industry
exams, and some of the hardestaspects of you know of those is
the physical challenge of likethe.
You got to sit there and sitafter sitting and learn and what
yeah, I mean it's a staminagame too, and you have to figure
(10:37):
out how to take good care ofthe body while you're having
creating room for, you know,learning the new concepts.
Does that resonate with you,melissa?
Like what a challenging thingit was from that standpoint too.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Oh, yes, and so I will tell you.
This is I'm a big proponent inmoving your body and you know,
probably to the point where Iannoy people, right, probably
like a year or two into teachingI never really I know, this
isn't a podcast about physicalfitness, but it does parlay into
your mental well-being.
(11:10):
You know, about a year or twointo teaching, I started lifting
weights and I startedexercising.
I started running.
I no longer run, startedlifting weights and I started
exercising.
I started running.
I no longer run.
But, and even when I wasstudying for the CPA exam, even
when, even now, that is anon-negotiable for me, it is a
stress reliever for me, it'sthat is me time for me, like
that, like working out orplaying, like that's not that's,
(11:33):
that's not a chore for me, thatis me time.
And I think what it did was itultimately gave my brain.
It gives your brain a mentalbreak to keep going.
In full disclosure, though,when I was sitting for the CPA
exam, I was about two years intothis and, looking back two
(11:54):
years into it, this industry washard.
I almost feel like it's gottenharder.
I don't know if that's just myposition or all of these changes
, but again.
I don't know if I would havethe stamina now after all of
that, because I wasn't adecision maker when I was here.
I should put it like that.
I wasn't making decisions, Iwas learning the technical piece
(12:17):
of it, I wasn't managing people.
So, in full disclosure, that'sa different environment.
Y'all know that.
I mean that's just a differentenvironment than a business
owner mentality.
So I do think that the timingprobably worked in my favor at
that particular point to be ableto successfully study and
complete the CPA exam.
Because, look, the CPA exams,like the exams that you guys
(12:40):
have taken, you know, put thetime into it, you know that's it
.
And you got to be disciplinedto put the time into it, just
like you got to be disciplinedto work out and you got to be
disciplined to run a business.
To me it goes back todiscipline.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
No, I love that you say that and I love that you
talked about the physicalfitness aspect, because we talk
a lot about that, how that ispart.
Whether you meditate, whetheryou just do something to move
your body, whatever works foryou, but having something that
you can focus on is so important.
So I love that you talked aboutthat.
You know, and you're right,like taking those exams is is so
(13:18):
exhausting and you have to dothat.
So clearly you did well,clearly you were doing well in
this business.
In 2016, I think you wereapproached to become a partner
in your firm and I think aswomen and maybe not just as
women, but I think you didn'trecognize that maybe you had the
skills to do that or be thatbusiness owner.
(13:42):
So can you talk a little aboutwhat pushed you that way?
And I think it was a person, amentor.
You mentioned a mentor.
Can you talk a little aboutthat experience?
Because I think it's soimportant that sometimes we
don't listen to those people whoare trying to advise us and,
you know, really try to help usor see what we're capable of
(14:03):
that we can't see in ourselves.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Absolutely, I will tell you this.
So my predecessor's name isDavid.
Him and I still keep in touchand I'll say this, and even if
he listens to this, he knowsthis he was a tough man to work
for because he held people to ahigh standard, but I had so much
admiration and respect for himthat, at the end of the day, if
(14:33):
he believed in me, it inherentlyjust made me believe in myself.
I don't really know.
It's just, you know, like hehad started the CPA firm.
He had started the TPA practicewithin the CPA firm, and I mean
truthfully you know we talkedon Louisiana Ladies about
imposter syndrome I mean David'stelling me for three years he
(14:56):
needs somebody, he needs asuccession plan.
He thinks I'm a succession plan.
He told me that the day heinterviewed me, not that I'm a
succession plan, but he waslooking to retire, and I'm like
I'm just trying to get hired.
Okay, I need a job at thispoint.
Um, I have preached this though, teresa.
Um, that having an advocate anda mentor and it could be at any
(15:21):
point in your career is justparamount, right?
So you know a part of me did Iwant to make David proud?
Yes, but his belief in me andthe fact that he pushed me, he
made me get comfortable withbeing uncomfortable, which is
probably the biggest thing thathe taught me that you're get
comfortable with beinguncomfortable, which is probably
the biggest thing that hetaught me that you're going to
(15:42):
go into situations that aregoing to be uncomfortable, but I
know that you can handle itright Over time, though I will
say and this probably wasn'tsuper evident to me until maybe
2013 or 2014.
Evident to me until maybe 2013or 2014.
