Editor’s Note: Supporting women should not be limited to a month. So at Reel 360 News, we have decided to amplify and promote dynamic women’s voices all year long. Today, let us introduce you to a savvy and talented woman – Entropico’s Sr. Financial Analyst, Shushan Kapaktchian Rosas.
Shushan Kapaktchian Rosas is Entropico’s Sr. Financial Analyst. She was born and raised in Los Angeles in a large and loving Armenian family. Wanting to remain close to her roots, she chose to stay in LA for college, earning a double major in Accounting and Finance from California State University, Northridge.
After graduating, she began her career as a production accountant on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she worked for nearly five years until the show concluded. Shortly after, she was approached on LinkedIn with an opportunity to join Entropico. Initially skeptical, believing it sounded too good to be true, she decided to take a chance—and nearly three years later, she remains a valued member of the team.
Amid her professional journey and navigating a global pandemic, she also embraced the role of mother, a title she considers the most rewarding one yet.
Let’s meet Shushan!
What’s your origin story?
Being the oldest daughter of an immigrant family helped shape who I am. At a young age I had a lot of responsibilities; most people my age I knew didn’t. I had to take care of a lot of things I knew nothing about, which was scary at the time, but in hindsight, it taught me so much and really helped put me ahead of the curve when I became an adult.
When my friends were trying to understand taxes, what a PPO vs HMO was, or what a mortgage entails, I already had years of experience. It gave me a strong general foundation to build on. Being a first-generation I also had a lot of pressure on my shoulders to be successful. I saw no other option. It helped give me a drive that I didn’t realize I had until I reflected in recent years.
How did you break into finance and production?
By complete accident. When I was still in college, I was trying to get a part-time job that would help me get some accounting experience under my belt. I was set to start the traditional accounting journey: graduate, join a firm, become a CPA. The first job I landed part-time while still in school was an accounting assistant for a commercial production company. I fell in love with the industry and never looked back.
Who were your mentors, and how did they influence your journey?
One of my mentors was Lori, my lead when I worked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. I clicked with her when we met because she was an alumnus from my university and a fellow Armenian woman who has had great success in an industry where there are not many of us.
I learned a lot from her during the years we worked together, and I know that I can still call her anytime I run into trouble and she’ll be there to help in any way she can.
What fuels your creativity?
Our team at Entropico truly helps fuel me. Every day I get to wake up and work with amazing people and look forward to doing my job. I don’t think there is a better fuel than happiness. Since our team is still pretty small we can wear all kinds of hats. I have been able to do things like teleprompting that I would have never done otherwise. New experiences help me stay inspired. My daughter also helps fuel my creativity. Seeing life in a new light through her eyes.
What’s the biggest myth about women in your field?
“You can’t do it all.” You can’t succeed in your personal life and career. It is definitely hard, and some days you are better at one than the other, but it is very doable. The most important factor is finding an employer who truly means it when they say work-life balance.
Name a creative risk you took that paid off.
Growing up, I learned a lot about real estate just by helping my parents with their admin. I was 10 years old, having to call and sort out any issues with our mortgage, property taxes, insurance, etc. That experience and their support helped give me the confidence to start investing in real estate in my early 20s with the little money I had.
You have to play the long game with investments, but this helped me gain some financial security, so when my career started to form, I didn’t have any pressure to take a job out of necessity. I had some flexibility to be picky and find a job and company that I genuinely love, and that led me here to Entropico.
What’s your take on the rise of AI?
I’m a fan. I’m excited to see all the advancements that come from it. Right now I’m just trying to keep up with all the AI tools that are coming my way. It’s a lot just keeping up with all the new updates I have been seeing on my phone alone.
What’s a piece of advice from another woman you carry with you?
“Networking is one letter away from not working.” I’m a pretty introverted person. This is always a random piece of advice I think back on that helps me get out of my bubble.
Are you rebooting Soul Train, American Bandstand or MTV Spring Break?
MTV Spring Break!
How do you balance ambition with self-care?
I have always been big on self-care, but I lost that part of myself for the first year after having a baby, so that took a big toll on me. Even though I had a lot of help taking care of my daughter so that I could work, I felt guilty asking for help when it came time to do things for myself.
She’ll be two next month, and now I’m starting to feel like the best version of myself. I make time to train three times a week when I work from home on my lunch break while she’s at daycare. Working out, eating healthy, and having time alone to do nothing helps me recharge.
You’re writing a memoir. What’s the title?
Life as an Introverted Aries.
Go to Karaoke song.
Always a duet with my husband – “Breaking Free” from High School Musical.
In 10 years, what do you hope to look back and say you changed?
In 10 years, I hope I can look back and say I helped change the idea that as a woman, you have to choose to be an amazing mom or be successful in your career. I hope I can help women like myself discover the resources available to them to help them achieve both, and help build a world that will allow my daughter to thrive in any endeavor she pursues in life.
Shushan’s Social Media:
Instagram: @thelifeofshushan
To see who else is a Reel Woman, click here.
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