Change, Change, Change. It's All Around Us.
...a conversation with Tricia Reteracion, Senior Coordinator, Accounts Payable
Today we shine the Support Centre Spotlight on Tricia Reteracion, Senior Coordinator, Accounts Payable, who shares with us why it’s so important to follow through with our goals, and to embrace change in order to grow.
Tell me about your background – how long have you been with dentalcorp and what were you doing before you joined?
I’ve been with dentalcorp since February 2019 – almost 2 years! Prior to that, I worked in media for 3 years doing billing and digital programmatic advertising (the setup and optimization of ads for example those you might see on YouTube or in the results of a Google search) for General Motors. Back in the Philippines, I worked in the finance at Xerox as Senior Accountant and in Deutsche Bank as an Associate doing compensation accruals, management process review and bank restructuring. All these experiences helped prepare me for my current role in Support Centre.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be a scientist when I was younger. I used to create my own “laboratory” at the back of our house to do my “experiments”, which consisted of me basically mixing anything I could find from our garden and around the house. As I grew older, I realized my interest in science didn’t equal having a talent for it. I also realized my love for numbers (perfect scores in Algebra!) so I decided to take Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, and because I wanted to do more than strictly accounting, I went on to get my MBA, while working at Deutsche Bank. That experience gave me a better perspective on things outside the financial spectrum. Probably the reason why doing process improvements is close to my heart!
Can you tell me a bit about your role on your team? What does a typical day look like?
I’m a Senior Coordinator for AP doing vendor reconciliations for our top suppliers. I am also the project champion for dc assist for our team, leading training sessions on reconciliations for suppliers and helping the team address issues with dc assist tickets. A typical day in AP is very busy, so it’s always a good idea to start my day with coffee while checking my e-mails. The caffeine kick help me figure out and prioritize the things I need to accomplish that day.
Tell me something funny that’s happened to you.
I went to an all-girls high school and every year, we would put on a play. When we put on “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” I was given the role of Blinkin, Robin Hood’s blind sidekick (I would have greatly preferred to play Maid Marion). In one scene, my classmates played a prank on me and purposely left me on stage alone. When I realized what they’d done, I couldn’t just dash off the stage – however much I wanted to – that would have been breaking character. Instead, I walked off as calmly as I could in a manner that was in keeping with my role. I guess it was effective because I won Best Supporting Actor!
Tell me about an experience you’ve had that’s really left an impact.
I was in 4th year in university. The school wanted students to get involved in activities beyond academics. To encourage us to participate, we were required to select someone from our year to compete in a public speaking competition. Nobody wanted to volunteer, so I agreed to do it, with just a few days to prepare. When it was my turn to speak, the first 2 lines went well, “Change, change, change. It’s all around us.” My friends cheered me on excitedly. Then suddenly, my mind went blank. I forgot my whole speech. I could see the shock and anticipation on my friends’ faces. It was epic. I decided then and there that I would not leave the stage. I was determined to finish my lines, so I repeated those first few words until I could remember the rest. I lost the competition, but to be honest, it didn’t bother me. My goal was to keep going no matter what and finish my speech – and I achieved that. It made me realize that if I was able to conquer this, there was nothing I couldn’t do.
Tell me something about yourself that your co-workers would never guess?
I was a member of the Deutsche Bank soccer team, playing defense when we used to compete against other European companies in the Philippines. It sounds serious but it’s actually a really fun event organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. We got to play with our CEO too!
What are your aspirations for personal and professional growth? Do you have a 5 year plan?
In the next 5 years, I want to build my knowledge across different departments in Support Centre and be able to use my skills to contribute to process improvements. I want to have enough experience to be the subject matter expert, and be able to share best practices across the organization.
Personally, I see myself living in a smaller community where everybody is close knit. I want to learn how to drive so I can go on random road trips. Canada is beautiful and I want to explore more of it in the coming years. I never got a chance as I was busy adjusting to my life here since I arrived 4 years ago.
I have so many plans but the most important goal for me is to be happy every day. That to me is the greatest measure of success.
What advice do you have for new team members joining dentalcorp’s Support Centre?
dentalcorp is a fast-paced environment and we are in an exciting period of growth, where a lot of process improvements are being implemented, that could impact the current way we do things. My advice to new team members is to embrace these changes and enjoy the ride. Learning is continuous so don’t push yourself too hard to learn everything at once and don’t be afraid to ask questions – that’s how you learn.