(16:05):
You know, again, I came intothis industry really thinking
that I've got to be the best atthe compliance testing.
I've got to be the best at plandesign and truthfully and I'll
tell people that I'm not thebest at that I've got people on
my team that are really good atit.
But it took me a long time toidentify what could be called a
unique ability, for lack ofbetter words and once I was able
to identify that and thenrealize how that could put me on
(16:29):
a trajectory for leadership,but that I mean that's probably
a five-year journey for me toeven get there.
You know, I always joke.
I tell people in high school Ididn't get into National Honor
Society because they asked mewhat my leadership qualities
were and I put that I didn'thave any.
Okay, so you know cause to me Iwasn't a leader.
Now my friends joke.
(16:49):
They're like, uh, missy, you'vebossed people around your whole
life.
I'm like, well, I know, Ididn't.
I guess I just didn't reallysee that in me.
But you know, that's really,that's really what it is.
But sometimes we need somebodyelse to tell us that we can do
it and to and to push us.
You know, my personality alsolends itself to be, you know,
good, bad or ugly, I don't knowhow you want to put it.
(17:10):
I'm stubborn as all get out.
And if somebody's going, youknow if I'm.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
So let's see, so you're self-aware, you are kind
of moment by moment, day by day,consistently working on
personal development.
You are open to learning andcurious.
You are brave, and then youhave a lot of subject matter
expertise.
You keep learning.
You have, you know, tested alot of things.
(17:46):
Um, you have, you know, testeda lot of things.
Uh and uh.
Okay, so I'm hearing a lot ofleadership qualities here.
Teresa, can you define that foryourself and for us now?
Very so, please.
Uh, you were gonna saysomething.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
No, I was gonna say, yeah, I think she has a lot of
those qualities.
I was definitely agreeing.
I loved your recap list,honestly.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Yeah, so you know, conscious leadership is an
actual, it's a school of thought, it's an approach, it's a model
, it is something teachable.
And what I love doing is, youknow, pointing out when someone
is a conscious leader and maybethey don't even, you know,
mention that or talk about it intheir day to day, but, like,
hey, melissa, did you know thateverything you just shared to us
(18:26):
about yourself, like that's adefinition, basically, of a
conscious leader, so someone whois, you know, available inside
and out, for you know thequalities of, you know, going
first and trying and discoveringthings and turning around and
saying, hey, come on over here.
Well, we can do this together,let's you know.
So this, the combination ofsome of the things that you were
(18:53):
talking about that are to makea good teacher.
And you know how I introducedyou as a translator.
I think you have this qualityof being able to translate
difficult ideas and concepts and, yeah, please, it looks like
this is resonating, so tell us.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Well, when you said that it was, it's so interesting
to me it is, and I would havenever, ever thought this because
I didn't know much about theindustry when I started, like
Teresa said, fell into it likeeverybody else, and then you
don't leave right.
But my teaching background, andprobably my tutoring background
even in high school, when Itell you that comes in handy in
(19:26):
this particular industry,because teaching is ultimately
translating, you're takingsomething.
No matter if you're teaching12th graders or you're teaching
kindergartners, you know at somepoint you're translating.
And so I will say this I havetwo other ex-teachers on my team
within the Sentinel departmentand I'm not actively taking them
(19:50):
from the teaching professionbecause we need teachers, but
they're good TPAs because of thenatural ability to be able to
translate and explain thingsright, and over time even I
realized that that was a skillthat I had, that not everyone
(20:12):
walking into this professionnecessarily has, and that's not
a bad thing.
It can be coached.
But I really think I took forgranted the fact that.
You know, when I talk tosomeone, it comes naturally to
me to want to explain it to them, for them to want to feel
comfortable.
I think that comes back from myteaching background and I
(20:33):
actually did a presentation atASPA where we were doing, you
know, we did a role play on howto explain it to a client.
I was the client.
I had so much fun being verythe difficult client to Justin
Venestro.
Okay, I was very difficult, butone of the things him and I
talked about is we'retranslators.
You know, like to me, I canrattle off something like 401A4.
(20:55):
Me and Teresa know what thatmeans, but nobody else knows
what that means.
You know, or do they can'treally want to know that level
of detail.
So I think that it's a it's animportant skill to have, but it
did take me a while tounderstand that that skill could
really help in this particularcareer was a very positive thing
.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Well, a couple of things.
Number one I don't thinkanybody else cares what you know
but I love talking about it,though I know.
And then you know.
The other thing I was going tosay is you know, don't feel bad
about taking those teachers.
I had a really good friend whowas a teacher and she came to me
and she goes can you give me ajob?
