Andria Radmacher has a piece of advice for students: “If you can master that skill of constant, perpetual improvement and learning… you’ll always be on the cutting edge.”
From the beginning, Radmacher was always one step ahead. Before attending Irvine Valley College for her Accounting, Associate in Science degree, she was learning the ropes as an executive assistant, doing work in QuickBooks for her boss.
“I saw the need for learning more about accounting because that was what seemed to be what a lot of people wanted me to do when they hired me,” explained Radmacher.
As she grew in her career, she noticed a pattern. “[Entrepreneurs] always kind of got to the finance part last…and always accounting last,” said Radmacher. “It was something they had to hire out because they just didn’t want to figure it out. And I figured, ‘Why don’t I learn the hard thing that nobody wants to learn?’”
That’s exactly what Radmacher did. She saw a need and filled it. “So, I started taking classes at Irvine Valley College. I always had an interest in business. I always wanted to be a business owner.”
Now a successful entrepreneur and business owner, Radmacher runs a successful online bookkeeping and accounting firm. She recently opened the company’s first office in Irvine, California, where her and her team can meet with clients face-to-face. Her business has been in practice for the last six years, but Radmacher’s educational journey just came to an end recently.
Between her budding career and passions, like ballroom dancing, Radmacher kept working towards her degree slowly but surely until she made graduation a reality.
“I actually started going to IVC in the early 2000’s,” explained Radmacher. “I didn’t finish until last year. It probably took just about twenty years for me to finally finish [my degree].”
Now, Radmacher’s focus is on growing professionally. She aspires to grow within consulting and participate in more speaking engagements. When reflecting on her achievements, she says the advice she picked up along the way was what propelled her into a successful career.
“I’ve taken a lot of good advice that I actually did apply and supercharged me forward very fast. I see a big value in offering advice if people want to take it and implement it,” said Radmacher.
As she reflects on her time at Irvine Valley College and the career opportunities it has opened for her, she offers some of her own advice to incoming students. “Learn to learn, unlearn, and relearn as fast as possible,” said Radmacher. “Just because you learn something today doesn’t mean it will have value in two or three years from now.”
This advice seems to ring true so far for Radmacher. She’s always stayed ahead of the curve.