Alumni Spotlight: Lluvia Diaz (B.A. '23, MBA '25)
Lluvia Diaz.
Born in California, my family moved to Texas when I was in fourth grade. I’m Mexican-American, and a first generation graduate. I love to spend time with my family, friends, and two dogs. I absolutely love to travel and hope to visit 15 countries by the time I turn 25. I enjoy trying new foods, going to concerts, and reading. My two favorite books right now are The Courage To Be Disliked and Tuesdays with Morrie. I wish I had read them while I was in college.
Why did you choose to attend UTA? Why did you choose to study Business Management and Finance?
I chose to attend UTA because it was close to home and it’s really diverse! I graduated from Juan Seguin High School here in Arlington and was the recipient of the Richard Greene Scholarship, so I was able to live on campus which was an amazing experience. During my undergrad studies, I felt like UTA really invested in their students, and I appreciated the professors, so the facilitated admissions into grad school was a wonderful opportunity and blessing!
I chose to study Business Management and Finance because I would like to be a CEO one day and finances are very important to understand about any organization. Business management is a pretty broad degree so I liked the variety in courses. I learned a lot about the different areas in business.
Tell us about your experience at UTA; how did UTA help you prepare for your career? Were there any professors, courses, or experiences that had a lasting impact on your professional journey?
UTA has so many resources and events that helped me prepare for my career in various ways. The diversity and quantity of clubs/organizations was great; I joined Delta Sigma Pi, a professional co-ed fraternity, and the National Association for Business Economics. I took part in the Exporting with the Experts program that resulted in me winning some cash and receiving a certificate from the U.S. Department of Commerce. I also had the incredible opportunity to study abroad which gave me a broader perspective about how business works in other countries. I felt that I graduated college with a well-rounded foundation across different aspects of business.
Dr. Rasheed is truly amazing! He has so much experience and knowledge to share and always had the best stories of his international travels. I learned so much from him and took his classes whenever I could. He led a study abroad program to Stockholm, Sweden and I participated in that as well. It was a once in a lifetime experience that helped me gain a new perspective on life and education.
Describe your path to working in the finance industry. What advice would you give current UTA students hoping to break into the industry?
UTA had an online career fair in 2021, and after class I joined one of the meetings I had signed up for with an organization called Texas Trust Credit Union. The recruiter was helpful, said I should apply, and I got hired as a part-time teller. After graduating with my bachelor’s, I went full time as a sales service associate. I asked the CFO of the credit union, also a UTA alumni, for a meeting to get to know her job role and later on in the year when a job opened up in the finance department, she thought of me and I got the job! She is a great leader and mentor, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to get to learn under her leadership.
My advice would be to network; it’s about who and what you know. If you’re introverted like me, practice networking on campus events or with the Greater Arlington Chamber’s Young Professionals. It might be uncomfortable at first, but networking helps you meet people in all walks of life and they might just think of you when an opportunity arises.
How did it feel to be recognized as one of this year’s 40 under 40 honorees by the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce?
I felt incredibly grateful and honored to be one of this year’s 40 under 40 honorees. It felt unreal at first because I couldn’t believe I was chosen out of so many applicants, but it helped me realize that although I am young, my efforts have paid off. I may not have too many years of experience, but I have the drive and discipline to continue to achieve my goals. Arlington has been so good to my family and I, so it was amazing to be recognized in the city I love.
What's one lesson you learned at UTA that has stayed with you still today?
One lesson I learned at UTA that has stayed with me is that it is ultimately my responsibility to ensure my future success. UTA offered resources and opportunities but it was up to me whether I took initiative and the necessary steps to achieve my goals. This applied to me in college, my everyday life, and in my career.
What message do you have for the next generation of UTA graduates?
UTA truly does offer everything a business student needs to succeed; show up and try. Take advantage of every opportunity you can and time will fly by!
Anything else you would like to share?
I didn’t hear about credit unions as much as I did about other firms/organizations on campus, but they are amazing not-for-profits who have many opportunities for young professionals. They are member owned and don’t have shareholders. The core mission of the credit union industry is “people helping people”. It gives me purpose to go to work and know I can contribute to an organization that cares about its community and invests in it.