And I was like no, you're anamazing teacher.
And she goes.
(21:34):
I'll tell you, I understandwhat you're saying.
She goes, but I'm leavinganyway.
So, I'd love for you to give mea chance, and you know I did,
and you said she is amazing atthis job because, right there,
they're amazing.
Teachers are amazing.
Honestly, they, they, theydon't get really enough credit.
(21:56):
Okay, they don't.
So as we wrap up, so you've,you've had these pivots.
You've had these amazing pivots.
You're doing really well.
How are these a step forward?
What's next for you?
What do you?
What do you see?
You know what?
What did you get out of thesepivots?
What?
What would you like to share?
Speaker 2 (22:11):
So I would say that every time I've, every time
there was a pivot, there wasalso a little bit of fear of
said pivot.
And if said pivot was going towork, you know, was it going to
work, I mean, I'd be lying if Isaid I wasn't fearful, that I
was going to try this wholeaccounting thing, then TPA thing
I didn't know anything about.
And what if I felt the same wayI did about teaching, you know?
(22:32):
But to me I've just been givenso many opportunities that I'm
very grateful for that.
You know, what's really, what'snext for me is to continue to
pursue some public speaking onthe side of what I'm continuing,
what I'm doing.
You know, I love the salesaspect of what we do.
(22:54):
I love meeting new people.
I'm not real good sittingbehind a desk for a couple hours
, just to be 100% honest.
So you know, that's really whatI see.
But also, what difference andthis is not to be cliche, but
what difference can I make inthis industry?
That was one of the reasons whyI accepted a position on ASPA's
(23:15):
Leadership Council, because Ifeel like I would have a voice
when it comes to that.
And honestly, teresa, and Ithink that you resonate and even
a same with you.
As I'm getting in my mid 40s.
There's younger women that Iwant to mentor and take under my
wing, and they might bebusiness owners there.
(23:35):
You know, that brings me somuch joy to be able to mentor
someone, to give them the pushthat I was given, to push them
out of their comfort zone andwatch them succeed.
So that's really where I'm atright now, and I mean I'm
posting to LinkedIn a lot.
Okay, I'm very proud of myLinkedIn.
I just want that's my proud ofmyself moment.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
No, no, no and I love that because I agree with you,
that's been one of my biggestjoys is really mentoring others
and really being able to helpthem and give advice and, you
know, push them in a directionthat really works for them.
So I I so appreciate you thatyou said that and I so
appreciate you being here today.
Even though, what are yourfinal thoughts?
Speaker 1 (24:19):
I love the blending.
I see that in both of you andMelissa.
I really want to presence thathere the blending of, like um,
mentoring and sponsoring andadvocating, and you know, let's,
let's do more of exactly that.
Like it is important tounderstand the difference
between when we're mentoringsomeone and then when we're
being in a sponsor mode and whenwe're advocating for them
(24:42):
behind their back and and you dothat regularly.
But I just I love the you knowthe blending of that.
You can be different thingsthrough the same person.
You know you and not things.
You can be in different rolesand different.
You know, in these differentstepping into these different
opportunities, when do the samething for yourself too.
You know there's going to be amoment when you're recognizing I
(25:04):
need to be.
You know you're recognizing Ineed to be really disciplined
and focused right now and maybeI'm not so excited about being
at the desk, but that's what'scalled for.
And then I'm listening.
I'm like my body's souncomfortable right now.
I'm going to go and do that onmy non-negotiable and move the
body.
Then I'm going to let myselfreally prioritize on my calendar
that I am an extrovert.
(25:26):
I love being out there.
I love, you know serving theindustry by.
You know communicating and I'mjust pointing out like I love
having this conversation aboutyou know, is it sales, is it
service?
Is it at the end of the day?
You know it's, it's you showingup authentically responding to
what the moment calls for.
So thanks so much for modelingthat for us and teaching about
(25:49):
it.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Thank y'all so much.
This podcast made me feel realgood about myself.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Good, Well, we're hoping it did so and we're
hoping your story makes othersfeel really good about
themselves.
So that's what's important tous.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
And that's why I like to share it.
To be honest, you know thatwe're, I think, sometimes, when
people look and when I say it Iwas a teacher and now I'm a
partner within a CPA firm and abusiness owner I just somebody
told me she goes, you justglossed over that and I was like
, oh yeah, it was scary yeah no,no, it's totally true.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
We tend to do that, but I'm glad that you're talking
about it.
You're amazing.
Melissa Torito, Thank you somuch for being here with us
today on Step Into the Pivot andto our listeners, remember, if
you have a pivot, step into it.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.