Ingrid Berner has a narrative that displays the ability of dedication. Born and raised in Brazil, a rustic the place attaining success and changing into a pacesetter calls for distinctive dedication, her journey is an inspiring instance of the right way to overcome vital obstacles and rise to the highest.
Attaining a management position in Brazil presents vital challenges. Aspiring leaders should navigate financial volatility, intricate regulatory landscapes, and disparities in academic high quality—obstacles which might be frequent amongst nations striving for sturdy financial growth.
This path requires resilience and strategic perception to handle market fluctuations and a deep understanding of complicated bureaucratic processes. Success depends upon steady studying, adaptability, and constructing robust networks inside a various and dynamic atmosphere.
Rising up in Brazil, Berner understood early on that she wanted to work more durable and smarter to realize her targets. Her mother and father instilled in her invaluable recommendation that formed her path. “My mother and father all the time instructed me, ‘Ingrid, success is not only about expertise however about perseverance and the willingness to be taught from each expertise.’ This recommendation has stayed with me all through my profession, driving me to repeatedly push myself and embrace challenges,” she remembers.
The roots of her skilled journey started in regulation faculty, pushed by an insatiable ardour for studying and a want to forge an thrilling profession. Recognizing the significance of understanding finance, Berner additionally pursued a grasp’s diploma in finance with a specialization in tax regulation.
“My plan all alongside was to develop my profession to incorporate US taxation,” she shared in AT&T’s Tax Tribune publication. In 2020, Berner furthered her schooling with an LLM in taxation from Georgetown College.
Her experience and dedication led her to Ernst & Younger (EY), the place she rapidly established herself as a formidable skilled. Nearing ten years at EY, DIRECTV, certainly one of her largest shoppers, enlisted her to assist with the acquisition construction when AT&T made a proposal to accumulate the corporate. “The Latin American property had been very sizable to the [DIRECTV] transaction,” Berner explains. “So it gave me a seat on the desk throughout the primary negotiations that occurred.”
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Following the profitable approval of the deal, AT&T acknowledged Berner’s distinctive contributions and provided her the position of head of tax for DIRECTV LATAM. It was a difficult choice for Berner.
“I used to be a month away from changing into a accomplice at EY, and it was my profession dream,” she remembers. She was involved in regards to the potential lack of profession development and the opportunity of boredom with out the various groups and shoppers she had on the consultancy agency. “However being comparatively younger, I felt it was an excellent alternative to see the opposite aspect of the desk.”
Initially planning to return to public accounting after just a few years, Berner’s journey at AT&T took an sudden flip. “Truthfully, three months after becoming a member of AT&T, I knew I used to be by no means going again [to something else],” she admits with amusing. “I used to be very shocked and pleased. My position was very thrilling, the workforce was superb, I received to do many various issues, and my profession progressed very quick. I used to be capable of transfer up 4 ranges in lower than seven years.” 9 years later, she stays with the corporate.
This spectacular achievement is a testomony to her distinctive expertise and unwavering dedication. She moved from head of tax for DIRECTV LATAM to turn into head of tax for AT&T LATAM in 2017. In 2019, she was appointed as the top of worldwide tax, the place she oversaw tax features throughout ninety-nine nations outdoors the US. In 2021, she led the newly fashioned tax operations in US and know-how group, increasing her community past tax to incorporate investor relations, CFP, accounting, treasury, and authorized.
“My dream was all the time to turn into a vice chairman of worldwide tax. However to achieve the extent of senior vice chairman and head of tax, I by no means would have imagined.”Ingrid Berner
In October 2022, Berner ascended to the position of senior vice chairman of tax, overseeing tax compliance and technique for AT&T entities—a place that represents the best rung on the ladder a tax skilled can climb. “My dream was all the time to turn into a vice chairman of worldwide tax,” Berner confesses. “However to achieve the extent of senior vice chairman and head of tax, I by no means would have imagined.”
Those that work with Berner communicate proudly of her rise. “Ingrid has delivered to AT&T’s tax perform a definite customer-centric focus pushed by a service ethic and a imaginative and prescient for transformation,” says Janet Moran, principal for Deloitte Tax LLP. “She has distinguished herself as a pacesetter and a workforce builder who seeks various views to innovate for operational effectivity and to create actionable insights for stakeholders throughout the enterprise.”
Due to this fact, Berner’s tenure at AT&T has been marked by thrilling alternatives and complicated initiatives. “There was all the time one thing thrilling occurring, and I used to be something however bored,” she instructed the Tax Tribune in 2023. “I fell in love with the tradition, the individuals, and the robust leaders.”
Upon assuming her present position, Berner reimagined the tax group, breaking down silos and fostering a tradition of innovation and excellence. “I understand change may be scary at occasions—imagine me, I do know what I’m speaking about being in a brand new nation, new roles, challenges relocating my household right here,” she instructed the Tax Tribune. “Nonetheless, all through my profession, change has been equal to alternative. Alternative to really feel uncomfortable, get out of my consolation zone, and develop.”
Berner’s dedication to studying and development has been a relentless all through her profession. She additionally attributes her success to robust mentorship and sponsorship. “Mentorship has been invaluable in my profession,” she shares. “They offered steerage and helped me navigate the complexities of the company world. They believed in me once I doubted myself and pushed me to achieve larger.
“Sponsorship, then again, performed an important position in advancing my profession. Sponsors are those that advocate for you while you’re not within the room. They champion your trigger, spotlight your achievements, and assist you achieve visibility,” she continues. “My dedication and dedication to assist my sponsors attaining their targets created a mutually useful relationship. Having sponsors who imagine in your potential and are prepared to vouch for you may make a big distinction in your profession trajectory.”
Dedicated to paying it ahead, Berner mentors aspiring tax professionals from various backgrounds. “I concentrate on key expertise,” she notes. “Once I see somebody who has nice potential to be my successor, I work to mentor them and provides credit score to these on my workforce who work arduous. I attempt to deliver my direct reviews to conferences with me once I can to allow them to get visibility with the shoppers and publicity that they wouldn’t probably get.”
As she continues to interrupt obstacles and encourage the following era of tax professionals, Berner exemplifies that with dedication, mentorship, and a ardour for studying, one can rise to the best ranges of their occupation and go away a long-lasting legacy.
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