We are proud to feature Grace Castaneda who is the Budget Manager at the City of San Mateo, a current CSMFO Board Member, dynamic mom, student, mentor, proud CSMFO Member since 2016, and so much more as you will discover in this CSMFO member feature.

1. What is your favorite book, movie, or TV show and why?

Princess Bride – both the book and the movie. Buttercup was my ICQ username (remember ICQ?). It has action, romance, riddles, and so many good lines… what’s not to love?

2. How has a previous or current mentor impacted your career?

It was because my mentor first believed in me that I even dared. My mentor took a chance on me, gave me stretch opportunities, and guided me along the way. As I developed new skills, my confidence also grew. Learning to believe in myself was probably the most impactful lesson my mentor gave to me.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

Staff development. To mentor someone and see them grow, not just in external skills but internal attitude, has been the most satisfying aspect of my job.

4. Knowing what you know now, if you were new to government finance what would you do differently when you started your career?

I would tell myself to keep learning and keep working to contribute to the team. In the beginning of my career, I would be content to just do my job and go home, but when opportunities came, I was not ready to take them. I now find a lot more satisfaction and motivation in learning new skills, contributing to the team, and feeling as part of a unit.

5. What is your current position and what do your children or friends think you do at work?

I’m a Budget Manager and my children (5 and 7), having seen me work from home (because of the ongoing pandemic), think I do math all day long. That and get on calls.

6. How do you keep up to date with upcoming regulations?

CSMFO is a great resource! The COVID-19 webinar series are timely and educational, and I’m taking advantage of that as much as I can.

7. How do you motivate staff and yourself?

It’s hard enough to be isolated from other staff members during this time, so I Teams my Analyst every week, we check in with each other, and I update her on everything that is going on in the department and how she can contribute, so that she doesn’t feel siloed in her own tasks but instead continues to feel a part of the team.

8. What has been the most challenging time in your finance career and how did you overcome it?

That was probably early in my career when I thought I was content to just do my job and go home. In fact, I was not content at all. After I became a mom, I went back to work with a different attitude and became more involved in my job, put in the hard work, and contributed wherever I could. Real contentment, along with a sense of direction and purpose in my career, came as a result.

9. What is something about you that no one would ever guess or expect?

I love country music!

10. What advice do you have for a CSMFO member on getting more involved with the organization?

Just do it. I was really scared to get involved in the beginning, but everyone I have connected with was so welcoming and made me feel that my contributions mattered. Getting involved is one of the best decisions I’ve made for my career. I gained insight and resources from how others deal with situations at their respective agencies, and that has helped me at my work. The CSMFO leadership is truly a community of individuals who care deeply about their professions.