Paula Messias
Finance Production Manager
AKA “Mindful Messias“
As a Finance Manager, Paula supports our university partners by managing tasks such as vendor selection. She also helps coordinate and organize traditional media placements.
Earlier in her career, she founded an ecommerce company and sold it in 2021. As an entrepreneur, she focused on operations and finance, and she specialized in reducing costs, allocating funds, and creating budgets. Paula holds an MBA in finance from Stony Brook University.
When she’s not working, you can likely find Paula reading — in fact, she’s read more than 1,100 books in the past 11 years.
How did you choose your profession?
I’ve always appreciated the objectiveness of numbers. They are straightforward and tell a company’s history through different lenses.
What’s been your favorite project that you’ve worked on?
When I founded the ecommerce company, every project was my favorite. But, [in particular] I remember when I closed my first contract with a school, and that project was the official start of the business.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My grandfather used to tell me that everything I ever need in life is already inside of me. And I truly believe that we dictate our present by our choices and actions, even when they are the only thing we can control.
What is your favorite quote?
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. This Bible verse brings me peace and comfort because I know I am not alone.
