Catherine Dahl is one of our 30 Inspirational Women in Canadian FinTech and Finance!
Catherine (@cathbeanCEO) is the CEO and co-founder of Beanworks, an accounting workflow solution that automates the payables process for mid-sized companies from purchase order to payment. She’s a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) professional, and she is dedicated to making accounting easier and more enjoyable with her business. Here, she shares her best financial advice, speaks about her impressive career, and honours the women who inspired her along the way.
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your career?
CD: I’m proud of starting a company and creating 37 new jobs thus far. That accomplishment is followed only by completing my CPA and CMA with a 6-month-old while losing my mother to cancer.
Who were the women that served as role models in your life?
CD: Kim Campbell, Canada’s only female Prime Minister. I was in high school when she became Prime Minister and many years later I had the privilege of spending an evening with her at an event. Liz Hughes is another role model of mine. She was the News Director for CBC TV Vancouver and the best boss ever. She was such a polished professional who had the most amazing people skills, strong and very effective. My best friend Ann Rasmussen also inspires me. She always told me I could do anything I set my mind to; she’s been my biggest fan and best cheerleader. She’s just a model human being.
What was the best financial advice that you’ve ever received?
CD: Don’t graduate university with debt, never take a student loan if you can avoid it.
Thanks for sharing your story, Catherine! To learn about more finfluencers, check out our 30 Inspirational Women in Canadian FinTech and Finance.